Each book is a world in and of its own. I’m lucky to have so many people helping me build each one.
My children have been lucky enough to have had Vicky and Bill Hassel in their lives for most if not their entire lives, and it all started with my boys. In short, Vicky helped me raise them. She used to tell me that boys couldn’t be tamed. Not in a take-over-the-world or hurt-anyone way but in an adventurous, take-on-life way. When my boys caught flies and lizards and released them on me so that I fake screamed and ran, she’d always call them stinky boys and I sort of loved that. This book started with my love for those kind of boys. Big brothers. Teammates. Complicated. Messy. Angry. Loving. Boys.
The first boy I ever met after my dad was my brother, Mark, who has always been an incredible support to me. As of course, has been my sister, Bonnie. I always knew I won the family lottery, but it’s never been truer than at this point in my life. My family now includes wonderful sisters-in-law and one of the most entertaining larger-than-life brothers-in-law ever. So to my entire family, including wild and wonderful nieces and nephews from Boston to San Diego and back, this book is filled with their spirit and my thanks. I wish my parents were in this world to celebrate all of this, but much thanks has to go to Kathy Ramey, who, in their stead, is filling in as parent-in-residence. And Mom and Dad are cheering from their heavenly perch, I know.
I of course also have to thank Nicole Resciniti. This writing business is a nerve wracking and wonderous thing, and without her faith in me and her constant and vigilant shepherding of my career, this book wouldn’t have been born. Annette Pollert-Morgan has this uncanny way of finding the heart of a book and clearing away the rest. I will never be able to thank her enough. I’ve been lucky enough to meet some of the other Sourcebooks team but am hesitant to thank any specific members because they all have been so incredibly supportive and patient and I realize now that for as many as I have met there are so many unsung heroes within the Sourcebooks family. So a huuuge thanks goes to everyone at Sourcebooks.
As for the writing of The Homecoming itself, I need to thank the specific people who have heard and worked on this novel in its many, many forms along the way. First was Terri Farley, who fell in love with the character of John Strickland almost immediately. David Case and Laen Ghiloni were early readers for this book.
Steven Dos Santos and Jonathan Rosen receive thanks as always for their constant support and loyal friendship. To my betas, Steven Dos Santos and Tori Kelley, thanks so much. Thanks to Marjetta Geerling, who read the beginning of this one and offered her wonderful feedback, support, and friendship. To Jill Nadler with her Kombucha and write-ins.
To Joyce Sweeney who is always instrumental in all aspects of the process, biggest thanks. The PGA’s, Palm Springers, Wellington SCBWI critique group, and finally, to the ever present Tuesdays. Thanks for graciously listening, critiquing, focusing, and keeping me and this book going.
Finally, to JKR, and my beautiful children (you know who you are—ha!), thank you for enduring another book baby. And to my pups, Fetch and Ashley, all my love. Woof.