ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The path a book travels from initial idea to finished product is indeed wild, full of surprising twists and turns and fueled by the persistence to continue moving forward. I am eternally grateful to the many people who helped bring The Wild Path into the world.

Thanks to Katie Grimm, my tireless agent: I’m so glad you’re in my corner.

Lisa Yoskowitz and Hannah Milton, thanks as always for your keen editorial vision. Special thanks to Alexandra Hightower, who stepped in at a crucial time and guided Claire’s story in important directions. I’m grateful to all of you for providing the patience, encouragement, and critical insight I needed. My appreciation extends to Chandra Wohleber, Annie McDonnell, Alexander Kelleher-Nagorski, Christie Michel, and the entire Little, Brown publishing team for supporting this book. I absolutely love the breathtaking cover, so beautifully rendered by artist David Dean and designer Jenny Kimura.

Thanks to Jim Balmer, Jess Redman, Lisa Higgins, and Carrie Barker, readers and friends who offered professional expertise on mental health, addiction treatment, and equine therapy. Phillis Mosher, your encouragement means the world to me. Nicole Goldstein, you are the world’s best critique partner. Stephanie Cohen-Perez and Nat Razi, I’m grateful for your thoughtful notes on characterization. Thanks also to Sergeant Kevin Cister of the Zeeland Police Department, who answered logistical questions; and Rory Carr, who clarified medical information.

I’ve been privileged to collaborate through the #KidsNeedMentors program with teacher extraordinaire Teri Kestner and her middle school students, who read an early draft of this book and offered valuable suggestions that I incorporated. The Wild Path wouldn’t be quite the same without these students—Izzy Goldenstein, Max Krus, Elizabeth Perry, and Mylie Waddill—who continually impressed me with their insights.

It feels impossible to count the forces that contributed to this story by fostering my love of reading, writing, family, and nature. From my parents, Don and Sharon Reinhard; to my brothers, Daniel and David Reinhard; to my neighbor Peg Metzger, who gave me a new book every Christmas Eve; to the many horses I rode and loved growing up, along with the teachers who helped me work with and care for them—including Gretchen Bittner, Carol Johnson, and the guides and instructors at Rainbow Ranch: Thank you for shaping my life.

Endless thanks go to my incredibly supportive, patient, and encouraging husband, Matthew, the strongest person I know. And to my children, Aaron and Joan, who have heard the sentence “Mama has to work a little longer on her book” too many times: I love you to the stars and back. You’re the best of the best.