My journey with Margaret began when my business partner, Faith Nance, insisted I write Roberta and ask if we could publish one of Margaret’s books. I am so glad she pushed me into Margaret’s path. Thanks also to Marla Persky and Craig Heberton for keeping that little company we started going all these years. Additional thanks to all of the people who have worked with us on Margaret’s manuscripts for the past twenty-five years, particularly Michele Gay, Angie Nash, Alison Payne, Sara Conn, Taryn Seale, Susan Evans, and Caroline Bon Temps.
The keepers of Margaret’s papers were essential from beginning to end. I wish to thank Beth Harris at Hollins University and Beth Waller at Woods Rogers for being beside me on this journey through the maze of Margaret’s papers. I also am grateful to Nina Wright at Westerly Public Library for carefully preserving the evidence of Margaret’s brilliance entrusted there and lending your thorough knowledge of those papers to this project. Thanks also to Lindsey Wyckoff at Bank Street College; Beth Ziemacki, Emily Brenner, and Nancy Inteli at HarperCollins; Diane Muldrow at Golden Books; Meredith Mundy and Bill Luckey at Sterling Publishers; and Wendy Friedman at Parragon for their help with this book and their dedication to Margaret’s legacy. The professional assistance of Doctors Karen and Bill Rhueban helped me understand Margaret’s mind and body—thank you, dynamic duo.
I also am forever indebted to Laurel Ripley Galloway for sharing her own memories of Margaret and her mother’s stories from the Birdbrain Club members. Although they didn’t know Margaret, Liv Rockefeller and Stillman Rockefeller grew up in the ever-present shadow she cast on the Only House. I am grateful to them for allowing me access to that magical place. Many thanks to Liv’s valiant husband, Ken Shure, for braving the elements to deliver me to that rocky coast whenever I asked. Thank you all for helping me unfold the Margaret documented on these pages and for your friendship.
Friends and family became more important to me than ever as I began to write this book. My husband, Nap Gary, passed away the day after I finished my first chapter. He was my toughest editor, but my greatest supporter. I want to thank my parents, brothers, and sisters from the Little Clan and Team Gary for buoying me during those darkest of days. Additional thanks to Daniele Lang, Colleen Murphy, and Linda Smigel for lending me your beautiful homes in which to write the book and rewrite my life. Hugs and heartfelt thanks also to Terry Finley, J. B. Hopkins, Katie Finley, Laura Juarez, Jeannie Bailey, Judy Ault, Beth Sahlie, Cyd Moore, Lucinda Wilson, and the Goddesses. You are my Birdbrain Club, and when I’m with you it feels like Christmas.
A round of applause to my children Emily, Britt, and David for patiently listening to Margaret’s stories when they were young and my stories about her as I wrote this book. They remain my North, East, South, and West.
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Prologue
1950
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