The Wrecking Crew

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Great thanks to literary agent extraordinaire Carrie Pestritto for cheerleading this novel all the way to publication. Thanks also to Blank Slate editors Donna Essner for seeing the potential in the story and Kristina Blank Makansi for bringing out the best in every sentence. I’ve been profoundly lucky to work with such a marvelous team.

I am so grateful to Oki Radic for sitting me down and telling me in no uncertain terms that I must write this novel, as well as all her subsequent feedback. I’d also like to recognize Jonathan Wu for shepherding this story from the earliest drafts — I owe you both so much.

Thanks to first readers John Griffith and Jeremy Mohler for their incredible feedback and support, and to Caleb Gaw and Thierry Sagnier for their amazing help at critical times. Thanks also to my parents, Guy and Susan Zajonc — without your support, none of this would have been possible.

I am so blessed to have Milton Polk, Kelly Polk and Micah Eldred in my corner. And a special thanks to Richard Bernard, for helping me see not only the potential in this work, but also myself.

Writers’ groups Arlington Creative Non-Fiction Writers of Virginia and The People’s Ink of Portland, Oregon have been phenomenal support networks, and I’ve been honored to be a member of both.

Most of all, many thanks my incredible wife Andrea. I could never have wished for a more encouraging, insightful and supportive partner as I squirreled myself away in my office with my strange characters and faraway lands. You are amazing and the inspiration for everything I do.