This book was a long, eventful journey, and I’d be remiss not to thank the people who have helped it along the way.
To my parents, for their continual love and support.
To my very first readers, Ann Skinner, Erin Detwiler, and Melissa Lawson, thank you for reading this before it even got good.
To Amy Rosenbaum, whose love for this little story brought so many good things to my life, thank you. To the Southern Ohio Writer/Reader Collaborative, thank you for being the critique group of my dreams. Somehow you make me look forward to getting my ass kicked once a month.
To Sarah Prashaw, Kristy Mishler, Jenn Hoey, and Kate Nondahl, because our daily group emails provided both a place to vent and a good laugh, as needed. Oh, and Kate Nondahl, thank you for talking it out. This book and everything else.
To Jacqueline Pierce—your friendship has gotten me through all the highs and lows, darling. Thanks for being my cheerleader. To John Finck, who has read this book as many times as I have, thank you for your faith in me, for always pushing me to make it better, and for being the best critique partner and friend a girl could ask for. To J.H. Trumble—I wouldn’t be here without you, in so many ways.
Brent Taylor, friend, agent, champion. I’m going to say it one more time: you were born for this. Thank you so much for believing in this book for so long, and I’m so glad I could write something worthy of your belief.
To Ken Wright, thank you for giving this book a home, and for falling in love with it not just once but twice. To Alex Ulyett, thank you for seeing the potential in this book and helping me realize it. You always knew exactly what this story needed, and knew exactly how to get me to wrap my stubborn head around it. You are truly magical. (Magickal?) To the whole team at Viking Children’s, thank you for the enthusiasm, thank you for your dedication, thank you for all your careful planning, hard work, and patience, and thank you for the most amazing cover ever created.
You are all unicorns, and Sam and I are lucky to have you.