This book would not have been possible were it not for the efforts of many other people, only some of whom I’ll get to recognize here. Firstly, my husband, Paul, for understanding completely what I’m trying to do; my agent, Michelle Brower, for believing in this crazy book; and my editor; Rose Hilliard, for buying it and her excellent input afterwards. I am forever in the debt of my alpha reader, Daniel Starr, who played an incalculable role in making me the writer I am today. I will always appreciate my beta readers, Tina Connelly, Anna Eley, Patrick Weekes, and Julia Reynolds, for letting me borrow their brains and time. I promise to return their brains soon. My parents for not always getting this, but being supportive anyway. My writing friends Rachel Swirsky, Blake Charlton, David Moles, and Barry Deutsch for getting it, and still being supportive, even though being on the publishing inside they knew everything that that would entail. Thanks to Matt Bellizzi for showing me how to shoot a gun, Vera Nazarian for help with Russian, and my girlfriends V, C, M, and J in real life, for listening and making me occasionally leave my house.
Any mistakes in this book are mine. No part of this book constitutes actual medical advice. Not all doctors are bad, just some of them can be annoying.
Last, but not in any way least, I want to thank the girls on my work weekend for keeping me out of trouble. Thanks for not letting me accidentally kill anyone. I appreciate that most of all.