First and foremost, a huge thank you to Billy Mernit, my Hollywood guru, mentor, writing instructor, and the man who helped bring this book to life. I credit you fully with the rebirth of my writing career, and for having re-ignited my passion and enthusiasm with your brilliant insights and your gift for understanding how to tell a damn good story. Every writer should have a Billy.
Thank you to my patient and tireless agent, Bev Slopen, who never gives up on me. You are my greatest champion and my best reality check, and I am so grateful that you took me under your wing when I showed up with my mom twenty years ago. We did it!
Thank you to Jennifer Barth, who changed everything when she welcomed me into the Harper Collins family. It’s been a thrill and an honor to work with you. Thank you for taking such good care of this book.
Thank you to Jessie and Luke for always entertaining me, making me laugh (and cry), filling my days with joy, and letting Mama write when she needs to write. I am truly blessed.
A most special thank you to my “live-in” editor and self-described “co-author” of the book, Miguel. Your red ‘X’s and scribbles on my pages—Embarrassing! Pathetic writing! Rewrite!—never fail to take my books to the next level. And on top of always being my first and most brutally honest reader, thank you for picking up the kids and driving them all over the city and letting me be The Writer. I love you.
Finally, thank you to my mother, Marsheh, whom I miss every single moment of every single day. I wish you were here to hold and read this book, to come to all my readings, to give me the support you always gave me and to still be my number one fan. You knew I was a writer even before I did, reading and celebrating every word I ever wrote from the time I was four years old. I am a writer because of you. And I have to believe that there’s a huge Indigo up there, and you still spend your days schma-ing through books, and you’ll see mine there and read it, and I’ll know.