All the Good Parts (31 page)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

In part, this book is about finding the courage to follow your dreams; however, I’ve learned that courage isn’t enough to bring a book into the world—the hard work, support, and enthusiasm of countless others are just as vital. I’m lucky enough to have people in my life who offer these freely, and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank them.

From our first phone conversation, Jodi Warshaw, my editor at Lake Union, impressed me with her enthusiasm and commitment to this project. I’m so very grateful for her support. Jenna Free’s sharp eye and brilliant suggestions also improved this story greatly.

Patricia Nelson, my agent at Marsal Lyon Literary, is exactly the biz-savvy person a writer wants in her corner. I’m so thankful for her intelligence, humor, and sensitivity.

Special thanks to Rita Woods for her expert medical advice and to Claire Kerr, Breda Dore, and Seamus Brosnan for consultation on Irishness and for ensuring that Donal didn’t sound like the Lucky Charms leprechaun. (If you find any mistakes related to either of these topics, they’re all my doing, not theirs.)

To my writer buddies—Lisa and Laura Roecker, Barbara Sissel, Sarah Frances Hardy, and Jenny Kales—I treasure your friendship and beta-reading prowess. Also, to Erica O’Rourke, for whom a thousand thank-yous would never be enough—this book wouldn’t have been written without your guidance.

To Mary Kubica, Amy Sue Nathan, Lisa Steinke, Renee Rosen, and the rest of the Chicago women’s fiction writers—you all welcomed me with open arms, and I’ll always be grateful for your kindness.

To my LGP Ladies—some of the most dynamic, supportive, kick-ass women I’ve ever met—I’m honored to know you all.

To my family, who showed me the true meaning of unconditional love.

To Tom, Dan, and Jack, my sweetest boys.

And finally, to Dr. Steven Daube, my gynecologist, who has no idea he provided me with the seed of an idea that eventually grew into this story, but will probably get a kick out of it when I finally get around to telling him.

BOOK CLUB QUESTIONS

1. Leona discusses the death of her parents and the impact those deaths had on her life. Do you think her assessment is correct, or has she misjudged how those deaths affected her?
   
2. Why has Leona resisted change for so long? What prompts her to finally take action?
   
3. Discuss Carly’s perspective. Are her motivations different from what she professes? Do you find yourself agreeing or disagreeing with her take on Leona’s situation?
   
4. How does Leona’s relationship with Maura affect her decision-making process?
   
5. Dr. Bridge says change is “not prompted by something happening to you. Change comes when you discover qualities you didn’t know you had.” Do you think this is accurate? How does this definition apply to Leona’s experience?
   
6. Darryl and Leona quickly build an online relationship. How does their relative anonymity facilitate this? How does Darryl’s role in Leona’s life evolve?
   
7. Were you surprised by Leona’s final choice? Why or why not?
   

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Photo © 2015 Alexa Frangos

Loretta Nyhan was a reader before she was a writer, devouring everything she could get her hands on, including the backs of cereal boxes and the instruction booklet for building the Barbie Dreamhouse. Later, her obsession with reading evolved into an absolute need to write. After college, she wrote for national trade magazines, taught writing to college freshmen, and eventually found the guts to try fiction. Nyhan has cowritten two historical novels with Suzanne Hayes,
Empire Girls
and the Kirkus-starred
I’ll Be Seeing You
. Her solo work includes the teen paranormal thrillers
The Witch Collector Part I
and
The Witch Collector Part II
. When she’s not writing, Nyhan is knitting, baking, and doing all kinds of things her high school self would have found hilarious. Find her online at
www.lorettanyhan.com
.