As I sit and try to compose my thoughts to write the acknowledgments for my seventh (!!) published book, I’m feeling overwhelmed with gratitude. It is a very strange and difficult time right now—in the midst of a worldwide pandemic that has devastating consequences for so many in various ways. Having life change so drastically so quickly has forced many of us to step back and think about what is truly important in our lives. For me, that is God, my family, my health, nature, and story—for the beauty and magic that is the gift of escaping into the pages of a book and finding pieces of ourselves or ways to make sense of our world through the lens of another’s eyes. Now, more than ever, I am deeply indebted to all those who have enabled me to continue to tell my stories—especially this one about the bond between sisters, something so dear to my heart.
I will never be able to express in words my gratitude to Melissa Frain for loving my sisters and these books as much as I do, and for giving me the chance to bring them to life. Mel, I am so grateful for you—it was my honor to work with you on this series. Thank you to the entire team at Tor Teen for your amazing work on this series! Special thanks to Susan Chang for stepping in and being so understanding, Lauren Levite and Anneliese Merz for all of your support and work on these books, Saraciea Fennell for your excitement and support, Jim Tierney for another incredibly gorgeous cover, Christa Désir for not getting mad about my inability to use farther/further correctly and for such an incredibly kind comment that it made me cry (in a good way), and Melanie Sanders, Jim Kapp, Heather Saunders, Peter Lutjen, Lesley Worrell, Devi Pillai, Lucille Rettino, Eileen Lawrence, Anthony Parisi, and Isa Caban, who work so hard to get these books on shelves and into the hands of readers, especially right now during such a hard time.
Thank you, as always, to the inimitable Josh Adams, my agent extraordinaire, and the entire team at Adams Literary for continuing to make my dreams come true and always having my back!
Kathryn Purdie—no acknowledgments page would be complete without you, just as I would never survive this journey without you. Thank you for everything, especially all the karaoke.
As always, I am so grateful for my family and their unflagging support. My incredible parents and of course my sisters—whom I love so deeply, that love inspired this entire series. And thank you to my in-laws also. I’m so lucky to have such amazing cheerleaders in my corner!
To all of my author friends who have supported me on this journey—whether it’s cheering for one another or commiserating together—this career would be a hundred times harder without all of you. During the creation of this book, special thanks must go out to Danielle Jensen, Becky Wallace, Kate Watson, Demetra Brodsky, Emily King, Caitlin Sangster, Tricia Levenseller, Julie Olsen, Charlie Holmberg, Kerry Kletter, C. J. Redwine, Sarah Goodman, Nadine Brandes, Samantha Hastings, and so many more. I am blessed with amazing friends and support in my life.
Thank you to the incredible book bloggers, readers, librarians, and booksellers who have been such a huge support throughout the years—I can never thank you enough for all you do! Special thanks to Bridget and Kristen from Storygram Tours; Krysti and Sarah from the YA and Wine book club; Jenn Kelly, teacher extraordinaire; the entire staff at King’s English Bookshop; and so many others for your continued and unwavering support of my career!
So much gratitude to my dear friends and sisters of my heart—Sarah Cox, Marie Rappleye, Jessica Knab, Janessa Taylor, Abby Degraff, and Emelie Lasson—for keeping me sane and always being there for me in this crazy thing called life. Thank you to Cathy Blake for your kindness, love, example, and support.
To my incredible readers who have either stuck with me this long or are just finding me with these books, a simple thank-you will never be adequate for taking the chance on picking up one of my books and allowing me the honor of sharing my stories with you. Your messages and posts about how much you love my characters and the worlds and words I create mean more than you can ever know.
I always save the most important ones for last. Travis, my best friend and soulmate. I believe in the ability to fall in love in a matter of weeks because I knew I was in love with you on our first date. Thank you for loving me as much as you do, and for making our life together so amazing. I adore you. To my four incredible children—I love you so much, I’m not sure you will understand until you are parents yourselves. Thank you for giving me the gift of being your mommy.
And finally, my eternal gratitude to my Heavenly Father. Thank You for giving me the gift of story and every other good thing in my life.