The Dark Path (23 page)

If I could, I'd gather these people for a night and pour them wine and thank them for making this book—and my life—so much better.

My parents, Jack and Peggy Schickler, have taught and still teach me joy, patience, and a hundred other graces. Dad and Mom: I love you and am so grateful for your endless, unconditional support. Martha, Luke, Cora, and I are blessed to have you.

My sisters, Anne Marie, Pamela, and Jeanne, make me laugh and always have the back of their freaky writer brother. Thank you for everything except those leotards.

Thank you to my literary agent and friend, Jennifer Carlson, for believing in this book and in me. All of her colleagues at Dunow, Carlson & Lerner have been wonderfully helpful, too. Thank you to my editor, Jake Morrissey, and to Geoff Kloske and everyone at Riverhead for giving
The Dark Path
a home. Ali Cardia, Jynne Martin, Claire McGinnis, and Darren Ranck at Riverhead have also been amazing for their editing, publicity, and overall enthusiasm.

The four friends who stood up for me at my wedding—Cliff Green, John Dolan, Chris Tengi, and Larry Mastrella—remain my best men and I'd march into Mordor for them. Special thanks to John Dolan for all the Room Time and Basement Time with Luke and Cora. You are their second father.

Alyssa Barrett read all the early drafts and offered discerning encouragement. Thank you, Alyssa, and health and wealth to you and the farmer.

Thank you to Kate Christensen, Darren Strauss, Jonathan Tropper, and Mishna Wolff for the blurbs. Everyone go read their books right now.

In Rochester: thank you to Bob and Alice DeLaCroix, Bob Bradley, Todd Stewart, McQuaid Jesuit, Eric and Rory and the crew at Bruegger's, Joyce at HAI, Tiffany Reynolds, Karey Schmergel, Cassie Shafer, all the Edds, Schicklers, Compisis, and Moszaks, Saint Joseph's, Joe Nicholas, Julie Black, and Mike and Sarah Milano.

In New York: thank you to Dan and Miranda Milledge, Margo Lipschultz, Court Harson, and Ed Nawotka.

In Los Angeles: thank you to Alan Ball, Peter MacDissi, Christina Jokanovich, Kary Antholis and Scott Nemes and everyone at Cinemax for
Banshee
, Shari Smiley, Jim Garavente, David Matlof, Lee Stollman, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Lindsey Williams, and my two wonderful agents at CAA, David Kopple and Tiffany Ward.

Marcy Ulrich is my cousin and dear friend and I am grateful to her, Marc, Quinlan, and Griffin for the untiring support.

Thank you to all the Jesuit priests, late and thriving, who have shaped my life and faith, especially Larry Wroblewski, Frank McNamara, and the Georgetown priest identified here as Michael Prince.

I gave these people aliases in the book and I'll thank them as such for their privacy: I'm grateful to Graham, Mason, Daniel, and Austin for their friendship from Georgetown till now . . . to Daphne Lowell and her father, Clement, without whom I would never have survived the crisis in this story . . . and to Mara Kincannon and her sisters and mother. Mara, I learned love and truth just by knowing you. Thank you.

Jonathan Tropper gave me great advice about this book and cocreated the TV show
Banshee
with me. He is an excellent man, writer, father, and friend.

Thank you to my children, Luke and Cora, for showing me, every day, the face and spirit of God in your smiles and shrieks and laughter.

Finally, to Martha Schickler, my forever bride, beyond time: if I had to go through everything in this book to find you, then God bless all of it. Thank you for being my life.