Sincere thanks as well to all of the talented, dedicated, and kind people I’ve worked with at Ecco and WME, including but not limited to Dan Halpern, Sonya Cheuse, Meghan Deans, Miriam Parker, Nyamekye Waliyaya, Dale Rohrbaugh, Victoria Mathews, Sara Birmingham, and Renata De Oliveira at Ecco; and Tracy Fisher, Sylvie Rabineau, Matilda Forbes Watson, Alina Flint, Andrea Blatt, and Jamie Carr at WME.

Thank you to Allison Saltzman for the pitch-perfect cover and to Roger Ycaza for the little houses; thank you to Ilsa Brink, website designer extraordinaire.

Thank you to my family:

To my mother, Isabel, who is always there for me.

To Ethan and Sylvie, who watched me write for years without ever suggesting I give it up already—offering love, encouragement, and understanding all the while. Extra thanks to you, Sylvie, for all of your original art.

To my brother Kenny, the wise model for Terrance, who reminds me every day that kindness is what it’s all about.

To my brother Stephen and my sister-in-law Jeanne, my niece Natasha, and my nephew Austin. To my cousins Robin and Holly—an extra shout-out to Robin for providing me with a New York home and the glam author photo. Canine thanks to Ginger, who made sure I got out for walks and offered a belly to rub during the long writing process.

Thank you to Jeannie Zusy—BFF, sister, writing twin—for love and friendship and unparalleled support since we were two years old. May we forever meet each other halfway.

To dear friends who helped in countless ways, supporting me at every turn: D.C. sister Cari Shane, California sister Ann Shulman, Spiderwoman Mary Koles, peace-loving Cheryl Dodwell, and best-ever-neighbor Audrey Singer. To the lovely and ever-gracious Susan Coll, who took me by the hand and led me over the wall. Grazie mille to Diana Meyer-Buchanan for a room of my own in Besacio, Switzerland, and to the rest of the Baum-Hackenberg crew. In special memory of Sylvie Hackenberg. Thanks to Cackalacky Michael Durbin, aesthetic magician Anna Kahoe, and my beloved yogi tribe: David Zyck, Susan Fensterheim, Cecile Giannangeli, Michaela Genitheim, Shannon Sharma, and the rest of the One Aum crew. Thank you to Lauren Cerand. Thank you to Siri, who heard “Happy Halloween” as “Gary Holloway” and therein named Allison’s ex; look for another appearance in Jeannie Zusy’s next book. Thank you to all of the more seasoned writers and bookish folks in D.C., New York, and beyond who so generously took me under their wings and to the debut writers who flapped along beside me—newfound friends all. Thank you to my yoga students and to everyone else who has been there for me in ways big and small throughout this long journey.

About the Author

JULIE LANGSDORF has received four fiction grants from the Maryland State Arts Council and her work has appeared in several literary magazines. She lives, writes, and teaches yoga in Washington, D.C.