Acknowledgments

I would like to thank the following people and places for inspiring me and helping me bring this book alive.

Delle, l’amour de ma vie, the person I can always bounce an idea off of even when he’s half asleep. My editor, Brian Farrey, for helping me dig deep into the heart of this story and for shedding a tear. Sandy Sullivan, the master of continuity and logistics. Courtney Colton for all her publicity efforts. My agent, Rosemary Stimola, for being my fairy godmother.

Joyce Sweeney for helping me find Cassia’s motive and Adrienne Sylver for reading early drafts of this story. Christina Gonzalez for being my trusty “officemate,” and Teri Gotgart Andersen for sharing her ceramics expertise. Linda Bernfeld and the Wednesday Night Critique Group for all their valuable comments. Museum of Fine Arts Boston for having such an amazing collection of art.

And many thanks to Dad, Mom, Cindy, Kenny, Nikki, and Emma, all of whom added color to my childhood; and to my little artists, Marley, Makhi, and Naya, for creating something new every day, even if it’s just a mess.