First, thank you readers for reading my debut novel and giving this book life. Your support is truly appreciated.
I must also thank my amazing editor, Deborah Halverson, who has supported and encouraged me through my journey of writing The Devil’s Tree (and beyond). Thank you to Dan Janeck for his brilliant copyediting skills. And thank you to my fabulous attorney, Charlotte A. Hassett, for her sound legal counsel, for keeping me grounded when I’m overwhelmed, and for her friendship. What an awesome team! I certainly couldn’t have done this without you.
Special thanks to my writing group, the wonderful authors and all-around great women Brinda Berry, Carol Michelle Storey, Kelly Jo Crawley, Christina Delay, Kathleen Groger, Jenn Windrow, and Sandy Wright. Thanks to my critique partner and friend, James R. Hannibal, for his continued encouragement; to Pat Cuchens, my sweet friend and grammar guru, who catches pretty much all of my typos and grammar snafus, and who lends her emotional support whenever I need it; to the fabulous T.J. Resler, who writes amazing National Geographic books for kids and makes writing conferences so much fun. (Don’t stop writing your fiction, T.J.!) And thanks to my earliest readers who helped me ensure I did my best to honestly and accurately portray some of the sensitive themes in this book: Maria Grant, Danielle Miller, and Al Walls.
Thank you to my friends at the Horror Writers Association (HWA) and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) for supporting and encouraging me and so many writers. And thanks to all of my family and friends who have believed in me and my writing over the years.
Finally, thank you to my father, Victor Jay Basso, God rest his soul, for always supporting me—even as a child. Thank you to my mother, Sandy Basso, who reads and gives me feedback on everything I write; I don’t know what I would do without you. And, last, but certainly not least, thank you to my husband, Rick, and my son, Alex, who have supported me through the ups and downs of the writing process, have had patience when I had to write despite them wanting me to do something else, and for their endless love and support.