First of all, a shout-out to my amazing readers. This is all for you, and I couldn’t do it without you. I’ve felt so grateful this year to get to know many of you better through my newsletter and readers group. And special thanks to Laura Luallen and Meredith B, who won my contest to name Lucy’s (unimaginative, unsympathetic) ex-boyfriend. They both suggested Darren, and Darren it is!
Every book is different. This one has been a sheer joy for me from beginning to end, and I’m deeply grateful to all the people who helped make it so. Thank you first and foremost to my early readers Dylann Crush, Christina Hovland, Christine D’Abo, Brenda St. John Brown, and Claire Marti. This book (and my sanity!) was in the best possible hands when I turned it over to you.
Huge thanks also to the women of the Romance Market Mastermind—Dylann Crush, Megan Ryder, and Dawn Luedecke—for talking me through the tricky, raw, and uncomfortable bits of figuring out how to tell the story readers want to read, and for all your support and enthusiasm. This is your book!
Thank you, Dylann, Christy, and Brenda for being there and listening even on those tearful days, and for bearing with me through my crisis of confidence right around the time I finished writing and started editing!
Christine, I can’t begin to tell you what your sane, steadfast, and balancing presence has meant to me. Also there is no one I’d rather have in my corner during a plotting crisis. All the hugs!!
Gwen Hernandez, I am so grateful for the events that brought us together and for our regular chats, on all the topics. I look forward to them every time.
Thank you Rachel Grant and Kate Davies for being there for me through so much, including this pandemic. Whether it’s tapas or Zoom, I know I can count on you, and that means so much. I can’t wait until we can retreat together again—it will be such a perfect bookend.
Thank you to my agent, Emily Sylvan Kim. It is the loveliest feeling to know you have someone in your corner.
Thank you, Sarah Sarai. Sarah is an eagle-eyed copy editor with a wicked sense of humor, and copyedits are always a blast (and a vast improvement).
Thank you to my other beloved author friends, including but not limited to the authors of the Corner of Smart and Sexy, Small Town World Domination, Wide for the Win, Tinsel and Tatas, and my two ongoing newsletter swaps.
Thank you, XPresso Book Tours, especially Giselle, for the cover reveal and release support.
This year I’ve benefited from the wisdom of some amazing authors and author resources, and I wanted to name just a few: Skye Warren, both the Romance Author Mastermind conference and the Ads for Authors Intensive; Zoë York’s Romance Your Brand book; Sarra Cannon’s HB90 planners and other online resources; and Alex Newton’s K-lytics. Of all the things I did this year, finally listening to the experts was one of the best.
I cannot imagine doing any of my jobs without the love and support of my amazing friends, Aimee, Chelsea, Cheryl, Darya, Ellen, Gail, Jess, Julia, Kathy, Lauren, Molly, Soomie, and Tracey. An extra shout-out to Aimee, who got me pointed in the right direction on Cuban-American culture and food. Any and all errors or flights of fancy in that department are mine and mine alone.
And last, but absolutely, positively, never or ever least, abundant hugs (and cookies) for my in-home cheering squad, Bell Boy, Bell Girl, and Mr. Bell. If it weren’t for your affection, devotion, and patience, these bare bears wouldn’t exist at all. And dinner is never boring. I love you all so much.