Acknowledgments

There were people who believed in the viability of this book even before I did, and I’d be negligent if I didn’t put them at the top of this list. So to Stephanie Cardel, Carmen Erickson, and Sue Kamata, I will always be grateful for your belief in Gordie’s story. To Dana Alison Levy, who tirelessly read many many versions and threatened me into the correct ending, and to Lynn Lindquist, who very bravely told me when I got it right, I am forever in your debt.

To Melissa Jeglinski, for taking a chance on Gordie’s story, and to Brian Farrey-Latz, Sandy Sullivan, Mallory Hayes, and the gang at Flux for letting me break their hearts and then thanking me for it, there are no words of gratitude large enough.

To the editors of the She Writes Young Adult Novel Contest and the folks at MidSouth SCBWI … on the surface, awards are only pieces of paper, but they sometimes give writers the courage to go on, so thank you.

To those who read drafts or bits of drafts, I can’t thank you enough.

To Scott Sitner, for friendship without question and legal advice I’ve probably bungled, and to Beth Hull and Susan Gray Foster, who stepped in at the very last minute to teach me that I know absolutely nothing about semicolons, I owe you each vats of chocolate and endless champagne.

To the band Spring Offensive, who somehow appear on all of my playlists … this would have been a different and lesser book without your voices in my head. Thanks also to Chris Foster for all the sneak peeks and downloads.

And, of course, to John, who believed me and almost didn’t flinch when I sat down one day and said I was going to write a book. With all my love.