To my sons, Benjamin, Thomas, and Daniel, who are delightful and incredibly well-adjusted young men in spite of having me as their mother.
To Hugh Allison and Tony Harmsworth. It was as though some invisible hand guided me to you. Experts each on Scotland during World War II and the Loch Ness Monster, your willingness to answer my endless questions over the years was nothing short of heroic.
To Hugh's family members, who invited me in by the fire and made sure (for better or worse) that the level in my glass never went down: Hughie and Chrissie Campbell, Donnie and Joan Macdonald, Jock Macdonald, and Alasdair Macdonald--thanks to each of you for your hospitality and for sharing your memories and mementos with me.
To the people who lived in Glenurquhart during the war and were generous enough to share their experiences: Duncan MacDonald, Angus MacKenzie, Jessie (Nan) Marshall, William Ross, and Bonita Spence.
To Lady Munro of Foulis, for graciously inviting me to Foulis Castle to discuss her experiences in the WAAF, and for allowing me to prowl around the castle's original kitchen with my camera.
To Siobhan McNab, for her timely and thorough archival work; to Fiona Marwick, from the West Highland Museum in Fort William; and to Sheila Gunn for providing Gaelic translations.
To my trusted critique partners: Karen Abbott, Joshilyn Jackson, and Renee Rosen, each of whom has talked me off the ledge at least once, or, if I've already fallen over, pulled me back by my bungee cord. I can no longer count how many books we've collectively survived.
I would be remiss if I didn't also send a heartfelt shout-out to my dear friend David Verzello, who dropped everything to read this book every time I asked him to, which was often.
And a very special thanks to Emma Sweeney, my wonderful agent; Cindy Spiegel, editor extraordinaire; and to Gina Centrello and the team at Random House. All of you have the patience of Job and a keen understanding of the creative process, and you provided an unfaltering but gentle hand in guiding my book toward its finest form. I am also eternally grateful to Lisa Highton, my editor at Two Roads Books, who believed in this book from the very beginning.
To Cindy specifically--life threw me a number of curveballs over the last few years and I am grateful beyond words that you stuck with me. If I hadn't been sure of your support, I'm not sure I could have crawled through it. Thank you.
BY SARA GRUEN
Riding Lessons
Flying Changes
Water for Elephants
Ape House
At the Water's Edge
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SARA GRUEN is the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Water for Elephants, Ape House, Riding Lessons, and Flying Changes. Her works have been translated into forty-three languages and have sold more than ten million copies worldwide. Water for Elephants was adapted into a major motion picture starring Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, and Christoph Waltz in 2011.
She lives in western North Carolina with her husband and three sons, along with their dogs, cats, horses, birds, and the world's fussiest goat.
www.saragruen.com
Sara Gruen, At the Water's Edge
(Series: # )
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends