Siracusa (23 page)

This is not a true story. All characters and circumstances are fictional. The Italian cities—Rome and Siracusa—are real, of course—the sites are real, but details about them are sometimes altered by my imagination and memory. Many locations like hotels and restaurants and cafés, although not all, are invented but faithful to the place as I experienced it.

I had the great good fortune to meet Aleksandra Jaeschke in Siracusa. During the years I wrote this book, she guided and advised me, engaged in endless conversations, and explained things I didn’t understand and could never have figured out. She is brilliant and amazing and I cannot thank her enough. My deep gratitude to Giorgio Martorana and Marcella Mignosa, who welcomed me on all my visits. They were generous with their time and knowledge and friendship. The wonderful Paola Sarno, the translator at the Siracusa police department, was patient with all my questions, kind, and fantastically smart. Marcello Baglioni guided me through Sicilian food and wine and advised me so helpfully about my trip. The generosity of these friends I made in Siracusa was magical. Everyone opened their hearts.

To Don Lee, my boundless thanks for your crazy brain. And for taking me through all things restaurant, food, wine, and
Irish. Anna Harari, my beloved niece, thank you for accompanying me. Thank God you survived snorkeling in a nearly deserted cove and a bus to Mount Etna. To my dear friend Julia Gregson, who went back to Siracusa on my final trip when my life was difficult, for pushing me through, for the joy of nearly missing our plane while having kir royals in the Rome airport. Dr. William Fisher, I so appreciate your insights in grounding my characters. Deena Goldstone—I can’t write books without you. Joy Horowitz, thank you for your wise counsel and clarity. To Lawrence Conley, my appreciation for sharing your Sicilian memories. Noah Reibel, thank you for all your advice and for introducing me to Aleks. To Jeremy Steinke, and Julia Wick, whose research helped launch my story, and to Hillary Weaver, who fact-checked it, my thanks. And to Alan Rader and Nick Pileggi, thank you for advising me.

Blue Rider Press has been my writing home. To Sarah Hochman, my editor, my deep appreciation for your talent, sureness, patience, insight, care, and friendship. Brian Ulicky, my gratitude for guiding this and all my books into the world. David Rosenthal, the publisher, thank you for creating a safe place and believing that writers have a compass. Jason Booher, immense gratitude for your brilliant design gifts. Lynn Nesbit, my agent, I could thank you forever and it wouldn’t be enough. You are like having a warrior by my side. And Dorothy Vincent, as always, my deep gratitude.

To my husband, Jerry Kass, my love and devotion. Your spirit and belief in me made all things possible.

DELIA EPHRON
is a bestselling author and screenwriter. She has written novels, including
The Lion Is In
and
Hanging Up
; nonfiction, including
Sister Mother Husband Dog (etc.)
; and humor books for all ages including
How to Eat Like a Child
and
Do I Have to Say Hello?
Her films include
You’ve Got Mail
,
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
,
Hanging Up
(based on her novel), and
Michael
. Her journalism has appeared in
The New York Times
,
O: The Oprah Magazine
,
Vogue
, and
Vanity Fair
. Her hit play
Love, Loss, and What I Wore
(cowritten with Nora Ephron) ran for more than two years off-Broadway and has been performed all over the world. She lives in New York City.

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