Phew. It really does take a village. Speaking of which . . . thanks to my entire transatlantic tribe: old and new buddies who answered random cries for help on Facebook; the Grossberg clan; the Rose family; Anne Claypole White; and—never forgotten—Reverend Douglas Eric Claypole White. Unending gratitude for Susan Rose, who caught my whopper of a mistake and saved the day. (And yes, her English bone china mugs full of history are fabulous.)
Much love to fellow writers Elizabeth Brown and Sheryl Cornett, who bravely waded through my second draft—on a tight turnaround—to provide ideas that shaped the story and my characters; and a wave to Laura Spinella for tackling my rubbish synopsis. To Barbara Davis, please move back south so we can continue our author support group of two.
A million thanks to my beta reader, Leslie Gildersleeve, who went above and beyond time and time again, and realized—before I did—that the manuscript needed a flashback scene with Felix and his father. You, my friend, are the best.
Mother-son hug for Oberlin sophomore Zachariah Claypole White: for answering every text that screamed “word choice emergency,” for staying up half the night to read the third draft, and for providing a brilliant critique with a decorative note that read, “Never say this manuscript is crap again or I’ll put a spider in your bed.” (Nice try—you’re more terrified of arachnids than I am.) And thank you to Zachariah and Danlee Gildersleeve, a.k.a. The Arcadian Project, for creating music that allows me to tune out the world and tune into my characters. Please remember your parents when you’re rich and famous. (We expect the rock ’n’ roll rest home.)
Biggest thank-you is reserved for my one and only—my emotional anchor, Lawrence Grossberg. Thank you for suffering through my craziness and for endless brainstorming that produced such genius comments as “What if Harry went to Harvard, Barbara?” Thank you for embracing domestic chaos and taking over huge chunks of our lives so that I could be a penniless dreamer. Most of all, thank you for believing that I could actually do this—again.
The following books were extremely helpful:
Too Perfect: When Being in Control Gets Out of Control, by Allan E. Mallinger, MD, and Jeanette Dewyze
Passing for Normal: A Memoir of Compulsion, by Amy S. Wilensky
Twitch and Shout: A Touretter’s Tale, by Lowell Handler
A Family’s Quest for Rhythm: Living with Tourette, ADD, OCD, and Challenging Behaviors, by Kathy Giordano and Matt Giordano
BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
No one in the novel is quite as he or she seems at first. Ella, for example, appears to be the perfect mother, but is filled with hidden doubts and insecurities; Felix appears to be a rigid control freak, and yet every decision he makes for the family pushes him beyond his comfort zone. As the story unfolds, did any of the other characters surprise you, and if so, in what ways? Do you agree that we are often too quick to pigeonhole a person based on one aspect of his or her personality?
Felix is a dark, unlikely hero. Even as Katherine warms to him, she calls him an antihero. How do you feel about Felix, and did those feelings change while you were reading the novel? Is Felix his own worst critic?
Were you shocked by Felix’s flashback scene? Do you think we ever truly know what goes on in a family?
Harry does not have coprolalia—the involuntary and repetitive use of obscene language. Coprolalia is, however, the most common popular image of Tourette’s, even though it affects only a small percentage of people with Tourette syndrome. Do you agree that fictional characters struggling with neurological or mental disorders are often depicted using stereotypes? Do any of your family members battle an invisible disability, and if so, what have you found to be the most challenging part of explaining quirky behavior to the outside world?
When parenting a high-maintenance child, do the lines blur between being a helicopter parent and being a child advocate? Does Ella’s health crisis speed up the natural process of separation and boundary setting that she and Harry must experience?
How do Harry’s relationships with both his parents change during the novel?