Unsportsmanlike Conduct. Jessica Luther

      Acknowledgments

      Thank you to:

      Dave Zirin, who has believed in my work from the beginning, probably before I ever did.

      Johnny Temple and the team at Akashic for taking on this project and doing so with care and compassion.

      Dan. It’s really something to find a friend who is also a writer, who is smart, who is thoughtful, who lives in your city and likes to work across the table from you in coffee shops, and who is strongest exactly where you are weakest. I owe Dan credit for the framing of this book (the “playbook” concept), something I struggled mightily to articulate on my own and probably wouldn’t have been able to do without his help.

      Liss, my emotional rock, who is a brilliant writer and thinker, and who makes me better at both through her friendship and her endless kindness.

      Laurie, for saving me when I needed to be saved.

      Neil, Jim, Carolyn, and Julie, for showing me and teaching me how to be a great researcher.

      Tope, Tyler, Katie, Lou, Kavitha, Sydette, Lindsay, Mariame, Lili, David, Shireen, Annie, Soraya, Joel, Julie, Lauren, Andrea, Claire, Travis, Stacey, Claudia, Chloe, Jamil, Caitlin, Diana, and every other person who has conversed with me about the topic and themes in this book, and whose work challenges me to do better all the time. This list is woefully short and undoubtedly I have left off people’s names who have influenced and helped shape the work in this book. I am lucky to have so many amazing people in my life.

      Every editor who has allowed me to write on this topic and has fought for me and my work before and after publication, especially Emma and Tomas.

      Twitter, which has brought people into my life who have radically altered it for the better, who challenge my beliefs and make me see more, and who give me great joy all the time.

      All the people who have given their time and love to helping care for my son and have made it possible for me to find the time to do this work.

      Every romance author who has written a book that has allowed me to escape, for even one moment, the weight of this work.

      My parents (and I am blessed with many) and my sister. For all the love and support throughout my life, I cannot thank you enough. The best cheerleaders, the lot of you.

      My son, for your smile, hugs, jokes, and adventures.

      Finally, nothing on these pages would ever exist without the support from my partner in life, Aaron. He is the best of them and I am grateful every day that I get to laugh alongside and with him. Circle and thumbs-up.

      Despite all of this help, I want to be clear: the work in this book is my own, and while these people all deserve credit for what makes it good, I take full responsibility for whatever is not.