LITMIR.BIZ

      ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

      A huge thank you ...

      To my agent, Stephen Fraser, for saying yes, for his belief in this story, and for his ready words of encouragement when I most needed them.

      To my editor, Peter Senftleben, for pushing me to rethink elements of the story and making it so much better as a result, and for the laughs. And to all the others at Kensington Publishing who contributed their talents to make this novel happen.

      To Roland Smith for buying me a pocket Moleskine, and telling me to fill it with crap and then turn it into something beautiful, and then for making me believe I could do just that.

      To James Howe, whose own story and gentle courage validated my belief in happy endings. You are a true inspiration, my friend.

      To Sarah Ittner, my first reader, who received my manuscript via an errant e-mail, read it, and then generously shared her enthusiasm for these characters.

      To Susan Cox, Patty English, Teresa Guerrero, Karen Guest, and Alissa Wood for slugging through that very early draft and for not telling me it sucked, even when it did. And to Don Stirman for his continued willingness to answer my legal questions, personal and otherwise, and for never charging me.

      To Brent Taylor for his passionate running e-mail commentary as he read, for telling me he hated this novel because it made him want a boyfriend so badly. I appreciate you more than you know.

      And most of all, to Danny and Anna Trumble for all those nights there wasn’t a clean dish in the house and for all those dinners that consisted of, pretty much, whatever. And for the vacant looks when you tried to engage me in tales of your teenage lives. I owe you for that.