I would also like to note that though there may not be anything left of the earth goddess Atiola, she was a deity whom Anita brought up more than once to Feliciana, even acknowledging that this goddess was on the verge of being forgotten. In all of my research I couldn’t find anything beyond Anita’s references to her. It would seem that her story is lost to time.

One thing I did not need to exaggerate was José’s love for Anita. His pet name for her, tesoro mio, came from his writings where he often referred to his wife as his treasure. He also wrote the following in his autobiography: “Fate reserved for me that other Brazilian flower which I still weep for, and for which I shall weep while I live.”

In crafting this story, the one thing that I didn’t expect was to find a feminist icon whom I could look up to, whose strength inspired and encouraged me in ways I never would have imagined. I am proud to be a steward of Anita’s tale.

Acknowledgments

Writing can be a very solitary activity. However, to get a story from a rough sketch in a notebook to an actual book takes a community. If it weren’t for these people, The Woman in Red wouldn’t be published.

First and foremost, a huge thank you to my agent, Johanna Castillo. Thank you for seeing the diamond in the rough, for giving me opportunities, and for always being there for my questions and anxieties.

Karen Kosztolnyik, thank you for being such a great editor and for loving my book as much as I do. It has been a true pleasure working with you. You made a lifelong dream come true, and I am eternally grateful. Likewise, thank you Grand Central for all your hard work in making this book happen. The Woman in Red found the perfect home with you.

Ryan Tierney, my husband, the peanut butter to my jelly, thank you for not only seeing my vision but for also putting up with the overflowing laundry and dirty dishes just so I could write one more chapter. You were always my first sounding board and listened patiently when I needed to vent.

Thank you to my father, William Giovinazzo, for nagging me to pick up a book about Anita. As always, you were right, I did love her story. For my mother, Helen Hall, thank you for encouraging me to have more books than shoes.

Holly Kammier, thank you for being an early editor and for helping me to take The Woman in Red to the next level.

Erin Lindsay McCabe and Greer Macallister, you were always available for my questions and never failed to cheer me on and console me when I was down. Likewise, to the rest of my historical fiction high-vibe tribe: Mary Volmer, Heather Webb, Alyssa Palombo, and Stephanie Storey, thank you for your support, advice, and mentorship.

It is a special thing to be able to count an Amanda as a friend; perhaps I am especially lucky to have two Amandas in my life. Amanda Vetter, thank you for being there for advice and insight even when you had no idea what was going on. We’ve come a long way since the Gag Factory. Amanda Sawyer, thank you for being a fantastic critique partner. I am truly grateful for the friendship that we built over long-distance coffee dates and writing.