Dedication

TO ROSEMARY GOETTSCHE,
Willoughby Moon, the most beautiful rose of all

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

This is the Summer of Roses, but it is also the summer of wonderful publishers. Gratitude beyond words to everyone at Bantam, for all their kindness, patience, generosity, and vision: Irwyn Applebaum, Nita Taublib, Tracy Devine, Betsy Hulsebosch, Carolyn Schwartz, Cynthia Lasky, Barb Burg, Susan Corcoran, Gina Wachtel, Melissa Lord, Kerri Buckley, Kenneth Wohlrob, Jennifer Campaniolo, Igor Aronov, Mandy Lau, and Janet Rutledge.

Thank you to Deborah Dwyer and to Bantam's production staff, who work miracles: Anna Forgione, Kathleen Baldonado, Tracy Heydweiller, Virginia Norey, Christine Tanigawa, and Susan Hood.

Much admiration and affection to Jim Plumeri.

Boundless love and thanks to my agent, Andrea Cirillo, and everyone at the Jane Rotrosen Agency: Jane Berkey, Don Cleary, Meg Ruley, Peggy Gordijn, Annelise Robey, Maggie Kelly, Hilary Demby, Christina Hogrebe, and Chris Ruen.

Epic gratitude to Ron Bernstein, who is nothing less than amazing.

In celebration of the Whale Trail sculpture event of southeastern Connecticut, with thanks to Diana Atwood Johnson and to Suzanne Mylar of K & M Productions. Amelia Onorato, my brilliant niece, is the artist for my beluga whale (for the Old Lyme–Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library), and I'm very proud of her work. Love and thanks also to Maureen and Olivier Onorato for all the support and celestial navigation.

Much love and thanks also to Rosemary's wonderful family—her husband, Roger Goettsche, and their brilliant daughters, Kate, Molly, and Emily.

Thank you, Lyn Gammill Walker, with much love and appreciation for such wonderful connection and insight.

Gratitude to SEA, the Sea Education Association of Woods Hole, Massachusetts, for that first voyage to see the whales, so long ago.

Thank you to E. J. McAdams, the poet of New York City nature.

Many thanks to Subhankar Banerjee for his brilliant, sensitive photographs of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Thank you to the staff at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the dolphins of Rodanthe, and protectors of the environment everywhere.

Unending awe to William Twigg Crawford, Paul James, and J.M., for their wealth of knowledge about sharks.

Much gratitude to Susan Caruso, Mary Lou Cuccio, Ellie and Bud Ford, and the women at Domestic Violence Valley Shore Services.

Love and thanks to Sarah Walker, who is by far the most hilarious person in New York City.

Much appreciation to Carolyn Schwartz, for everything in Charleston, and to everyone at Family Circle magazine and the Family Circle Cup, for a wonderful event.

Thank you and love to the dauntless and inspiring Sam Whitney and Sadie Whitney-Havlicak.

With much love to Diana Atwood Johnson and John S. Johnson.

Love forever to Marta Curro and Mary Perrin.

Thank you to some wonderful musicians and artists, my friends: Mark Lonergan, Dore Dedrick, the Atwaters, Maura Fogarty, and Fletcher Buckley.

Much gratitude to Dr. Matthew Goulet.