Traitor Angels (32 page)
Authors: Anne Blankman
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So many people to thank! As always, I’m grateful to my editor, Kristin Daly Rens, who is as brilliant as she is kind and whose editorial letters I simultaneously look forward to and dread because she catches every single misstep. Kristin, thank you for making me work so hard.
Ich bin fest davon überzeugt das wir dazu bestimmt waren zusammen Zuarbeiten. Das wir beide Deutschland und Paradise Lost lieben war lediglich das Tüpfelchen auf dem i.
Thanks for letting me indulge my Miltonic urges and name a character in your honor. For those wondering, Kristin and Lady Katherine share surnames, fabulous hair, and steel spines, but the similarities end there.
Many thanks to everyone at Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins, including Alessandra Balzer, Donna Bray, Nellie Kurtzman, Jenna Lisanti, and Megan Barlog in marketing, and designer Michelle Taormina for a gorgeous design and a book jacket that
I cannot stop calling “my preeeeeecious.” Big thanks to Caroline Sun in publicity for promoting my books, making sure my events go smoothly, and trading recipes and pictures of our little ones. Smash cakes for the win! I’m grateful to copy editor Bethany Reis for all of her hard work and to copy editor Janet Fletcher, who probably needed a glass of wine after the amount of fact checking she had to do. Special effects artist Sean Freeman created a cover that made me gasp the first time I saw it. And a special thanks to Kelsey Murphy, who read early drafts of
Traitor Angels
and helped me figure out how to make
Paradise Lost
more accessible for readers who are unfamiliar with the poem.
I’m grateful to everyone at Adams Literary, including Josh Adams and Samantha Bagood, and especially my agent, Tracey Adams. There’s no one else I’d rather have in my corner than you, Tracey. Thanks for always looking out for me—and for letting me name a character after you!
I could not have written
Traitor Angels
without the assistance of several experts. Hugh Jenkins, professor of English at Union College, sparked my fascination with
Paradise Lost
when I took his seminar course on John Milton during my senior year. When I began researching this novel, Hugh’s advice on Milton, seventeenth-century British literature, and resources was invaluable. Hugh, thanks for letting me pick your brain and for (patiently) answering my many questions. I’ll always cherish the memory of coteaching a class with you on
Paradise Lost
’s Book Ten when I returned to campus to serve as the spring term’s Alumna Writer.
Cristina Della Coletta, dean of the Division of Arts and Humanities at the University of California, San Diego, graciously
translated John Milton’s Italian sonnet for me and provided valuable insight into Milton’s grasp of the Italian language. Greg Peck, assistant professor of horticulture at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, advised me on botany, especially apple trees. My cousin, John Lewis, PhD, spoke to me at length about seventeenth-century Protestantism, helped me wrap my mind around Puritanism, and translated passages into biblical and modern Hebrew for me. My brother, Paul Blankman, helped me track down historically accurate terms (Paul, I still owe you for “sumpters”).
My mother, Lynn Brostrom Blankman, has been my first reader since I started writing stories at age four. Mom, thanks for saying all the things I didn’t want to hear but needed to. And for going over and over the historical timeline with me (“One more time, Anne, when did Milton meet Galileo?”). My agency sister, Sara B. Larson, is always ready to read a manuscript and isn’t afraid to tell me the truth, in her sweet, tactful way (“Anne, this is just my opinion and feel free to take it or leave it, but this part doesn’t really make sense. . . .”). You were spot-on, every time. Lynne Matson, owner of a phone with the most unintentionally funny autocorrect in the world, read an early draft and offered excellent advice.
My father, Peter Blankman, spoke candidly to me about his experiences with severe vision loss. Dad, you probably won’t believe this, but some of my favorite childhood memories include reading books to you and taking you for walks around our neighborhood. I’ll always be grateful to you for being so tough.
My husband and best friend, Mike Cizenski, talked with me for hours about the Royal Society, Galileo, and seventeenth-century
science. Mike, I hope I made your electrical engineer’s heart proud. My daughter, Kirsten, was only four when I began working on this book, but her fascination with the night sky convinced me to turn Elizabeth from a poet into a budding scientist. Special thanks to Mike and Kirsten for following me all over England while I researched this book. To my in-laws, Richard and Julie Cizenski, who took care of Kirsten so I could go on a book tour and who always cheer me on.
The relationship between my lifelong friend Alissa Murray Orzea and her late brother, Scott Murray, inspired the dynamic between Elizabeth and Anne Milton. Alissa, whenever I feel weak, I think of Scott’s determination to lead an independent life near his beloved Disney World and I immediately feel stronger. I’m honored to have grown up alongside him.
Thanks to my coworkers at the York County Virginia Public Library System, especially Pat Riter, who remains the ILL goddess. To the booksellers, teachers, librarians, and readers—you are wonderful. As a librarian myself, I know how hard librarians work to put books into patrons’ hands, and I’m deeply grateful for all you do. Thanks also to Becca Fowler, who designed beautiful
Traitor Angels
tote bags. To the bloggers, especially Hannah McBride of the Irish Banana, who put together an amazing blog tour; Patri and Anasheh of the Fantastic Flying Book Club; Jess of Read My Breath Away; and Danielle of Love at the First Page. A special thanks to the wonderful Sasha Alsberg, who hosted the reveal for the
Traitor Angels
book trailer. I’m grateful to many booksellers, especially Ward Tefft of Chop Suey Books in Richmond, Virginia; Janet Hutchison of the Open Door Bookstore in Schenectady, New York; and Rachel Strolle of Anderson’s
Bookshop in Napier, Illinois. Many thanks also to librarian Serena Butch, who helped me find books to read when I was a little kid, served as my mentor when I was in library school, and has hosted me several times at her library over the past few years. Thanks, Serena, for showing me that books are magic.
And thanks to the men behind this book’s title. I have loved John Milton’s poetry ever since I began reading it as a college student. As the daughter of a man who has dealt with significant eye trauma, I can understand a little of what Milton’s battle with blindness must have been like—and his determination to continue writing despite it fills me with awe. To Galileo Galilei, whose deposition before the Italian Inquisition breaks my heart every time I read it and who kept inventing and experimenting long after he lost his sight. And to Vincenzo Viviani, whose steadfast dedication to his mentor and unsuccessful attempts to clear his name brought me to tears. You three men have haunted me, and I’m grateful to you for teaching me to view the world through a new lens.
