First and foremost, to my editor, Alessandra Balzer, I’m so grateful for our working relationship and the friendship we have built over the years. Thank you for seeing the potential in Dumplin’ from the beginning (and in me even before then!) and for allowing me to grow and explore this universe. Working with you is one of the greatest honors of my career.

John Cusick, thank you so much for answering every call, text, and email with calm and enthusiasm. You are such a rock in my life, and we have too much fun together to even call it work at this point. Thank you also to Molly Cusick, who started it all and to the entire team at Folio Literary Management.

Thank you to Dana Spector. You are one of the fiercest women in Hollywood, and I’m thankful to have you in my court.

I’m deeply grateful to Jackie Burke and Anna Bernard, my two publicists, for keeping so many balls spinning—even when I’ve neglected my inbox. (Which is more often than I’d like to admit.)

My family at Harper has been the best team a girl could ask for, especially Suzanne Murphy, Donna Bray, Caitlin Johnson, Ebony LaDelle, Shannon Cox, Audrey Diestelkamp, Ann Dye, Lindsey Karl, Patty Rosati, Almeda Beynon, Sarah Kaufman, Alison Donalty, Kathryn Silsand, Kristen Eckhardt, Andrea Pappenheimer, Kerry Moynagh, Kathy Faber, and Nellie Kurtzman. Thank you as well to everyone at Epic Reads, HCCFrenzy, and HarperCollins360. So many people carry the torch of bringing a book to readers. I know I’m certainly missing someone, but I’m not any less thankful for those who I have.

This incredible cover would not exist without Jenna Stempel-Lobell and this divine art by Josh McKenna. I also owe a great deal of gratitude to Aurora Parlagreco for setting such a fantastic tone with that first Dumplin’ cover.

Thank you to Chad Burris for lending your incredible vocal talents to the audiobook and for bringing Waylon to life so vividly.

Many people played a role in making this book the best it could be and I would be lost without their thoughtful guidance. Thank you specifically to Bethany Hagen, Jeramey Kraatz, Phil Stamper, and D. Ann Williams.

Whether it was a Zoom game night, a perfectly timed meme via text, or a very socially distant hangout session, my friends have kept me sane through this year. Natalie C. Parker, Tessa Gratton, the Taylor family, John Stickney, Hayley Harris, Deanna Green, Ashley Meredith, Luke and Lauren Brewer, Tara Hudson, Adib Khorram, Corey Whaley, and Ashley Lindemann. I love you each so, so much. Thank you also to Bob, Liz, Emma, Roger, Vivienne, Aurelia, Pam, and Frank. I’m so grateful to call you family and always be able to count on your love.