Many of the other characters were inspired from women I read about in my research, including Manon. The real woman who suffered such a heartbreaking loss of a child was not named in the research book that mentioned her, nor was her future following the loss of her child shared. I took it upon myself to place her in the Resistance to retaliate as she could against the Nazis.
I was also extraordinarily fortunate to be able to travel to Lyon while I was writing this book. Not only did I spend most of my time walking the streets and traboules to absorb the beauty and feel of the capital of the French Resistance during WWII, but I also spent an extraordinary amount of time at the Resistance museum （Centre d’histoire de la résistance et de la deportation） and the museum at Montluc Prison. Both museums were powerful showcases for what the French endured during Nazi occupation and highlighted the bravery of those who fought back. Additionally, I was fortunate to find an incredible tour guide, Jean Martinez, who is an absolute wealth of knowledge about the Resistance and France during World War II and was kind enough to answer questions for me throughout the writing of this book.
As with Lisbon, my research with Lyon and the French Resistance was extensive and any errors made are my own.
One important aspect of the book that I feel like I want to touch on in this note is the code used between Elaine and Ava through the newspapers. While coding was an important aspect of the French Resistance, I could not identify the exact code used by the Resistance and so implemented a poem code that was in operation at one point with SOE agents that I adapted slightly to fit this story.
I am immensely grateful for all the experts who helped shape this novel, from tour guides to museums to authors of nonfiction material and eyewitnesses who opened their hearts to share their stories. I hope that I have done justice to the beautiful countries I visited and the brave men and women I discovered in my research. May their memories remain with us all for generations to come.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
It is such an honor to have the opportunity to write another WWII historical fiction novel. I’m so immensely grateful to the amazing team at Hanover Square Press for not only giving me the chance to lose myself in research and write a slice of history again, but also being so wonderful and supportive along the way. Thank you to Peter Joseph and Grace Towery for your hard work in making my novel shine. Thank you to Eden Church and Leah Morse and Kathleen Carter for your stellar publicity work in helping launch this book out into the world. It is such a pleasure to work with every one of you.
Thank you so much also to my agent, Kevan Lyon, for being with me every step of the way on this book and for your exceptional advice and counsel.
Much of my knowledge of this time period would not have happened without the expertise of professionals. Thank you to Jean Martinez for all the knowledge you shared on the tour through Lyon about the brave feats of the French Resistance and detailing how life was during Nazi occupation. Thank you to Raquel Estevens for sharing the beauty of Lisbon with me and for all your digging into extra facts that helped flesh out my book. Thank you to Judy Gann and Margaret Murray-Evans for letting me pick your brains for details on the librarian mindset. Thank you to the authors of nonfiction books, whose endless drive for the truth is integral to the creation of all my books. And an enormous thank you also to the men and women who work tirelessly to establish and maintain museums throughout the world that keep history alive and in our memories so we never forget.
In writing this book, I was surrounded by the love and support of my family and friends. Thank you to my parents for always being so proud of me and to my mother, who always reads through my books with a fine-tooth comb. Thank you to my husband, who has my back even when I don’t realize I need it, and to my children, who are my biggest fans and who don’t mind eating ramen from time to time when days turn too swiftly into nights. Thank you to my ultimate BFFs, Lori Ann Bailey, Eliza Knight and Brenna Ash—you ladies keep me sane and smiling. I seriously don’t know what I would do without you. Thank you to Eliza Knight for being side by side with me on this journey and for all your amazing help. Thank you to my dear friend Tracy Emro for all your assistance with every book I write from creation to final read through—your suggestions and notes are always on point. Thank you to the Lyonesses, whose collective talent and guidance and support is always appreciated more than words can possibly express. And thank you to my reader group, who is always there for me with support and amazing suggestions and input.