This book exists because at some point in 2017 I thought to myself, “I wonder what it would be like to write a high fantasy fairy tale.” These acknowledgments should start with the people who told me that it was a fantastic idea even though I’d never written anything like it before. I’m eternally grateful to fellow author and National Novel Writing Month buddy Carrie Pack, and to my best friend, Kristinn, who both had utter faith that I could write this plotty romance adventure fantasy. They coaxed me along in my word count, read the finished product, and continued to encourage me throughout the process of this manuscript becoming a book. By the time this novel makes it out into the world, it will be a total of four years from inception to completion, which is a long time for anyone to have to field panicked emails about magic systems, potential titles, and nautical metaphors, which they have with more grace and patience than I probably deserve.
Next, I want to thank my agent, Eva Scalzo. Thank you, Eva, for seeing something special in this manuscript and championing it, and for being the ‘let’s talk via phone’ email that I had been striving for ever since I decided I wanted to become an author. And thank you to the team at McElderry Books, especially my editor, Kate Prosswimmer, who worked so hard to bring out all the potential in the storytelling and character arcs and made this book the best it could be. Thank you to the cover illustrator, Sam Schechter, and to the cover designers for this beautiful, beautiful cover. It really has been a dream to work with you all. Thank you for bringing Tal and Athlen’s story to the page.
I’d like to thank a group of authors who are not only my friends, but amazing colleagues, and who are my cheerleaders, beta readers, support group, confidants, and convention buddies: Julian Winters, C. B. Lee, Jude Sierra, Laura Stone, & D. L. Wainright.
I’d also like to thank the authors who run the Asheville/WNC Writers Coffeehouse—Beth Revis, Jamie Mason, Brian Rathbone, and Jake Bible—for all their amazing advice and encouragement. Special thanks to Beth for writing a wonderful blurb. I’d like to thank Malaprop’s bookstore in Asheville, which is my local amazing indie store and has been so kind to me the past few years. The booksellers are awesome, and if you are ever in the Asheville area, please drop by and say hi to Katie.
It wouldn’t be my acknowledgment section without thanking my fandom life mate and fandom twitter pals, who are the greatest when I need a name suggestion or need help deciding on a detail. My Internet family always comes through, and I can’t thank them enough for sticking with me this past decade.
I’d like to thank my family, especially my spouse, Keith, and my three kids, Ezra, Zelda, and Remy, who bring joy and excitement into my life every day. Sometimes I’d be okay with a little less excitement. That might be a nice change for next time. I’d also like to thank my brother, Rob, and my sister-in-law, Chris, who account for most of my sales since they seem to purchase multiple copies of my books and then hand them out to their friends. Thanks for that, y’all. Also, Rob is the only person I know who actually reads the acknowledgments. (Hi, Rob!) Also, I want to thank my sisters, Christy and Amanda, who have made the pandemic a little more interesting via memes in our sibling group chat. I would like to thank my niece, Emma, who is always willing to be my assistant at conventions, as well as my other nieces and nephews, who tell their school librarians about their aunt’s books and talk them up to their teachers and friends.
Lastly, I’d like to thank everyone who reads this book, whether you purchased it or borrowed it from a library. Thank you for allowing me to entertain you for a few hours. I’m very appreciative of your time. I hope you enjoyed reading Tal and Athlen’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Until next time, I hope you stay safe and happy.
Thank you.
F.T. Lukens