On a personal note, I had to lean on several truly amazing people in my life to help me get the details right. For architectural information, particularly about net-zero building, thank you architect extraordinaire and cuz-in-law, Nancy Clayton. For graphic design information, I am ever grateful to my creative genius cuz, Brad Collins, and my extremely talented friend Bob Diercksmeier. I took all of the information you three gave me and twisted it to suit my own purposes. I take full responsibility if I messed anything up—it’s been known to happen—but, hey, it’s fiction!

Because this book was written just as the world was entering lockdown and I suddenly had two Hooligans and a Hub also online at home all day long (chaos!), I want to thank Leslie and Dale Thomas for the use of their beautiful home as my office. Truly, the book never would have gotten written without this area of temporary refuge.

One of my greatest challenges as a writer is to craft characters who travel difficult paths. I struggle with torturing them! I want to thank three people who have shared their personal journeys with me and by doing so have given me greater insight into the inner lives of my characters. Sheila Levine, Natalia Fontes, and Chris Hansen Orf. You are three of the strongest people I know, and I love you dearly.

On a lighter note, but equally important, much thanks to my nephew Austin McKinlay for showing me how to view the world through an artist’s eyes with your brilliant photographs. Annabelle’s artistic temperament definitely came from you.

I suppose I need to thank my Hooligans, Beckett and Wyatt, for getting me to the gym and working out with a trainer. For the record, I still hate it, but I love you very much.

Authors will tell you that everything is material. It’s true. Thank you to my nephew Phoenix McKinlay and his number one, Bailey Boutiette, for introducing me to their adorable tuxedo kitten, Giuseppe Socks. I’d never met a tuxedo before! Thanks to my nephew Chase Johnson, who nicknamed Otto—my salt and pepper schnauzer—“Sir” while dog-sitting him. It just happened to be the perfect name for the cat (a tuxedo!) who appears in Wait For It. Yes, this is how an author’s brain works.

This book wouldn’t exist without the time (i.e., happy hours) I spent with my dear friend and neighbor, Howard Adams. You taught me so much about life and resilience and compassion. Being a wheelchair user never slowed you down, in fact, you learned how to gain speed. I’ll always remember our X-Files marathons, where you hid under your hat, and I’ll forever be your Ave Maria.