The Ruining (24 page)

THANk yOu TO My FRIENds, family, and colleagues. As I started writing this, I realized exactly how lucky I’ve been to have all of you in my life.

Caroline Donofrio: My editor, confidante, friend, and fellow troublemaker. You have been a gift whom I couldn’t do without. I have so much respect for you as an editor and human being (you are a quality human J). I’m so glad you came to Razorbill to guide me through this process as well as the process of daily life. You are another person who understands the value of living a good story.

Jocelyn Davies: I didn’t know, when I received that first email you sent me in India with all its clever quips, that it would be the first of thousands of such emails, phone calls, texts, and conversations that define the sort of friendship that lasts forever. You are responsible for the initial conception of this novel, and for so many other nuggets of brilliance (and melodrama) that have inspired me. I love you!

Emily Osborne: Your art is beautiful, weird, dark, grim, offbeat, excellent, mindboggling, singular. There is no other artist like you, my friend. Thank you for saving me from the perilous fate of a hideous cover.

Laura Bernier: I hope one day I can show you the friendship you’ve shown me. The year of writing The Ruining has been a turning point. Your constant support and guidance have been invaluable. You are a rare person whom I respect and value more than I can express.

Ben Schrank: Thank you for choosing to publish this oftweird novel, bearing with me during difficult times, and being generally hilarious and inspiring. I have learned a great deal from you.

Josh and Tracey Adams: For caring about managing my career, but also for believing in me as a person.
Louis Berger: For Z(Izzy) and canned sardines, and for being a wonderful first reader and friend. Happy Birthday!
Jess Rothenberg: For letting me camp out on your sofa for (almost) forty-eight straight hours and providing me with a plethora of delicious treats while we both raced to meet deadlines. And for giving me the courage to be braver than I’d ever been (you know what I’m talking about) when I most needed it.
Mom and Dad: Thanks for offering suggestions, tiny and large. I’m sorry for rejecting most of them in a huff. I lucked out in the parent department, and although I don’t often say it, I hope you intuit my gratitude from my very vague and subtle actions. You have surprised me (unfairly—I should never have been surprised) with your unwavering support. You never surprised me with your love, but I will no longer take it for granted.
Mandi Dillinger: Indirectly, you inspired this novel. That’s because you’re the craziest lady I know. Just kidding. You’re one friend I’m certain of, because you rented a zip car and welcomed me and all my belongings and my dog into your home when I was homeless. And because you laugh at the stuff other people raise eyebrows at. And you’ve dealt with my mood swings, and you’ve poured low-budget wine into me when I lost my kitten, and you sat in the veterinarian’s office when it looked like my dog might need major surgery, and you met me in that sketchy park on Christopher Street and sold me drugs (just kidding. . . ha, ha. Inside joke, people). And you’ve sent me dozens of cards with your adorable backward y’s. You’ve been a better friend to me than I to you—and you’ve tolerated my months of absences due to writing deadlines—and I swear I’ll make every effort to make up for it. Knowing you, I’ll be constantly in your debt. You are most certainly my partner in crime (literal crime—Grey Goose incident of ’06)
Kourtney Bitterly: I’ve canceled on you to hit writing deadlines, I missed L.A. because I was waiting on my next book check, I stopped contributing regularly to our blog because I couldn’t fit it in, I generally have been a pathetic, stickin-themud friend—and yet you’ve stuck by me. Not only that, you’re one of the most adventuresome, creative, fun, and inspiring individuals I know. I think it was fate that brought us together in New York. Here’s to our California trip and many more.
Jackie Resnick: I look forward to our writing dates at Building on Bond, and our writing dates in your backyard, and our wine-fueled confessionals, and everything else. Here’s to SMEF and margarita pong and staying in Brooklyn forever, preferably always within a short walk of one another.
Margot, Samantha, Madeleine, Alexander, Sydney, and Reagan: I love you cutie-pies so much. You are brilliant delights. You were all inspiration for Zoe in one way or another (I did my very best), and you’re my favorite little readers. I’m the luckiest aunt. I can’t wait to continue to watch you grow up.
Chris, David, and Alex: Because I want you to feel obligated to read my book, and I’m in a generous mood. Just kidding. I love having brothers, and I love that they wound up being the three of you.
Wendy, Adelaide, and Amy: The most supportive roommates I could have had while getting back on my feet in NY. I will miss you so much! I will miss splitting wine and talking about men, I will miss swapping clothes, and I will miss shielding Amy from small children, old ladies, and delivery boys. This will be a sad parting, but not a permanent one. (Ad, I will come see you compete in the Olympics one day soon!)
Mochi/Pumpkin Butt/Cheeser/Mochensteins: For chewing sticks like a good dog, and for loving me unconditionally despite my myriad of dog-mom, negligent faults. For snuggling after I return from bad dates, allowing me to style your toupee with hair gel, tripping over your own ears, and fighting the other dogs when they threaten my personal space. And for, you know, grabbing that dishrag every morning. And for conversing with me in your goofy voice.
Pam McElroy: For agreeing to read/fact-check this novel upon seeing me for the first time in three years, then agreeing for the second time and doing such a good job of it. You were responsible for putting my mind completely at ease.
Mike O’Reilley and Andrew Bartlett: For an accurate or semi-accurate description of San Francisco as you saw it. Thank you for providing me with essential world-building information the night before my draft was due, at Loki Lounge in Brooklyn, completely by surprise. The best developments are usually those that are unexpected, yes?