'I walked out, I said, 'I'm setting you free.''

On saying the critical, final no.

On a sweltering Sunday afternoon in July 2014, nauseous from the heat and a hangover, I strapped a five-year-old Alma into her car seat and trekked into Boston to go to an author event with Elizabeth Gilbert. I nearly talked myself out of making the drive, which could easily turn into an hour or more each way with summer beach traffic, but I knew I’d ha…