ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
For me, each book begins with a question. Along the way, that question breeds other questions, and I am seriously one lucky girl to have so many people I can go to for answers.
Courtney Miller-Callihan at Handspun Literary! (Woot!) Thank you for your friendship and your guidance. We are one lucky (not-so-secret) club to have you as our leader.
So much gratitude to Rose Hilliard, for believing in me and for asking me to follow this story. It’s been the greatest pleasure to be cheered on and guided by you over these past two years. Thank you for everything.
Many thanks to everyone at St. Martin’s Press, including Brittani Hilles, Angelique Giammarino, Brant Janeway, Jen Enderlin, Anne Marie Tallberg, David Curtis, Talia Sherer, Anne Spieth, Karen Masnica, and Jennie Conway.
Dana Kaye, thank you for guiding me through my debut year.
To my beta and sensitivity readers: Matthew Frey, my first reader, always (plus you get to be listed twice!), Nicole Brinkley, Karlyn Westover, Jessica Love, Ron Romasanta, and Anna Davis. Thank you, Julie Caplan Nuzzalo, Psy.D., for your expertise, insights, and suggestions.
My soul sisters: Kate Eberle, Aimee Kandelman, and Kara Noe, for our four million daily texts. So many questions, so many (usually right) answers. I’ll always ask you first.
All of my amazing writing friends (you know who you are). These last two years. Oh, boy. Thank you for letting me cry and telling me to breathe and making me laugh and hugging me hard. Seriously, thank you. Without you, I’d be lost. Special thanks to Jessica Love, Charlotte Huang, Amy Spalding, and Laurie Elizabeth Flynn for reading this book early and lending your support. (P.S. Amy: thanks for the weekly check-ins!) Special thanks to L. M. Klein and the Binders for coming up with the best possible title.
Christy Marsden, I’ll never stop thanking you.
To everyone at Pasadena City College. There are too many people to list here, which means that I am ridiculously blessed. And I must thank my students. You’re the ones who keep me learning, writing, and laughing, so thank you. Deborah Bird, Salomon Davida, and Sandy Lee for our work with DesignTech! You’ve taught me so much. And to Amy Ulmer, Vanitha Swaminathan, Sam Swaminathan, Kathleen Green, and Terri Keeler, for your constant enthusiasm and support.
To all of the readers, librarians, teachers, booksellers, bloggers, and fans who have reached out and supported my writing. Again, I am truly, ridiculously blessed.
To my family, for surrounding me with love: Ray Elias, Shirley Mann, Chuck Bush, Karnit Galmidi, and Michael Braun. Mom and Dad, wherever you are, I know you know.
And always, the most gratitude to the two loves of my life, Madeline and Matthew. Thank you for your trust and support and for living the questions with me.