Acknowledgments

This is probably the part of the publication process I was looking forward to the most, where I get to gush about all the wonderful human beings who helped bring Jane to life.

First, thank you to my phenomenally talented and dedicated powerhouse of an agent, Hayley Steed. You truly deserve your own page in my acknowledgments; I am so very lucky to have you. Thanks also to the entire team at the Madeleine Milburn Agency for believing in me right from the start and recognizing Jane’s potential. The team at the MM Agency has without a doubt changed my life forever and made my dream come true. I can never thank you all enough.

Thank you to my original editors Sarah St. Pierre (Simon & Schuster Canada) and Sara Nisha Adams (Hodder Studio UK) for helping me hone the manuscript into everything I wanted it to be, and to my editor Natalie Hallak at Atria Books for championing Jane for American readers. I’m so grateful for your instant and absolute support for this story and everything it represents. Thanks to everyone on Team Jane at Atria, including Lindsay Sagnette, Libby McGuire, Dana Trocker, Ariele Fredman, Lisa Sciambra, and Katelyn Phillips for all your hard work on this project. And thanks also to James Iacobelli for the phenomenal cover design, and for incorporating the rotary dial that I loved so much from the Canadian edition!

Thanks to my beloved first readers Denise, Kim, Marilyn, Angela, Laurie, Jenn, Mallory, Cara Beth, Sarah, Lauren D., Lauren F., Katie, Lindsay, Yoda, and Alli, who provided invaluable feedback on the first draft of this novel. You got to read Jane in her first iteration (of many!), and you hold a special place in my heart for doing so.

To my legal and medical “consultants” and badass friends Sarah Donohue and Dr. Cara Beth Lee, who graciously answered my questions about the ins and outs of 1970s criminal law and the abortion procedure, respectively. Thanks also to Jen and Andrea Dunn for sharing the details and realities of your IUI journey with me; you helped bring Angela and Tina’s story to life. Please send big hugs to C and C, your two little heartbeats.

To the incomparable Judy Rebick, for your time, the beer, and your recollections on the Canadian abortion rights movement. You breathed life into all the women and allies who took astonishing risks and made incredible sacrifices to help secure reproductive rights for my and future generations of Canadians. We are forever in your debt.

Thank you to the women of all ages who courageously confronted their past trauma to speak to me about their individual experiences with abortion, as well as those who shared their thoughts on all the dark corners, sunny patches, and gray areas of childbirth and motherhood.

To my workshop colleagues and the faculty at the Humber School for Writers in Toronto, who saw a glimmer of something in the sample I sent in for their consideration long before the first draft was even complete. To Reed, Julia, and Stephanie, who always encouraged me to write and write and write some more and not shy away from wrestling down the Big Scary Topics. And thanks to Margaret, for telling me to not be afraid.

At my wedding, I couldn’t thank my parents without Uncontrollable Ugly Crying, so fortunately I’m writing this where no one can see me sob. My parents raised me to be a feminist from birth, and they have been my biggest cheerleaders and champions throughout my life. Mum and Dad, you are truly the most reliable and supportive parents anyone could ask for (you’re the best grandparents of all time), and I am grateful every single day that you’re mine. Thanks also to my brother for the de-stressing giggly chats, and for being so excited for me when I set out on this crazy adventure. You had hands-down the best reaction when I called to tell you about my first book deal.

And last—but most certainly not least—thank you to my husband for your love, your faith in me, and your ongoing support for my writing. You’ve bribed me with chocolate to hit my daily word targets, delivered me cups upon cups of tea and coffee, acted as my sounding board for great (and not-so-great) ideas, and made sure I’m fed and watered when I’m on a roll and can’t stop writing or the world might end. You’ve also given me the most beautiful baby boy I could have dreamed of. You are the greatest thing to ever happen to me. I would be lost without you.