ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I’m so glad Will Staehle and Doogie Horner agreed to draw the pictures in this book—long before I had a contract, or a manuscript, or even a clear idea of what the pictures might be. Thanks, guys, for your faith in this project, for the terrific artwork, and for keeping me company during the lockdown.
Dr. Jill Warrington shared valuable insights on addiction, recovery, and prescription painkillers, and her daughter Grace alerted me to some embarrassing first-draft mistakes. Rick Chillot and Steve Hockensmith gave me close reads and good ideas. Nick Okrent helped with fairy tale research. Deirdre Smerillo helped with legal questions. Jane Morley gave me information about distance running. And Ed Milano shared additional perspective on addiction and recovery.
Doug Stewart is a great guy and a fantastic literary agent. He introduced me to Zack Wagman, a terrific editor who suggested many smart ways to improve this book. Thanks also to: Maxine Charles, Keith Hayes, Shelly Perron, Molly Bloom, Donna Noetzel, and everyone at Flatiron Books; Darcy Nicholson at Little Brown UK; Brad Wood and the rest of the Macmillan sales force; Szilvia Molnar, Danielle Bukowski, and Maria Bell at Sterling Lord Literistic; Rich Green and Ellen Goldsmith-Vein at the Gotham Group; Caspian Dennis at Abner Stein; Dylan Clark, Brian Williams, and Lauren Foster at Dylan Clark Productions; and Mandy Beckner and Liya Gao at Netflix.
Above all I am grateful to my family, especially my mother (who worked as a nanny), my son Sam (a cross-country runner), and my daughter Anna (who has been drawing since she could hold a pencil). I couldn’t have written this book without them. Or without my wife, Julie Scott, who has this book’s dedication and all my love. XOXOXO.