Jess Winfield suggested that I write a fairy tale, so this book would not be here without him. Dan McLaughlin was just as encouraging with this project as he’s always been, and he deserves much gratitude. A conversation with Ellen Kushner about the purpose of fairy tales inspired the ethos that I hope is apparent in these pages. I wish to thank Brett Cott for research materials, and Victor Greenberg for his knowledge of history. The fine eye of Jim Meirose was instrumental in getting through the revisions. It should go without saying that I am indebted to Elisabeth Fairfield Stokes, Michelle Hoover, Patricia Horvath, Kate Southwood, and Michelle Valois, but I’ll say it anyway.
Without the editing team at Amberjack Publishing, this novel would have been a far slighter, much less mature work, so I’m also grateful to Cherrita Lee, Kayla Church, and Dayna Anderson.
Finally and mostly, I thank Patrick J. LaForge and Eva LaForge for the trip to Ireland and anything and everything that can be thought of, forever and always. I love you both so much.