Full disclosure: Writing Let It Be Me wasn’t easy. Thank goodness I had an amazing support network to help me through.
Thank you Jules Dixon for relighting the spark in my joy of writing. This story never would have been finished without your invitation to write a novella for a good cause.
Thank you Kristin Lee, Kaley Stewart, and Whitney Lake for being the first readers. You were more than betas. Your feedback added spark, humor, and a lot of feels to this story. Your friendship and kind words gave me the confidence to keep going.
Thank you Chrissy Wolfe for once again being a wonderful editor and a true friend.
Thank you to the Romance Authors of the Heartland and Romance Writers of America for providing the education, support, and network that pushes me to keep building my career.
Thank you to the National Novel Writing Month teams in Lincoln and worldwide for motivating me to write. This story marked my ninth consecutive year of writing and winning with NaNoWriMo. I’ll sing your praises and owe you forever.
Thank you to the members of Laura Chapman’s Reader Bar and Lounge as well as the friends and readers I’ve met in person and online. This past year was particularly difficult for me. You cheered me on and never gave up on me, even when I felt like giving up on myself.
Bonus thanks to the Facebook fans who gave me words and phrases to sneak into this story as a fun challenge. I hope you enjoyed your kumquats, persimmons, “Paint Me Like a Picasso,” and more.
Thank you to the employees of Starbucks (Lincoln-Southpointe and Lincoln-O Street), Barnes & Noble (Lincoln-Southpointe), LAX Delta Sky Club Lounge, and Hilton Sydney Executive Lounge for giving me a home away from home to write. You also fed and kept me hydrated and caffeinated. So basically I owe you my life.
Thank you to my family—my parents, siblings, nieces, and nephews—for being my rocks and foundation. Thank you to Jane and Bingley for the love and companionship.
I’ll close by giving thanks and love to a woman who was one of my biggest fans and greatest supporters. My aunt Brenda Reckewey was first in line to buy a signed copy of my books every time I released one. Over beers and pizza she’d listen to me rattle on about characters like they were real people. She introduced me as her “niece the author” and told everyone Hallmark should make my books into movies. She never missed a chance to make me laugh or say she loved me. Though this will be the first of my books that she won’t be here to celebrate in person, I know that somewhere she’s cheering it on and telling everyone it should be a movie. Thank you, Brenda, for your friendship and love. This one’s for you.