The Winner's Crime(98)

My goal for this trilogy has been to read one ancient Greek or Roman text while writing each book. This time it was Herodotus’s The Histories, which gave me some ideas about how to represent the East. I should also admit that I had the temerity to take a metaphor from Shakespeare and reshape it to suit my fancy for a particular line in the scene by the canal (hint: it’s from Much Ado about Nothing).

Thank you to all the librarians, booksellers, and bloggers who have championed The Winner’s Curse. It’s been a real pleasure to get to know you in person and online. Your enthusiasm is so infectious—and appreciated.

Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group! I’m one lucky woman. I’m very grateful to everyone who has supported me and this series. My amazing editor, Janine O’Malley. My intrepid publicist, Gina Gagliano. My designer of heart-stopping covers, Beth Clark. And a whole marvelous cohort of people: Nicole Banholzer, Simon Boughton, Anna Booth, Molly Brouillette, Angie Chen, Jennifer Edwards, Jean Feiwel, Jennifer Gonzalez, Liz Fithian, Katie Halata, Angus Killick, Kathryn Little, Karen Ninnis, Joy Peskin, Karla Reganold, Caitlin Sweeney, Claire B. Taylor, Mary Van Akin, Allison Verost, Mark Von Bargen, Ksenia Winnicki, and Jon Yaged.

Charlotte Sheedy, my agent, is a dream, and I thank her and Mackenzie Brady and Joan Rosen.

Sometimes people ask me what the secret is to writing books, and my very serious reply is “good child care.” Thanks to my babysitters, parents, and in-laws: Monica Ciucurel, Anne Heltzl, Shaida Khan, Georgi MacCarthy, Sharon Singh, Marilyn and Robert Rutkoski, and Jean-Claude and Christiane Philippon.

My older son, Eliot (now five and a half), has an idea about why I sit in front of the computer instead of taking him to the Natural History Museum. My younger son, Téo (two years old), has only the sense of some great injustice and betrayal. Boys, I always miss you when I’m not with you, and I love you both best.



About the Author

Marie Rutkoski is the author of The Winner’s Curse, The Shadow Society, and the Kronos Chronicles, which includes The Cabinet of Wonders. She is a professor at Brooklyn College and lives in New York City. Learn more about her at marierutkoski.com or sign up for email updates here.