There’s a rumor floating around in the world of YA authors that writing sequels is one of the hardest things a writer has to do. After working on this book, I can tell you this rumor is one-hundred percent true. Sequels are unmanageable beasts. Hard to coax out of the shadows, almost impossible to tame.
Thankfully, I didn’t have to wrangle this story alone. My wonderful senior editor, Alyson Day, and assistant editor, Abbe Goldberg, were there to encourage me from the first paragraph to the final period. My tireless critique partner, Kate Armstrong, believed in this story all the times I didn’t and that made all the difference. The Lucky 13s cheered me on while wrestling sequel beasts of their own. Trish Ward was my ever-willing Old English proofreader. Adrian Cain of the Manx Heritage Foundation graciously answered my emails and made sure the Ad-hene conjugated their spells properly.
Many thanks to my readers, whose enthusiasm for these characters make everything worth it. Many thanks to my family and my husband, who believed in me, loved me, and fed me (it’s awfully hard to cook dinners and tame sequel beasts at the same time).
As always, my highest and final thanks goes to God, who continues to bless me with stories and places to tell them. Soli Deo Gloria.