Most Wanted

Acknowledgments

I have been wanting to write about a teacher for a long time. I feel as if educators don’t get the credit they deserve, and the more teachers I meet, the more amazed and impressed I am by their energy, dedication, and heart. I feel like they are true heroes, so it was natural for me to finally make a heroine out of one, the fictional Christine Nilsson, and I hope that by doing so, we can shine a spotlight on teachers everywhere.

The first thanks go to teachers, for all they do for all of us, and especially to Kellie Bean, a reading specialist in the Owen J. Roberts School District. Kellie took me to an elementary school, introduced me to all of her amazing colleagues, and answered every question I had about life as a teacher. I am so grateful to Kellie for the time she took and for her sharing all of her expertise with me. I like her so much and admire her even more, and she deserves major thanks here. And thanks to Malinda McKillip, principal of French Creek Elementary in the Owen J. Roberts School District.

On a different point, I loved writing this novel partly because I learned so much about the subject of infertility and its treatments, as well as the emotional difficulties that people who have fertility issues undergo. For that I turned to a number of experts, and I would like to acknowledge them. It should go without saying, but it never does, that all of the doctors, medical professionals, and medical clinics in the novel are entirely fictional, and also that any and all mistakes in the novel are mine.

Thank you to Dr. Michael Glassner, Dr. John Orris, and Dr. Sharon Anderson of Main Line Fertility Clinic, who spent so much time educating me about infertility and its treatments. They are simply the most dedicated and caring professionals you can ever imagine, and they perform miracles every day. I couldn’t be more grateful or respect them more, and they deserve big thanks here. And thanks to Liz Verrecchio, andrologist, and Anne Yarrow Walters, insurance specialist, also at Main Line Fertility, for all of their help. Plus Raisinets!

Thank you to Dr. Andrea Boxer and to Dr. Judy Mechanic Braverman, both of whom are psychologists who specialize in treating couples dealing with infertility. Both of these incredible women shared their expertise and their kindness with me, helping me understand what it would be like to be in the position of the main characters in this novel. I am indebted to them, and thank them very much.

Thank you to Rose Jardine, an experienced genetics counselor, who helped me understand the genetics behind sperm and egg donation. Thank you to Dr. Allison Shirker of Women’s Health Care Group of Pennsylvania.

Special thanks to John Bierkan-and Smartie Martie!

Finally, I’m a bookaholic, so I read a lot which I hoped informed this novel. (As the reading specialists say, first you learn to read, then you read to learn.) I heartily recommend the following books: The Root Cause: Male Infertility and How to Get Past It by Gabriel Leone, Test Tubes and Testosterone: A Man’s Journey into Infertility and IVF by Michael Saunders, How to Make Love to a Plastic Cup: A Guy’s Guide to the World of Infertility by Greg Wolfe, What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff, Finding Our Families by Wendy Kramer and Naomi Cahn, Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler, and The Serial Killer Files by Harold Schechter.

I’m a lawyer, but criminal law wasn’t my field. I needed help and I turned to my dear friend, as well as a brilliant and dedicated public servant, Nicholas Casenta, Esq., chief of the Chester County District Attorney’s Office. Nick has helped me with every single book so far, and I wouldn’t dream of writing without his advice and expertise. Special thanks as well to Jerry Dugan, Esq., one of the most experienced lawyers in Philadelphia, who helped me navigate the legal details in the book.

Thank you to Linda Vizi, a former Special Agent with the FBI in Philadelphia, and to Ray Carr, a former profiler with the FBI in Philadelphia, for their expertise and for the time they took to answer all of my questions.

For medical expertise, I turned to genius cardiologist Dr. John O’Hara at Paoli Hospital and to my favorite medical student, soon-to-be-doctor Nora Demchur. And thank you to Sklar Medical Instruments and Vince Gay, Ron Templeton, and Yajaira Reyes.

Special thanks to Keith and Rita Kaplan.

Thank you to my editor, Jennifer Enderlin, who improves every one of my manuscripts, and more important, inspires me every day. And big love and thanks to everyone at St. Martin’s Press, the terrific John Sargent, Sally Richardson, Jeff Dodes, Paul Hochman, Jeff Capshew, Stephanie Davis, Brian Heller, Brant Janeway, Lisa Senz, John Karle, Tracey Guest, Dori Weintraub, Michael Storrings, Anne-Marie Tallberg, Nancy Trypuc, Kerry Nordling, Elizabeth Wildman, Elena Yip, Talia Sherer, Kim Ludlum, and all the wonderful sales reps. Big thanks to Michael Storrings, for outstanding cover design. Also hugs and kisses to Mary Beth Roche, Laura Wilson, Samantha Edelson, and the great people in audiobooks. I love and appreciate all of you!

Thanks and big love to Robert Gottlieb of Trident Media Group, whose dedication and wisdom has guided this novel into publication, and to Nicole Robson and her digital media team, who helped me get the word out about this book and my other ones as well. Nicole is so dedicated that she worked through her own pregnancy, for which I am forever grateful! (Welcome to the world, Elle!)

Thanks and another big hug to my dedicated assistant and best friend, Laura Leonard. She’s invaluable in every way, and has been for more than twenty years. Thanks, too, to my pal and assistant Nan Daley, and to George Davidson, for doing everything else, so that I can be free to write!

Finally, thank you to my amazing daughter, Francesca, for all the support, laughter, and love she has given me.