Suzanne
Writing this novel would not have been possible without the support, patience and incredible care that my coauthor, Loretta Nyhan, gave to me and to each word on the page. We are, in many ways, just like Ivy and Rose. This novel brought us on a very similar journey.
To my family: my husband, William (my very own Sonny). My daughters, Rosy, Tess and Grace, who show me each day what true sisters mean to one another. To the entire team at MIRA for their support. Especially our editors, Erika Imranyi and Leonore Waldrip. Both indefatigable, unflappable and extraordinarily open-minded with the many directions this book took before it found its way.
To my literary agent, Anne Bohner, who navigates the waters of the publishing industry when I would surely slip under the surface.
To my mother, Theresa Cooper, for fostering my love of books. And to my Gram, Fay, for teaching me the value of pragmatism.
To New York City! Dreams do come true amid your multicolored chaos. And to the suffragettes who marched, fought and eventually won freedom for each generation that came after. The Empire Girls would have been very different young women without your generations of sacrifice.
Loretta
I heart New York.
For me, Empire Girls is a love letter to this most magical city. The vibrant, wonderful people who live in it nurtured my writing dreams when I was Ivy’s age, and continue to do so. I’d like to single some out in particular.
My heartfelt thanks to Leonore Waldrip and Erika Imranyi, two sharp, savvy Empire Girls who tirelessly shaped this novel from their Harlequin MIRA offices overlooking Broadway in lower Manhattan.
Heading north to midtown, huge thanks to my agent and personal hero, Joanna Volpe, and her team at New Leaf Literary & Media—Kathleen Ortiz, Danielle Barthel, Pouya Shahbazian, Jaida Temperly and Suzie Townsend—for their gracious support. Also, to my all-girl Algonquin Round Table: Erica, Lisa, Laura, Joyce, Erin, Ann, Lori, Robin, Libby, Rachel, Jenny, Kelly, Tracey, Alexa and Jean.
Special thanks to William Richard “Dick” Haray of Flatbush, Brooklyn, and Astoria, Queens—he’s gone on to play stickball outside of that Ebbets Field in the sky, but without Dick’s not-so-subtle encouragement, writing a book would have remained a pipe dream. I still hear his Noo Yawk–accented voice in my head telling me to just get going. His wife, Maryann, daughter, Diane, granddaughter, Jessica, and the rest of the Haray family deserve special recognition as well for their kindness today and all those years ago.
To my best boys, Tom, Dan and Jack, who are willing to climb the “mountains” of Central Park at my side—thank you for joining me on the adventure!
To the magical Suzy of New Haven, Connecticut (once of the Bronx)—when you stood on your porch, perched on tiptoes, you saw the lights of the city, didn’t you? Thanks, doll, for your vision, friendship and perseverance.
And to my friends and family, especially my parents—I am ever grateful for your constant love and support.