The Secret Language of Stones

Acknowledgments

To Sarah Branham, my amazing editor, for her patience and creativity and insight-if this novel shines-it is because of her.

To my wonderful publisher and friend Judith Curr for her steadfast faith in my work.

To the legendary Carolyn Reidy, CEO of Simon & Schuster, whose respect for authors makes all the difference.

To Lisa Sciambra, Hillary Tisman, Andrea Smith, Suzanne Donahue, Haley Weaver, and everyone whose hands this book passed through-your hard work and creative thinking is greatly appreciated.

To Alan Dingman for covers that somehow get more and more beautiful every year.

To Dan Conaway, no writer could have a better agent, and I could have no better friend.

To Taylor Templeton for her patience and cheer, and everyone at Writers House whose help is invaluable.

To Inezita Gay-Eckel without whom I would never have found La Fantaisie Russe, and that’s just the beginning. You opened up the magical world of gems to me and became such a dear friend in the process, thank you. And to all the other wonderful professors at L’ÉCOLE Van Cleef & Arpels in Paris. The week I spent with you learning about the art of jewelry-making influenced every page of this novel.

To Temple St. Clair whose inspiring talisman I wore each day when I sat down to write-there is magic in jewels.

To Simon Teakle Fine Jewelry and the staff at Betteridge Jewelers, both in Greenwich, Connecticut, who never chased me out and answered endless questions as I researched this novel.

To each and every one of my fabulous friends, but especially Liz and Steve Berry, Douglas Clegg, and Randy Susan Meyers.

A special thank-you to Natalie White, director of Client Services at AuthorBuzz.com without whom I wouldn’t even have time to write.

I also want to thank readers everywhere who make all the work worthwhile (please visit MJEmail.me for a signed bookplate). And to the booksellers and librarians without whom the world would be a sadder place.

And as always, I’m very grateful to my family, especially my father and Ellie, the Kulicks, Mara Gleckel. And most of all, Doug.