The Dream Lover (47 page)
Authors: Elizabeth Berg
Early readers included the extremely talented writer and artist Phyllis Florin. Cindy Kline read a chunk at a time when doubts were beginning to occur, and she assured me that the book was alive and well. Nancy Horan, esteemed author of
Loving Frank
and
Under the Wide and Starry Sky
, offered valuable insights about the writing of historical fiction, to say nothing of sisterly support. And, speaking of sisters, my writers' group offered advice, wisdom, and friendship with this book, as they have done so many times before. My thanks yet again to Veronica Chapa, Arlene Malinowsky, Marja Mills, Pam Todd, and Michele Weldon. And welcome to our newest member, Ina Pinkney.
My copy editor, Bonnie Thompson, was a dream to work with. In the margins of the manuscript, she would occasionally make suggestions in the kindest, most respectful, and gentlest of ways, and invariably I would all but smack my forehead, thinking,
Why didn't
I
think of that?
I have such respect for her instincts, knowledge, and sensitivity, and I can hardly wait for her to make better whatever I come up with next.
Associate copy chief Beth Pearson, with whom I have worked since my hair was black, is aware of how much I like, admire, and depend upon her, but let's have it in print once again, shall we, Beth?
Benjamin Dreyer: You know what you did, and I want to express my thanks again for your calm expertise. Thanks to Barbara Bachman for the book's stunning interior design, and to Ruby Levesque and Paolo Pepe for its magnificent cover. And to the many others on the Random House team: Thank you for believing in me, and for doing what you do so well.
Last, but certainly not least, I want to express my deepest thanks to the readers who gladden my heart every day, and permit me to do the work that I love.
The Dream Lover
Tapestry of Fortunes
Once Upon a Time, There Was You
The Last Time I Saw You
Home Safe
The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted
(stories)
Dream When You're Feeling Blue
The Handmaid and the Carpenter
We Are All Welcome Here
The Year of Pleasures
The Art of Mending
Say When
True to Form
Ordinary Life: Stories
Never Change
Open House
Escaping into the Open: The Art of Writing True
Until the Real Thing Comes Along
What We Keep
Joy School
The Pull of the Moon
Range of Motion
Talk Before Sleep
Durable Goods
Family Traditions
E
LIZABETH
B
ERG
is the author of many bestselling novels, including
Tapestry of Fortunes, The Last Time I Saw You, Home Safe, The Year of Pleasures
, and
Dream When You're Feeling Blue
, as well as two collections of short stories and two works of nonfiction.
Open House
was an Oprah's Book Club selection,
Durable Goods
and
Joy School
were selected as ALA Best Books of the Year,
Talk Before Sleep
was short-listed for an Abby Award, and
The Pull of the Moon
was adapted into a play. Berg has been honored by both the Boston Public Library and the Chicago Public Library. She is a popular speaker at venues around the country, and her work has been translated into twenty-seven languages. She is the founder of Writing Matters, a reading series designed to serve author, audience, and community. She divides her time between Chicago and San Francisco.