A very special thanks must go to Fenella MacLean of the Mainland, Orkney, who reached out to tell me that the Ladysmith Sapphic Book Club had enjoyed The X Ingredient. Next thing I knew, I had a beta reader who could give me the inside scoop on the culture, language, and farming practices of the Orkney Islands. I will forever believe the universe did that on purpose.

I’m also grateful to Haley Cass and Monica McCallan, who helped me navigate the world of independent publishing. Their advice has been invaluable, and their friendship more so.

Orkney itself deserves a shout-out: when I went there to research the book, I was blown away by its beautiful landscapes and friendly people. It’s one of the most extraordinary places I’ve ever been. I owe a particular debt to the books of Tom Muir, an Orcadian folklorist who enchanted me with the traditional tales of Assipattle and the Stoor Worm, the Mother of the Sea, and the Mermaid Bride. None of these stories made it into The Woman from the Waves—but the wicked witch of the whirlpool found her way in.

I want to acknowledge as well the stories of real queer nuns, both those who left their convents and those who stayed. Like many sapphics, I dreamed of being a nun when I was a child. Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence by Nancy Manahan and Rosemary Keefe Curb is an extraordinary read, as is Queer and Catholic by Amie M. Evans and Trebor Healey.

And, finally, infinite thanks to my wife and fellow author Carrie Byrd. She was my alpha reader, developmental editor, book formatter, publicity whiz, organizer, and biggest cheerleader. Whenever I got discouraged, she refused to let me give up. When I finished, we celebrated together. We do pretty much everything together, and I’m unspeakably happy that we get to do that for the rest of our lives. Carrie: thank you, thank you, thank you. Madeleine and Hæra wouldn’t be here if not for you. My love and gratitude, always.

ALSO BY ROSLYN SINCLAIR

The Lily and the Crown

The X Ingredient

Truth and Measure

Above All Things

The Magister Series (written under the pen name July Hall)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Roslyn Sinclair knew she was destined to be a writer when her second-grade teacher took one look at her “What I did on my summer vacation” essay and said, “You wrote a novel!” It was all over after that. She is married to fellow sapphic romance writer Carrie Byrd, and they live in the greater Philadelphia area.

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