In the book, Zaslow chronicled eleven childhood friends who formed a special bond growing up in Ames.

After college, they moved to eight different states, yet managed to maintain an enduring friendship that would carry them through college and careers, marriage and motherhood, dating and divorce, a child's illness and the mysterious death of one member of their group.

Jenny Litchman was assistant dean at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Karen Leininger, Karla Blackwood and Marilyn Johnson were stay-at-home moms in Pennsylvania, Montana and Minnesota.

I play poker every Thursday night with the guys, and we can go six hours and not one person will say a thing.