I think this book has been written and rewritten more than any other book of mine. As a result, so many people have given me feedback or help that odds are good I’m going to forget someone. If it’s you, I’m sorry. Like Sophia’s memory, mine is sometimes lacking.
First, a big thanks to my editor, Sasha Knight, for surprising me with her enthusiasm for this book. Not only does she always improve my writing, she has impeccable timing, as evidenced by her offering me the contract on my birthday.
More thanks go to Kell Andrews, Amy Bai, Steve Cordero, Alex Harrow, Jenna Nelson and Jennifer Walkup for their feedback on earlier drafts of this book. My agent, Michelle Humphrey, also deserves a special mention for her most helpful advice on the original version.
I also want to thank Colby Marshall for helping me sound less like an idiot while writing about guns. I might sound like an idiot anyway, but that would be my fault, not hers.
My husband always deserves a shout-out, and this time it’s for making me watch some ridiculous sci-fi movie with him. It’s so forgettable that I can’t even remember the title, but it sparked the idea for this story.
Finally, I’m grateful for my family and my writing groups—Purgatory, the Pit, and the Y-Nots—for all their support.