“All men are required to keep a couple days’ worth of stubble on their chins. Makes them look more fearsome. Better pirates, you see.”
He grins so widely, I can feel my heart melt. “I had no idea you liked it so much.” He brings his lips to my ear. “You needn’t make a rule and trouble the other men. I’ll do it if you ask nicely.”
His lips trail down my neck and I shiver. “Anything else?” he asks.
“I need to see you in my quarters for the rest.”
“Aye-aye.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I have heard other authors say that writing a second book in a series is so much harder than the first.
They were right.
I had fun with DotSQ, but it was a struggle, and I have so many people to thank for their help.
I have to mention my incredibly talented editor, Holly West, first. Holly, I can’t tell you how much it meant to me for you to give so much care and attention to this book. It is 1,000% stronger for all of your insightful comments and brilliant suggestions. A thousand thank-yous for all the hard work you put into this manuscript.
Rachel, thank you for being so wonderful through another book. I love having you by my side during this process. You make it so fun with all your pirate gifs and pep talks. Thank you for championing this series. Here’s to hoping we do many more together.
I’m so grateful to the entire team at Feiwel and Friends for all the various things they do for me and my books. Brittany, thank you for answering all my questions and helping get me and my book into new places. I couldn’t have asked for a better publicist. Lauren, thanks for all the promotions you put together! I’ve had such fun with those. Thank you, Liz, for pimping out my covers! Thank you to Beka and Kaitlin for your copyediting expertise.
Thank you, Anna, for the mind-blowing blurb you gave DotPK! Thank you, Elly, for reading and blurbing DotSQ .
To Korrina, Cori, and everyone at OwlCrate, thank you. You helped my book reach so many new readers. The box you put together was beautiful.
Alisa, you were invaluable in helping me fix plot holes and talk out difficult scenes. I don’t know what I would do without you. You are the best roommate.
I cannot forget Chersti Nieveen, Kate Coursey, Courtney Alameda, Taralyn Johnson, and Sarah Talley for giving me amazing feedback on such a rough draft of this book. Thank you for being so prompt and wonderful!
Thanks need to go to my mom and Tara for answering all of my medical questions so injuries were realistic.
Thank you, Emily King and Megan Gadd, for being awesome friends and a huge source of support. I know I can always count on you.
I also have to thank my aunts, Sue and Candace, for taking me on the vacation of a lifetime. Thank you for providing me with a way to get some hands-on experience in sailing. Love you both!
I don’t know how I suddenly have so many writing friends, but you have all touched me as a writer. Huge thanks to Gwen Cole, Ash Poston, Mikki Kells, Kyra Nelson, Katie Purdie, Erin Summerill, Summer Spence, Nicole Castroman, Ilima Todd, Taffy Lovell, Brekke Felt, Veeda Bybee, Charlie Holmberg, and Caitlyn McFarland for all the writing nights and laughter.
Thank you to all the bloggers, bookstagrammers, and book clubs who have supported me and given the Daughter of the Pirate King duology extra love, especially Bridget at Dark Faerie Tales, AliBabaDeBooks, Brittany’s Book Rambles, FearYourEx, Sara aka Novel Novice, the Swoony Boys Podcast group, Karina at 24hr yabookblog, Rachel at A Perfection Called Books, Mundie Moms, and YA and Wine (especially Krysti and Sarah).
Thank you, Tiff, Greg, Lucy, and Ruby, for being so patient with me as I adjusted to my new workload and travel schedule. I am so blessed for knowing you!
I have the best family in the world. Becki and Johnny, thank you for helping me get away from my computer by playing Overwatch with me. Mom and Dad, thank you for your continued support. Dad, your woodworking is astonishing, and I love it. Mom, you are such a talented seamstress. Thanks for making my pirate hat. Thank you to my grandparents and aunts and uncles for giving me places to stay on tour and for supporting me and my books. I love you all.
And, of course, thank you to my readers. Thanks for reaching out to me on social media. Your kind words keep me going and make all the hard parts of writing worth it.