Acknowledgments
It is a precarious endeavor to write a novel about a psychologically disturbed family, as the most obvious question that arises is whether it is based on my own life. So it must be said, first and foremost, that I have a selfless and loving mother who bears no resemblance to Judy Martin. Not only is Terrilynne Walker my biggest fan, she is a frequent visitor to local bookstores where my novels often (and mysteriously) find themselves on the front displays well after their publication dates. If anything from my life shaped Emma in the Night, it is the bond between the Walker siblings that our mother helped forge and which became the inspiration for the relationship between Cass and Emma. As always, I am eternally grateful to my family.
I have been so fortunate to have had such incredible guidance and support in the writing and rewriting (and rewriting!) of Emma in the Night. My brilliant editor at St. Martin’s Press, Jennifer Enderlin, worked tirelessly to reshape and refine the story—reading draft after draft—until I finally got it right. Beside me the whole way, also reading multiple drafts and assuaging the inevitable doubt that creeps in when a story is being written, was my agent, Wendy Sherman. Without these two talented (and patient) women, this book would not have come to fruition.
To the entire team at St. Martin’s Press, including Lisa Senz, Dori Weintraub, Brant Janeway, Erica Martirano and Anne Marie Tallberg, thank you for your enthusiasm and tireless work publishing and promoting my work.
Thanks also to Jenny Meyer for bringing the novel into countries around the globe, and to Michelle Weiner at CAA, who always has a vision to bring my work to film and television.
On the technical front, I was so fortunate to have experts educate me about narcissistic personality disorder and FBI forensics. As always, I took some liberties to make the story work, but all of you helped keep me in the ballpark! So, many thanks to Dr. Felicia Rozek, Ph.D., Dr. Daniel Shaw, and Special Agents Robert and Beth Iorio, NCIS (Retired).
It has been such a pleasure to be on the road promoting my work with other authors and industry professionals. In particular, Carol Fitzgerald at Bookreporter.com—thank you for your boundless energy and expert advice about navigating social media and the retail world. Barbara Shapiro—thank you for your generosity and friendship as you travel the globe promoting your beautiful novels. I feel blessed to be a part of this industry.
To Andrew, Ben and Christopher—my beloved boys—thank you for filling my life with joy each and every day.