Many, many thanks to my “sister from another mister,” Melinda Rice-Schoon, who listened to this book chapter by chapter and across nine or so states, and provided essential feedback and support.
My gratitude, as always, to my book mom and editor, Betsy Wollheim, the amazing crew at DAW Books, copyeditor Annaliese Jakimides, and my agents, Russ Galen, Danny Baror, and Heather Baror-Shapiro.
Bravo to Donato Giancola for the truly epic cover art.
A book is nothing without its readers, and I am humbled by the community that has arisen around the Green Rider Series. From this community, the Green Rider book soundtrack album, composed by Kristina A. Bishoff, and its companion art book, crafted by Madeline Shayne (each with permission) were crowdfunded via a Kickstarter campaign in 2018. The resulting album, recorded with a live orchestra, can be listened to and downloaded in the usual places. It’s amazing what beauty we can bring into the world when we work together.
Thank you to Jay Bishoff, Pascal Doisteau Frerot, and Megan Notman, who heard the Rider call and pledged contributions to a special tier of the Kickstarter that entitled them to “Tuckerizations” of their names in this book. Heh heh heh . . .
Thank you to Laura Richardson for being an amazing liaison to the fan community and, among other things, coordinating, along with Megan Notman, Melinda Rice-Schoon, the Jesup Memorial Library, and Sherman’s Books, and marshaling the aid of Jamie Pandy, Laura Schroeder, Amanda Tillman, and Steve and Barbara Moody, the launch party we held for my novella, The Dream Gatherer (“murder blanket” and all). She also took the lead as cat herder-in-chief in organizing online events we held for the Green Rider community during the Covid-19 pandemic.
I am deeply grateful to my Patreon patrons who helped make life less stressful. Thank you, thank you, thank you to Sherise Mitchell, Matt Weber, Anjali Jindal, Hildie Johnson, Jessica Madnick, Kyle Schwerdt, Heather Robinson Lindsey, Natasha Mueller, Steve Moody, Malena Jax, Carna Steimel, Bethany Sheffer, Rebecca Elo, Amber Jessup, Stephanie Hinden, Lisa Wells, Tracy Frost, Catherine Kidd, Michelle Carter, Eve, Ted Hart, Wilmelyn Santos, Tirzah Conway, Kelly Trahan, Theo Da Kaffei, Rosie Brown, Laura Laubach-Richardson, Risa Kay, Jeremy Violette, Rosalie Boel, Jerri Stepp, Bethany McGee, Shakota Petrie, Margeet Kikstra, Joshua Kahn, Michelle Carter, Erin Cochran.
Finally, I am so pleased to get this book into your hands (or ears, in the case of audio editions). It takes time, and I always marvel about all the things that have happened in the course of writing a book, whether in my personal life or on the national/international stage. Each book is like a snapshot of history, and this one has had more than its share of history. I hope there is a little less as I continue work on book 8. Please, all of you take care of yourselves and be well.
~Kristen B.