Acknowledgments

This was a book dear to my heart—and I thank Phil Sexton, publisher of Writer’s Digest and all-around good guy, for paying me to write it. And to all my friends at Writer’s Digest, including my wonderful editor, Rachel Randall; Cris Freese; Alex Rixey; Chuck Sambuchino; Kevin Quinn; Aaron Bauer; Sue Johnson; and Kimberly Catanzarite.

I must also thank my sister agents at Talcott Notch Literary, including Rachael Dugas, Saba Sulaiman, and our fearless leader, Gina Panettieri. And my folks, Paul and Marilyn Munier, who appear in virtually everything I write, in one way or another, whether they like it or not.

And a shout-out to the wonderful authors whose commitment to craft inspires me every day, including Hank Phillippi Ryan, Hallie Ephron, William Martin, Joseph Finder, Julia Spencer-Fleming, Craig Johnson, Tess Gerritsen, Trish MacGregor, Rob MacGregor, Julia Cameron, Lee Child, Reed Farrel Coleman, Harlen Coben, Jane Cleland, Alice Hoffman, Claire Cook, Mark Nepo, Mary Oliver, Anne Lamott, Elizabeth Berg, and so many more. Thank you especially to the colleagues and clients whose stories brighten this book and my writing life, including Rob Brancatelli, John K. Waters, Indi Zeleny, Shannon Stoker, Brian Thiem, Kim Van Alkemade, Michele Dorsey, J.J. Partridge, Larry Kay, Jess Anastasi, Cate Holahan, Cynthia Riggs, Meera Lester, Susan Reynolds, Mardeene Mitchell, Margaret McLean, Rich Krevolin, Brian Thornton, Greg Bergman, Alexis Munier, Michael Lee, Richard Thomas, Kate Defrise, Jim Shannon, Dick Cass, Tom Owens, Vaughn Hardacker, Gail Greiner, Ethan Ellenberg, Jon Kennedy, Ray Daniel, Kate Flora, Steve Ulfelder, and everyone on the New England Crime Bake Committee.

And a final heartfelt thanks to all of the writers who’ve shared their time and work with me over the years, and to you, my readers.

May you write with quiet hands, always.