First, I must thank the mentors whose advice, stories, and lessons are the essence of this book. Thank you for your time and generosity of spirit. May the good you share with the world be returned to you a hundredfold.
To Stephen Hanselman, my agent and friend, thank you. Here’s to celebrating the little wins along the way. More margaritas soon.
To the entire team at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, especially the superhuman Stephanie Fletcher and the amazing design and production team: Rebecca Springer, Katie Kimmerer, Marina Padakis Lowry, Jamie Selzer, Rachael DeShano, Beth Fuller, Jacqueline Hatch, Chloe Foster, Margaret Rosewitz, Kelly Dubeau Smydra, Chris Granniss, Jill Lazer, Rachel Newborn, Brian Moore, Melissa Lotfy, and Becky Saikia-Wilson—you helped tame this beast and pull off another miracle. Thank you for burning the midnight oil alongside me! To my publisher Bruce Nichols and his incredible team, including president Ellen Archer, Deb Brody, Lori Glazer, Debbie Engel, and all members of the dedicated marketing and sales team, thank you for believing in this book and moving mountains. It’s going to help a whole lot of people.
To Donna and Adam, thank you for holding down the fort! The podcast wouldn’t exist, and I wouldn’t be able to do any of the rest, without you. You guys rock.
To Hristo, many thanks for the double-checking of details (spatulas!) and endless research. Would you like more Mediterranean wraps? To throw more tomato sauce on artwork? Round three next summer? By the way, I still don’t understand why you like working in the dark . . .
To Amelia, you are the warrior princess of redlining. Words cannot express how much your help and support mean to me. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Just remember your bracelet, and payment in nut butters (#messybaby!) and mobility tools is in process.
Last but not least, this book is dedicated to my family, who have guided, encouraged, loved, and consoled me through it all. I love you more than words can express.