Love and thanks to Christina Terry, who made sure I occasionally got away from the office to have some fun while I worked on this thing. All the love in the world to the King-Braffet compound, to Naomi, and to my parents, who as a group, in a thousand ways, made this book possible, and make my days a joy. Above all, thanks to my three sons, who make me so happy—I love you boys. I’m so grateful for our life together.
Finally: shortly after I completed the third draft of this novel, my friend and agent of twenty years, Mickey Choate—Laurel’s beloved husband—passed away of lung cancer, at the age of fifty-three. I didn’t know he was sick. He kept it to himself. The first I learned of his illness was when Laurel called me up to tell me he had died. He never smoked and he ran every day and it all seems very unfair. In our last conversation he had just finished reading The Fireman and he told me he thought it was a damn fine book. His approval meant the world to me; at the same time, I hate that so many of our conversations were about me and my writing. I wish we had talked about him a bit more. Mickey loved to get a good meal at an exciting new restaurant, and I wish we had had a last dinner together, so I could’ve told him I thought he was a damn fine friend. Maybe turnabout is fair play, though. Mickey represented me for almost a decade before I told him Hill wasn’t really my last name. We each of us managed to spring at least one truly jolting surprise on the other.
I love you, Mickey. Thank you for letting me have a place in your life.
About the Author
JOE HILL is the author of the New York Times bestsellers NOS4A2, Horns, and Heart-Shaped Box, and the prizewinning story collection 20th Century Ghosts. He is also the Eisner Award–winning writer of a six-volume comic book series, Locke & Key. He lives in New Hampshire.
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