“Where to?”
I point ahead to the north tower.
“Let’s start there.”
Thanks to my agent, Jennifer Weltz at JVNLA, for being such a wonderful navigator in all things, providing kind honesty at every turn while enduring my tendency to overthink everything. And to our UK agent, Nicola Barr at Greene & Heaton, for her excellent representation.
Thanks to my editor at LBYR, Pam Gruber, for diving deep into Mel’s world with me to find the story I wanted to tell and bring it to the surface. To Copy Chief Jen Graham, Production Editor Annie McDonnell, Copyeditor Sarah Chassé, and Proofreader Jodie Lowe, for smoothing out the rough spots. To Maggie Edkins for the amazing book design and brilliant cover! To Kristina Aven, Emilie Polster, Jenny Choy, Stephanie Hoffman, Jennifer McClelland-Smith, and Jane Lee for their excellent PR. To Alvina Ling, Farrin Jacobs, Shawn Foster, Victoria Stapleton, and Leslie Shumate, plus Megan Tingley, Andrew Smith, and Carol Scatorchio, for putting their faith in Mel Hannigan. And to Ruth Alltimes of HCUK, for coming in early, and to Elizabeth Clifford for helping us reach the finish.
Thanks especially to the many people who share their experiences in mental health with the world and to me personally. Without such open and honest accounts, true understanding would not be possible, and certainly this book would not have been.
Belated thanks to the writers I met early in my career who inspired me: Zina Yee for showing me the importance of details and consistency, Michael Humes for his examples of strength and integrity, David Luoto for his relentless out-of-left-field creativity, and Marti and Bridget McKenna for so much writing hospitality.
And special thanks to my family for accepting and loving me for who I truly am. Especially Susan, my number one fan; Shannon, for keeping me stepping right; and Rachel, for giving me back my confidence whenever I lost it in the house somewhere.