Thank you, Beth Phelan, for cheering on Eileen, Claire, and Murphy from the very beginning, and thank you to everyone at Gallt & Zacker for the ongoing support. Thank you, Zareen Jaffery, for seeing me through our fourth novel together and for believing in the Sullivan sisters’ story in all its zany iterations. My thanks to Alexa Pastor, Andre Wheeler, and Dainese Santos for your behind-the-scenes help and e-mailed assistance. Thank you, Heather McLeod, for your incisive copyedits. Thank you to Chloë Foglia for the stunning cover design, to Danielle Davis for the rockin’ lettering, and to Pedro Tapa for an illustration that captures the sisters so perfectly. And big thanks to everyone else at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers who made this novel’s publication possible.
The usual suspects, you know who you are, and I’m so grateful for you. It’s been ten years since we met across the pond, Shelly, and you’re still the best Little Miss Twin around. Destiny, you’re the Louise to my Tina. Nicole, stay fabulous and give Harmony a treat from me. Mai, my fellow Marco Polo-er, by the time you read this we WILL have conquered The Brothers Karamazov. Kayla, thanks for keeping our kitchen twatwaffle-free. Shannon, my witchy friend, I can’t wait to see what adventures await you in New England. Hilary, you’re the bee’s knees, the giraffe’s neck, the anteater’s tongue! Sasha, you’re the coolest gal I know, and you make it Clown But Fashion every day. Libby, thanks for being such a rad college-but-not-college friend. Lastly, all my literary love to the ladies of Phoebe’s Book Club.
Thank you to Jen at Pop! Goes the Reader for being a fearless, indefatigable book blogger from the day I e-met you. Thank you to Kristen, librarian extraordinaire, and to Seoling, publishing wonder, for your friendship and care packages and general brilliance. Thank you, too, to teachers, librarians, and bloggers—those I have and have not met—for all you do for young readers and the YA community. You have my eternal gratitude.
Thank you, Mom and Dad, for always supporting my writing, and my thanks to the extended family for your love and encouragement. Thank you, Annie and Matt, for first introducing me to the state that would one day become my home and the inspiration for this novel. It’s the best thing, being neighbors with you. Thank you to Bob, Vicki, and Megan for accepting me into your magnificent family.
Alli, thank you for loving me; for moving cross-country in only a car, with a dog; and for making this new home with me in Oregon. Thank you for cherishing my stories from the day we met. The story I cherish most is the one we share.
And thank you, dear reader, for journeying to the coast and back with me. May you never be afraid to build and rebuild Cayenne Castles of your own.