Mother May I(104)

Acknowledgments




I am profoundly grateful to all you readers, librarians, and booksellers who read, buy, and stock my books and who recommend them both in person and online. You gift me a career that is an absolute joy. Thank you! These words are inadequate. But, thank you! I’ll keep writing as long as you keep reading.

I share my main character’s deep love for Atlanta’s innovative, eclectic theatre scene; Scott and I regularly see shows at places like Alliance Theatre, Horizon, 7 Stages, Dad’s Garage, and Shakespeare Tavern. I actually saw Caryl Churchill’s Traps at our favorite local theatre, Actor’s Express, in their inaugural season. Bree did not play Syl.

My editor, Emily Krump, is smart and subtle and a mighty champion of my work. I so appreciate the way she and everyone at William Morrow have given me a publishing home where I can grow and change. Huge thanks to Liate Stehlik, Jennifer Hart, Tavia Kowalchuk, Kelly Rudolph, Maureen Cole, Christine Edwards, Andy LeCount, Mary Beth Thomas, Ashley Mihlebach, Carla Parker, Rachel Levenberg, Virginia Stanley, Eric Svenson, Ploy Siripant, Mary Ann Petyak, Shelby Peak, Julia Elliott, and Maureen Sugden (who spots the word I am currently overusing to a criminal degree, every book).

Thank you to my onetime editor and current agent, Caryn Karmatz Rudy. Mother May I is dedicated to her, and it’s about time. Her influence is shot through all my published work, which is infinitely better for it. My gratitude and deep, fond regard for my first agent, Jacques de Spoelberch, is eternal.

Lydia Netzer and Abbott Kahler, Group is like delicious medication. Sara Gruen, make me a tiny book of this! Alison Law, you are invaluable. My local writer posse helped ferment this book and I love them: Anna Schachner, Reid Jensen, Ginger Eager, and Dr. Jake Myers.

I love you, Scott. I love you, Sam and Maisy Jane. I love you, family: Betty (and Bob, always), Bobby, Julie, Daniel, Claire, Eleanor Rose (our new, tiny Jackson, already clearly a prodigy!), Erin Virginia, and Julian (also new, also a prodigy, but much larger), and Jane, and Allison.

My Jesus people keep me breathing. I love you, New Revised Standard Dinner Club (Brownings and Garbers and Myers, oh my), and First Baptist Church of Decatur, especially the Beloved Community of STK. I love you always, Slanted Sidewalk, small group, and the popular girls (looking at you, Julie and Amy) who fundamentally shaped me and my writing.

Love and gratitude to the students and board members and teachers and volunteers and employees who together make Reforming Arts. Our voices matter.