Sallie Lotz, my fabulous editor. I liked her right away. After our first call, before I’d decided which publisher to go with, I received a letter from her. It made me feel energized and seen, and I think I knew right then I wanted to work with Sallie. It was so meaningful to see her thoughtful notes in the margins that were not only corrections and suggestions, but also comments like: same! and IT ME and love this!!! plus heart emojis whenever a dog was on the page. It’s not a given that an editor will mention the good stuff, and it meant the world that she did.

Thank you to Annelise Robey, my agent who has been with me ever since my mom printed out that first draft of Here Lies Bridget. I can only imagine what a roller coaster it was to hear and read every meandering creative idea I had as a teenager, throughout all of my twenties, and to this day. This book exists because she called me after business hours to respond to the idea I’d sent her for this, saying, “Yes, that, write that!”

The delightful Logan Harper, who joined the force at the agency for getting this book published, and Amy Shiels, the glamorous Irish actress who made time to read an early draft of this book and verified all my Irishisms and therefore (hopefully) protected me from looking like an absolute eejit.

Thank you to Taryn, Tris, and Sarah, my dependable early readers. To Emily, who is always there for an unexpected hour-long call about buried trauma.

I want to thank Tarot (my own perfect black Lab), DoorDash, sherry hour, champagne consumed out of glasses stolen from the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs, noise-canceling headphones, The Holiday, James Cameron, justified meals out to celebrate minor accomplishments along the way, the Off Menu podcast for all its neatly organized restaurant recommendations sorted by region (Tigh Neachtain in Galway was a highlight), candle service, and the people I chatted with in Ireland, especially the bartender in the amazing city of Dingle who had me hop behind the bar and pour Guinnesses for customers after I told him I was a bartender for most of my adult life.

Also his nephew, who was a dead ringer for my late father, and the smart, funny farmer who sat at the bar through the lock-in with us.

Lastly, I have to thank Kiera and Cillian, characters in supporting roles who came to me so fully realized that I looked forward to spending time with them every day of this process.

Okay, gotta go, have a whole new book to write. Thank you, reader, for making this career possible. You’re literally the best.

OFFICIAL PLAYLIST FOR THE OTHER SIDE OF NOW