Acknowledgments

Thank you to Jill McCorkle, the best writing teacher, with whom this story was first workshopped many years ago.

Thank you to my mother and late father for always believing in me, and to my siblings, Jodi, David and Shari.

Thank you to Debra Penney for being a fabulous critique partner and to John Giannone for your journalist’s eagle eye. To Cindy Davis for being a wonderful editor and a pleasure to work with.

Thank you to Ryan Star for allowing me to use your lyrics in my book. Your music always inspires me. To Scott Syat for your sound legal advice.

And to all of my friends who have read my work and offered encouragement or just listened to me—I wish I could name you all, but you know who you are, thank you!