How to Hang a Witch (29 page)

Sometimes you just get lucky, as in “win the lotto and a lifetime supply of donuts on the same day” lucky. For me, this was Halloween 2014, when the genius coordinating my cosmic matchmaking directed me to Rosemary Stimola and Nancy Hinkel. They are kind, humorous, and fiercely clever women whom I am honored to call friends. That Ro is my agent, Nan is my editor, and I get to work with them only adds donuts to my lotto. My love and respect for them is big.

On top of that, Knopf/Random House is a magical place, where everyone adores books and there are illustrations of familiar book-friends on the walls. I'm especially grateful to Julia Maguire for all her hard work and amazing dedication; without her this journey would not have been the same. And the entire team continues to impress me. Barbara Marcus, Stephen Brown, Melanie Cecka, Dawn Ryan, Artie Bennett, Janet Wygal, Lisa Leventer, Marianne Cohen, Trish Parcell, Alison Impey, Kim Lauber, Mary McCue, Judith Haut, John Adamo, Dominique Cimina, Adrienne Waintraub—thank you all for being wonderfully creative people and my story's supportive village.

Also, a special thank-you to Marilynne K. Roach, an insightful Salem historian. Her own wonderful books made a real contribution to my understanding of Salem history.

Now, before Ro saw this manuscript, when I was still wondering “what in the heck is a plot?” there were friends and family who read and gave me invaluable feedback. My Right Club—Cristen Barnes, Leah Briesé, Kristin Minter, and Raj Velu—were there from the beginning. So were Frank and Claire Mather, Marcia Wood, Peter Ciccariello, Ron Wood, Linda Levy, Candis Wood, Saul Levy, Mollie Warren, Allie Merriam, Meghan Best, Maggie Conlon, Nan Shipley, Patrick Maloney, Matt Daddona, Michael McDonagh, Kara Barbieri, Geoffrey Gordon, Samantha Joyce, Jeff Zentner, and Kali Wallace. A big thanks to Dani Bernfeld for her generosity from day one; it will forever be appreciated. And thanks to Anya Remizova for always being supportive, to my cats for their superior snuggling skills, and to all my friends and family for their love.

But truly, I wouldn't have written this book if it weren't for my mama (Sandra Mather) and my pirate (James Bird). The way they love and encourage me is astounding. Their support may also be unwise. I believe in every way that anything is possible, which I'm sure will get me into trouble one of these days. And then these two will be cheering on my starry-eyed optimism. So I would like to preemptively blame them for any future folly. And thank them with everything I have for giving me a bit of space in the world to fill with dreams. In the words of ee cummings, “I carry your heart; I carry it in my heart.”