Oh dear. I fear this is going to be like my wedding day again. Leave me to my own volition and I’m going to end up with ten bridesmaids, five quasi-bridesmaids, one twenty-two-year-old flower girl who rejected bridesmaid status in order to toss flowers, and several invited friends who really should’ve been bridesmaids and I’ve regretted not asking ever since. In other words, how on earth can I squeeze all the wonderful people in my life onto two pages?
For starters, thank you to my terrific family who has supported me all the way. My husband, who patiently encouraged me all the way back to the twelve-hour days I’d spent holed up in a room writing somewhere, not having a clue what I was doing but finding myself exclaiming, “I think I’ve stumbled into something, and I think I won’t ever be able to stop.” Well, Ben, sure enough I couldn’t stop, and by your endless support, I never had to try.
My children, who lived out the real-life story of nearly every comedic scene involving a very adventurous set of twins and baby sibling. To every member of my extended family, especially my mother-in-law, who enthusiastically read my manuscripts well before they were ready. Multiple times. To my mother, who has spent my entire life believing in me.
To my agent, Jim Hart, who has been nothing but communicative, kind, and encouraging from the start. Thank you for taking me and my stories with you!
To the ACFW community at large, especially those author friends who eventually just became friends, especially especially my dear Betsy Haddox, Megan Gonzalez, Lauren Brandenburg, Annaliese Flautt, and Bethany Turner. This is a wild jungle we’re bushwhacking through together, and I’m so blessed to be dodging quicksand and hopping rocks with you. To the multitude of friends and mentors who’ve walked beside me and encouraged me on this journey, both far and close, both online and through a pat on the back, thank you!
To Christine Berg, bosom buddy since those college days of listening to Comptine d’un autre été: L’après-midi on repeat, dreaming on the oval, my spontaneous dance partner, convertible-top-down, hands-in-the-air adventurer, and now friend in our greatest journey of all—motherhood—thank you for all the times you dropped life to read and edit and cheer me on.
To Cassie, who answered random texts for months about the ins and outs of Ripley’s scuba-diving world. To Jarod, whose hilarious life inspires hilarious stories—keep on helping up those elderly ladies. To Linda Parham, who so kindly guided me through the DCS-related regulations. To Katie, Paige, and Laura, who read my first, very atrocious manuscript with smiles years ago—your collective ability to lie was both uplifting and disturbing.
To every YMCA teen I had the blessing of laughing to death with (especially the teen leaders!), and who gave me such joy every single afternoon you walked through those doors, thank you for being “my teens” for such a special season. Obviously there are many differences between Girls Haven and the Y program, but all the wonderful parts are inspired by you.
To God, for ignoring my life plans to so blatantly push me into something far greater.
And, of course, to the Thomas Nelson team. Jocelyn Bailey, you are incredibly talented, shrewd, and scary clever. My days would be utterly incomplete without your memes. Leslie Peterson, I’m proud to have you for my line editor, and neighbor! Thank you for being so gentle, professional, and insightful with my book. Kristen Andrews, you gave me the most wonderful book cover in the world! Paul Fisher, Allison Carter, Kerri Potts, Laura Wheeler, Amanda Bostic, Becky Monds, Savannah Summers, Matt Bray, Kim Carlton, and the incredible sales team—I once saw some of you walking down the hall together at ACFW, and time slowed, and everyone was smiling, and somebody flicked her shiny hair. You were The Plastics, yet in the very best way. And after a year with you all, all I can say is that you are even more organized, effective, kind, generous, thoughtful, wonderful human beings than I ever imagined—I’m just so glad to wear pink on Wednesdays with you.