Also, thanks to my high school English teachers: Jane Davis, Jim Wade, Don Perryman, and Ross Friedman. English class was always the challenging, comforting, bright spot of my school day.
I’ve got the best day job an author could ask for. Thanks to my ALTA family, particularly Annette and Rob, for the years of support, and the quiet place to write on Saturdays. Jenn Steele has shared either an office or a wall with me for years, and yet she still wants to take coffee walks with me and hear about the publishing world.
To everyone else in my various communities—the 2017 debuts, the 11/11 moms, the CPA trivia team, and the Atlanta YA crew—thank you, and I’m glad you’re in my life.
My sister Tricia and I spent years creating characters together, and Tricia, however kindly or recklessly, ceded them all to me. Our parents, John and Karen, encouraged our cottage industry of character-related stuff (posters! maps! board games!) and introduced us to books, art, and theater. Thank you for the love and support. Many thanks to the rest of my family—the Hopkinses, Karczes, Hotzes, Coppels, and DeVivos—with special mention to my grandparents the late Charles and Millie Hotze, for always encouraging me to keep writing.
To Adam and Gavin—thank you for loving me and loving books, and for always making me laugh.