Thank you to Jeffrey Baron, Andrea Bent, Alexia Brown, Kendra Dobalian, Melissa Floren Filippone, Margo Furman, and Nelson González for critical conversations about gender, sexuality, boundaries, privilege, and violence during these few years, and for decades of friendship besides.
Thank you to Stephen Grosz.
Thank you to Maggie, whom I miss very much.
I wrote these pages knowing Sarah Burnes was waiting to read them. Her advocacy has been irreplaceable. Thank you to Seth Fishman for opening the door, and to Julia Eagleton, Rebecca Gardner, Will Roberts, and Anna Worrall at the Gernert Company.
Sarah and Asya Muchnick have been as supportive as it is possible to be, and offered a collaboration that is the only cure for the loneliness of sending a revealing book into the world. They have never confused the book for the writer or the writer for the girl, and this clarity allowed for consistent expression of care and respect. Thank you also to the entire team at Little, Brown, especially Terry Adams, Reagan Arthur, Ira Boudah, Sabrina Callahan, Allan Fallow, Evan Hansen-Bundy, Shannon Hennessey, Pamela Marshall, Elisa Rivlin, Maggie Southard, Massey Barner, and Craig Young. Thank you to Elizabeth Garriga and Nicole Dewey for their instincts to both publicity and protection.
Robin Troy and Mimi Munson, girl on the rock, girl in the pew: you have meant life since I was fourteen. “Alex”: may you have everything good.
Thank you to my parents, who have always sought out the best schools, books, cities, churches, words, stories, adventures, mountains, and people they could to help me build a life and a self. What was glamorous taught me ambition; what was eccentric taught me wit; what was passionate taught me devotion. Here we are.
Finally, to my husband: your courage is my torch. I love you, and our boys, with everything I have.
About the Author
Lacy Crawford is the author of the novel Early Decision. She lives in California with her family.
Also by Lacy Crawford
Early Decision
