I am indebted to the following people, without whom this book could not exist:

My fabulous agent, Denise Shannon, has my utmost gratitude and heartfelt thanks. I also thank Laura Ford and Jennifer Hershey at Random House for their guidance, editorial support, and encouraging words. Thanks, too, to Dennis Ambrose, for his kindness and patience during the copyediting process, and to Jennifer Huwer and Sally Marvin, for their exceptional smarts and skill. Erin McGraw and Bea Open-gart got me started and were wonderful teachers—insightful, full of wit. I am also lucky to have had tremendous mentors in David Jauss, who is as compassionate as he is wise; Douglas Glover, who instilled in me a sense of structure; and Victoria Redel, who, in one workshop, inspired me to love every word. I thank Fred Leebron at Queens University, who took me in when I needed it, and Mike Kobre for doing the same. Isabel Fonseca’s book Bury Me Standing: The Gypsies and Their Journey was influential in shaping Natalia’s character; Fonseca’s accounts of the Romani culture helped shape the fictional world of Precious. Dr. Jozsef Palfy helped me with my Hungarian words, translations, and diacritical marks. I could not have made it through the writing process without the encouragement and cheer of Jean Free and Stephanie Bast—two old friends who are dear to me. I am thankful and grateful for my family— Mom, Dad, Tom, Chris, Jim, and Carole—all of whom I love more than words can express. I thank my husband’s family for their continued support. I am blessed by the many people I’ve met in travel, those who shared their stories and in doing so taught me humanity and grace. And I owe all the thanks in the world to my husband, Phil: You are my best of everything.