The Bear and the Nightingale

Acknowledgments

Writing a first novel is rather like tilting at a windmill, on the off chance that it might be a giant. I am more grateful than I can say to all those folks who were willing to play Sancho Panza on this long, strange charge.

In other words, thanks to everyone for believing. It’s been a crazy ride.

To Dad and Beth, thank you for first reads, for many delicious dinners, and for being willing to harbor your very own madwoman in the attic. To Mom for keeping track of the fictitious shovel that literally no one else (including me) noticed. Carol Dawson for reading and liking and helping, long before anyone else not a parent did. Abhay Morrissey for dragging me into the sunshine when I threatened to stay at my laptop until I grew roots. Chris Johnson and R. J. Adler for films and songs respectively, and terrible vegan jokes from both of you. To Phyl Cast for raw chocolate and behind-the-scenes publishing info. To Kaitlin Maxfield for hoicking a pile of pages everywhere until she’d read something resembling a rough draft. To Erin Haywood for some really amazing hours spent making up stuff—if I’m ever stuck for an idea, I’m calling you. Robin Rice for crying at a Good Part and boosting my flagging confidence. Tatiana Smorodinskaya, Sergei Davydov, and the entire Russian Department at Middlebury College for an incredible education, which I hope I have not utterly disgraced. Carl Sieber, Konstantin, Anton, and all the folks at Carbon12 Creative for the most beautiful website a girl could ever have. Deverie Fernandez for being willing to take photos in the rain. Chris Archer for taking photos in the sunshine, and putting in the hours with mad Photoshop skills. Paula Hartman for kind words early on that got me through some tough spots. Ann Dubinet for delicious dinners and late-night advice. Sasha Melnikova for renaming a horse and not letting me get away with anything. Kim Ammons for winning ALL THE PRIZES in proofreading. Harrison Johnson for amazing critter art. Evan Johnson…because always. To all the people at Random House, starting with genius editor Jennifer Hershey, who has a knack for simple ideas that make a manuscript infinitely better. Thank you also to Anne Speyer, David Moench, Jess Bonet, Vincent La Scala, and Emily DeHuff. Thank you to everyone on the other side of the Great English Divide: Gillian Green for taking over my orphaned book; Tessa Henderson, Emily Yau, and Stephenie Naulls for so much kindness and hard work. To my amazing agent, Paul Lucas, who dragged me back into this game when I was on the verge of quitting and then went on to prove his confidence well-founded. I can’t thank you enough. Thanks also to Dorothy Vincent, Brenna English-Loeb, Michael Steger, and everyone at Janklow and Nesbit.

To all of you, I am more grateful than I can say.