Nantucket Blue (20 page)

THANK YOU
to my wonderful agent and friend, the incomparable Sara Crowe. I love being on this journey with you and am very lucky to have you on my side. I am so grateful to my editor, the excellent Emily Meehan, for believing in this book and challenging me to make it better. It’s an honor to work with you. A special thanks goes to Elizabeth Holcomb for her careful copyediting, and the entire team at Disney-Hyperion for their hard work and enthusiasm.

Thank you to Kayla Cagan and Vanessa Napolitano for their friendship, wisdom, and guidance as, chapter by chapter, they helped this story grow from an idea into a manuscript; and to Elena Evangelo and Brandy Colbert for their assistance with revisions.

I am indebted to the people who educated me about beautiful Nantucket, especially Eileen McGrath. Not only does she know everything about the island, a half hour in her company is a tonic for the soul. Thank you to the Island Reef Guest House for providing an affordable place to stay on Nantucket while I researched, and to Bob Crowe for his hospitality and generosity. Thanks to Ethan Rutherford for our many conversations about writing and publishing, Richard Rushfield for his insight into journalism, and Melissa Pennacchia Nash for sharing her knowledge of lacrosse.

Thank you to my family: my mom, my dad, Gifford, Maryhope, Elizabeth, and Meredith. I also thank my aunt, Mimi Freeman, for her faith in me from the start. Thank you to all the teachers and friends who have supported my writing over the years, especially Hettie Jones, Alison Singh Gee, Gay Cima, Robert Florin, Jim Hines, Maria Collins, Larkin Hatchett Peters, Paola Fantini, Alice Johnson Boher, Kate Snow, Gina Hirsch, Lisa Bastoni Boucher, Patty Smith, and, of course, Izzy Smith Haring.

And to my husband, my sweetheart, Jonathan Davis. I value your brilliance, humor, and love beyond words. Thank you for everything.