Let me tell you a secret: The Conductors exists because one day I looked at the running list of story ideas I kept and thought to myself, “What happens if I added magic to a story about Underground Railroad conductors?”
Since that spark of an idea, I have filled six notebooks with scribbled notes, used countless pens until the ink ran dry, and written and deleted so many words that I long stopped counting. While all that led to the book you now hold in your hands, I would have never finished it without all the support I had along the way.
Mom and Dad, thanks for giving me that first computer and the space and encouragement to keep writing. It looks like Plan B might work out after all!
To my sisters, Stephanie and Regina, thanks for tolerating all my story talk for years, even when you had no clue what I was talking about. Also, you may or may not have been sounding boards for finer story details—sorry for that.
Aunt Ericka, thanks for all the enthusiasm and excitement for every bit of news I shared in the past, and I promise to remain “still curious” no matter what comes my way.
To all the “J”s, it takes a village to create a book, and I’m glad to have all of you:
Thank you to my stellar agent, Jennie Goloboy. We connected just when I was thinking of trashing this story. It’s been a whirlwind of a time since, and the fun hasn’t stopped yet.
Thank you to my editor, John Joseph Adams. You helped me find my vision for the best version of the book.
Thank you to Jamie Levine and the other staff at HMH. You coordinated and arranged more things than I’ll ever know about—thanks for all your hard work! Special shout-out to Fariza Hawke, Heather Tamarkin, and Alison Kerr Miller.
Thank you to Jaria Rambaran for providing some very fun artwork and for being 100 percent game for my very silly idea.
To Deborah Oliveira, thank you for being an extra pair of eyes when I needed them the most.
Special thanks to the librarians working in the Norfolk Public Library system who dug books out of storage for me, answered my very particular interlibrary loan requests, and provided a space where I could squeeze in writing over my lunch break. I couldn’t have finished this story without you!