But I also need to extend some big thank you’s to the book bloggers. Bless you. Bless you all. You have been so kind and helpful to me as I entered the world of Instagram. You embraced me and BAE with fierce love and devotion. I am SO grateful to you all.

Some other tireless villagers that helped BAE take flight. Miriam Maloney, you worked your magic with the camera and made me so much more attractive than I am “IRL,” John and Meg Maloney helping me with so many things including the necessary cappuccino and bourbon as needed. Kim Brattain and Brattain Media, you and your sweet and patient team did your best to make me camera ready. You made me feel comfortable, welcome and like I was doing a good job in front of the camera. Chelsea and Andrew, we still need to go out and toast you.

My village is not complete without my fairy godmother and fairy godfather. Stephanie Beard and Todd Bottorff. Little did I know when I met you at Sewanee, Todd, and when you called me in February, Stephanie, how profoundly you would change my life. Again, adjectives and words of thanks fail me. But it was like that from the beginning. You took BAE and loved her and turned her in to something “ready to go to the ball.” You introduced her to Heather Howell who to my knowledge never sleeps and is an editor extraordinaire and Kathleen Timberlake, who was always available and with good humor and enormous patience. They answered all my questions day after day after day. And just like Cinderella you gave her the most exquisite book jacket. The wickedly talented Emily Mahon your beautiful design made me cry happy tears. Thank you so much for whatever you saw when you thought of Bailey and her world. I landed on the word “beauty,” and you took it to a whole new level. You are the best.

I owe a debt of thanks to Lauren Langston Stewart for your meticulous reading and editing once I thought BAE was finished. The joke was on me. Or you.

And to Annie Grim for introducing me to the concept of BAE.

In my village there are some wonderful restaurants that let me just hang out, ask questions, take notes and were hospitable enough to invite me back. Bailey’s best days were spent with you. And to those legal eagles. I hated having to get to know you, but you treated me with the utmost respect and care.

And last but never least, the people of Leslie Inc. You and the men in white coats kept this bargain-basement body afloat during hours of stress and working late. Don’t worry, you’ll get a whole memoir devoted to your efforts!