The Paper Cowboy (26 page)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

So many people helped me with
The Paper Cowboy
!

My research started with a wonderful trip my father and I took to Downers Grove. From that visit, I'd like to thank Mary Mengel from Dream Interiors for showing us priceless historical photos of the town, Raymond J. Jilek for graciously guiding us around his property and allowing us to look at the house where my dad grew up, and Ed Briner, an old friend of my father's, who helped arrange a tour of St. Joseph Catholic Church and School. At St. Joseph's, Rita Stasi, the principal, and Father Jerome Kish, the pastor, were welcoming and generous with their time. In addition, the Downers Grove Public Library, Anderson's Bookshop, the Aurora Public Library, and the Downers Grove Historical Society all provided invaluable information and assistance.

A number of my father's childhood school friends generously answered questions about growing up in 1950s Downers Grove. Special thanks to Maralee Kopis, Mary Beth Doyle, Marlene Handscheigel, Jack Foley, Phil Verveer, Marianne Patty, Mary Ellen Heelan, Rita Mathern, Judy Everson, and Larry Cerny.

I'd also like to thank some of the first readers of this manuscript. Jessie Auten and Debbie Gaydos, I greatly value both your opinions and your friendships. Cassie Beutelscheis, thanks for being an early teen reader and sharing your thoughts. My writing group—who suffered through about twenty-five different openings to this book—what would I do without you? Patty Pearson, Justine Moore, Kathi Morrison-Taylor, Mary Olson, Lela Faulkenberry, Olivia Burley, Linda Cortes, and Heather Quartetti all provided feedback and encouragement.

My dear agent, Kathy Green, not only offered professional advice but was always willing to talk about non-book issues as well. My fabulous editor, Stacey Barney, provided me with insight into my own work, pushed me to make the story even more than I thought it could be, and was always understanding when I needed extra time to do so! Thanks, ladies, to both of you.

I'd also like to thank Irene Vandervoot for working so hard to design just the right cover, Chandra Wohleber for being an amazing copy editor, Marikka Tamura for designing the interior, and everyone else at Putnam for making the process of publishing a book go so smoothly.

This book was written during a difficult time in my life. My “whine night” friends really helped me through it. So I just want to include a shout-out to Polly Papp, Diane Cramer, Maria Brandao, Allison MacMahon, and all my other old and new friends, who provided a listening ear when I needed one.

In addition, I want to thank all my family members who made this book possible. Of course, I'd like to thank my immediate family for their invaluable support, including my father, “Tommy,” for his inspiring stories; my mother, Marlene, for hours of babysitting; and my sister, Erika, for her unwavering friendship. I'd also like to acknowledge my grandparents Robert and Florence, who died before I could know them well, my late aunt Mary Lou, my aunt Roberta (“Pinky”), my aunt Susan (“baby Susie”), my late uncle Bob, and my uncle Bill. You are all intimately bound in the backstory of this book.

Finally, I want to thank my children, Charlotte and Kara, for being my greatest cheerleaders. And a special thanks to my ex-husband, Adam Levine, for being a great co-parent and a good friend.