Sketchy (24 page)

Marcus.

To my husband, daughter, and son, you surround me with an impenetrable triangle of love every minute of every day. I am so lucky and grateful to have the three of you. I love you so much.

I thank my mother and (late) father for your unwavering love and support throughout the years; for your creative, artistic genes; and for sitting patiently through years of plays and musicals. You were always the first to clap—and the loudest. I carry your applause in my back pocket and pull it out whenever I need a boost of confidence.

To my
huge
extended family: to my six siblings, thank you for staging the “garage shows” back on Asher Court. I believe the bug bit me then—or maybe it was one of you. Regardless, it was a great ensemble, and it still is. I send big hugs to my in-laws for making the life of a starving actress in New York rather easy and for your continued support, encouragement, and love.

Every writer should have an agent like the beautiful Lisa Gallagher. Her intelligent, copious notes, solid belief in me, and hard work brought me here today, typing these words about how unbelievably wonderful she is. Cheers, Lisa!

To the team at Amazon Publishing—Larry Kirshbaum, Tim Ditlow, and Margery Cuyler—thank you so much for reading my manuscript and loving it and for providing me
with my editor, Marilyn Brigham, who continues to guide and inspire me through her keen second set of eyes; and for Katrina Damkoehler, my art director, who honed and shaped the work of amazing cover artist Sammy Yuen.

I am indebted to James Patterson, Steve Bowen, and Leopoldo Gout for reading my pages, encouraging me to continue, and slipping them onto Lisa’s desk. None of this could have happened without your help.

Alvin Sargent, you took me seriously years ago as a writer and graced me with your wry, unforgettable advice. I’ve tethered your wise words to myself with superglue. Thank you.

To all my friends (you know who you are), reaching back to when I was a little girl swimming in the muddy lakes of Michigan till now, hiking the hot trails of Southern California, thank you for your ears, your heart, for sharing your own stories… you are my living Post-it Notes, reminding me, giving me the inspiration and courage to forge ahead.

And finally, to my dog and cat, the most loyal of all, who book-ended me every day as I wrote. They listened to every word written and still adore me. Go figure.