Still Life

from armature to hiding the seams and imperfections. I thank them for their encouragement, insight, and wit, as well as for challenging me to do what I thought was impossible: write with authority and be myself. Thanks also to Svetlana Katz, Rick Tetzeli, Lindsey Smith, Barbara Jatkola, and everyone at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Of all the people who now know more about taxidermy than they ever thought possible, I'd like to thank my very supportive parents, Marcia and Paul Milgrom, and the other Milgroms: Steve, Robin, Arthur, and Jake. My friends, whose moral support was boundless, deserve a week at the spa on me: Frieda Alutin, Erma Estwick, Camille Korschun-Bastillo, Lorraine McCune, Nathalie Schueller, Lisa Waltuch, and Ulalume Zavala. And, of course, I'd especially like to thank Eric, Sabine, and Greta for their incredible patience and for believing that all families take vacations to see Jeremy Bentham and talk about squirrels at the dinner table.