I grew up daydreaming of fairy tales and magic and white knights on noble steeds. I immersed myself in the Technicolor worlds of animated Disney films and sang along to bold musical numbers as I danced around my living room in costume. In my head, I was a princess waiting for my prince, but I also held this deep fear that, because I was queer (though I didn’t have the words to describe myself at a young age in the ’90s), I would never get my happily ever after. Then, I met my husband, Steve, and he swept me off my feet. Steve, you’ve allowed me to live in a fairy tale of our own design since the day we met, and though there have been many twists and turns and chapters to our story, you’ve never failed to rescue me from burning towers and fire-breathing dragons and forces of evil that sometimes only exist in my own mind. You’ve encouraged and propped me up every step of the way. You have seen me through nearly every iteration of this book. You are my prince, my knight, my bolt of lightning, and I’ll love you with all my heart until The End. I know love because you are love, and this book exists because you love me.

There are not enough words to say how much my rock star agent Jess Regel means to me. Jess, when you read the opening chapters of this book, you knew this was The (Next) One. You are a calm in my never-ending storm, and I’m so happy you’re at the helm of my career (see what I did there? ). Your advocacy is unmatched, your advice is always the best remedy to my anxiety, and your belief in me as a writer lifts me up when I’m feeling unsure or like a fraud. Thank you a million bajillion times over. You are beyond. Beyond beyond!