My deepest thanks to the talented Dimitrios Antonitsis, who gave me an unforgettable art lesson on the Greek island of Hydra. Any wisdom imparted by the fictional art teacher, Demetris, I learned from you. Also, thank you to Ron Neuman, who taught me sketching techniques. And a big thanks to my cousin Jeff Pearlman, who answered all my yachting questions.

This book would not be possible without the knowledge and generosity of Daniel Ischakis. From your tailored Jewish Heritage Tour in Athens to years’ worth of answering my most minute historical questions, you helped me to tell the story of the Jews of Corfu with integrity and authenticity. And my sincerest thanks to Isaak Dostis for his moving documentaries about Greek and Corfiot Jewry, and for sharing invaluable insights. Thank you to the many other kind people who contributed to my understanding of Greek and Corfiot Jewry, including Angelo Raphael, Daisy Doron, Marcia Haddad Ikonomopolus, Irene Kokodis, and Nino Nachshon through his poignant YouTube testimonies.

Thank you to my friends, spread out across the globe. I cherish you all. Special thanks to Lauren Klitofsky and Jill Salama Handman, for reading early drafts and always believing in me. And thank you to Jim Doyle and Maxine Isaacs, who were both there from day one of this journey. I’m extraordinarily grateful for both of you and the important work you do.

I have the best family in the world. Period, end of story. Thank you to my uncle David Newman, my uncle Jeff Adler, and Renee Potvin, who have always nurtured my dreams, and special thanks to my aunt Nancy Newman Adler, who has read every book I have ever written going back to age seventeen, with unending encouragement. Thank you to my cousins who are also among my closest friends, Mitchell, Eden, and Jesse Adler, and Lexy and Tori Grant. You guys are the absolute best.

Thank you to my brother, Jason Goldis, for reading the first (not great) draft of this book, despite being plainly outside my target female demographic. Thank you for believing in me so much; I adore you. Thank you to my sister-in-law, Arica Goldis, and my brother-in-law, Nadav Goren, for their unwavering support and making me feel so celebrated in the publishing process. And thanks to my nephews, Liad Goren and Griffin Goldis, and my niece, Reagan Goldis, for smiles and cuteness that always make my day.

Thank you to my grandparents whom I never got to meet, Khana Vinarskaya and Shimon Goldis. You and your families faced extreme evil and adversity during World War II and the Holocaust, and your bravery has forever inspired me and my characters. And to my grandparents whom I had the great fortune to see nearly every day of my childhood, my Zadie, Larry Newman, and my Bubbie, Libby Newman, thank you for your love that I have always felt in my every molecule. Being your grandchild has been one of the greatest blessings of my life.