I heard before writing this book that the second was going to be harder than the first. And it was. Not because I didn’t have it in me, but because my first book did well, so writing something comparable or better was terrifying.
The Last Dance is a story I’ve had in my head for a while. I couldn’t seem to find the leading characters but when I did… man, they would not shut up until their story was on the page (actually, they’re still talking to me). I really fell in love with all of them, especially my four leading characters. Henry, Ambri, Claire, and Ben. I know these people so well that I consider them dear friends. I’m so thankful for them and wish I could call them up and have them over for dinner. I gotta tell ya, Henry is my absolute favorite of any character I’ve ever written or read. He’s just so… perfectly imperfect.
Anyway… I’ve got people to thank, so go away Henry (I’m free later…).
So many people helped make this book what it is today. It definitely didn’t start as what it ended up. But because of each of these people’s participation, I absolutely adore it and I hope you will to.
Hannah Smith is my brilliant editor at Aria. She ended up with me kind of by default of taking over for my previous editor when she left for bigger and better things. I was nervous, but I’d heard great things of her through the grapevine that is the author world. When she read the book, she sent back four or five pages of notes (twice!). AHHHH!!!! I’m kidding. Basically, she loved my characters and the story, but it needed some work. After a quick reread, I could see it needed a LOT of work. She might not know it, but she challenged me as a writer in a way no ever one had. It was like she was telling me what I knew but didn’t know how to fix. Or maybe I thought I wasn’t a good enough writer to be able to fix it? I dunno. She made me think and she made me look at the manuscript differently than I had previously. Turns out, I was wrong. I did know how to fix it I just needed someone like Hannah to push me to actually believe that I could. So, thank you, Hannah. Thank you for excusing my foul mouth and rambling through this process. I think we make a pretty damn good team.
To Sue Lamprell, David Boxell, Sue Smith, Vicky Joss, and everyone at Aria, the cover designers, marketing, management, and just everyone involved in the creation of a book, you all freaking rock! We’ve done this twice now and I’m so appreciative to be with a great publisher who believes in all their authors.
When I finish a book, I do a few read throughs and self-edits and then I send it off to my beta reader group. To my surprise my group grew from my last book and I now have eight fantastical women, both readers and authors who read the script at its worse a year ago and helped me find the things I just couldn’t see. Without them, the book wouldn’t be what it is today. In no particular order, thank you, Sheryl Babin, Camilla Isley, Kristen Swanson, Nikki LeClair, Marianne Hansen, Brook McCoy, Heather Laughlin, and Candace Wilhelm. Your support really does mean the world to me.
A special thank you to my family, and my parents, in particular, Mona & Rick Gordon (mom & step-dad), and Bret Jeppsen (dad). Even though I somehow hear a gazillion voices in my head at all times (character voices, I swear!), I’m still considered normal in society (mouthy, but normal for the most part) and I’ve got you to thank for it. You’ve been my biggest cheerleaders and y’all are three of my favorite people in life. I’m really thankful that you’re my parents and I love you all.
I was a daydreamer in high school. Seriously, I was that girl not listening, staring out the window dreaming of anything but school, talking to anyone who would listen. But there was one teacher who kept my attention and showed me how fun writing could be (some of it I even still have!). Shannon Steele (McBride when I knew her) you were such fun and had such a passion for literature that it planted a seed in me. It may have taken a decade to finally bloom, but the love of writing was in there. When I combined that with my love of daydreaming, and mindless talking, an author was born. Thank you for being one of those teachers who kids remember later in life. You do what teachers are meant to do. You opened the world to me to something I had never considered before I’d met you. You made a difference even years after our paths crossed.
And finally, to my readers. You guys are enthusiastic, funny, dedicated, and people I so wish I knew in real life. You’ve supported me over and over and I can’t thank you enough. You make me smile every time you tag me in a post, thank you. I hope you love this book enough to shout it to the rooftops just like you have previously. Actually, if I’m hoping for things, I hope you love it even more than the first! Seriously, there are just no words to describe what a readership like you all does for an author. You make me want to keep writing and chatting on all the social media to keep in touch. I’m forever thankful to you all. A reader lives a thousand lives, so keep reading.