Acknowledgments
The first time I read one of Cheryl McKay’s screenplays, I knew I had to hunt this woman down. I finally found her and gushed like a rabid fan. Thankfully I didn’t scare her away, but I really wanted her to know what a phenomenal screenwriter she was. I never guessed that over the course of several more years, we would end up working together as a comedy writing duo, turning her fabulous scripts into novels.
Collaborations, especially between two writers, can often be tricky, but our working relationship has flowed seamlessly, and I couldn’t be more grateful for it. What started as a writing partnership has transformed into a deep friendship that I count on every day. So, special thanks to Cheryl, who, in writing and in life, continues to show deep wisdom, unending love, and triumphant hope.
I’m also thankful for the support the B&H team gave us during this project. Julie Gwinn and Karen Ball, thanks for making the journey safe and encouraging and thanks for all your notes and insights into the manuscript.
As always, I’m grateful for my agent, Janet Kobobel Grant, whose faith in me often exceeds the faith I have in myself. And to my family, who blesses me with love when I doubt myself and acceptance no matter what. Sean, John, and Cate, I love you!
Last but not least, thank you to Jesus, who uses every story and every character to better my life story and increase my own character. And, thanks to what he did on the cross, I can be eternally grateful for all of it.
Visit Rene at www.renegutteridge.com, and on Twitter and Facebook.
When I originally wrote this story, I was single and frustrated in the wait to find love. I took out my frustrations through writing Hope’s story as she tried to focus on her career instead of love. Romans 8:28 has always been one of my favorite Bible verses. What spoke to me most while penning Hope’s journey was how important it is to find the good in the painful things that happen to us.
I’m very grateful to everyone who had a part in bringing this story to life. To Rene Gutteridge, for always being so brilliant at taking my scripts and turning them into novels. I love the way you expand the inner life of the characters.
I would like to offer a special thanks to Art Within, who helped me develop the story while writing the screenplay: Bryan Coley, Terri Measel Adams, Jeanna Bagley, Sean Gaffney, Brent Sweitzer, Kathleen Snow (my prayer warrior), and my fellow fellows in the writing program: Liz Beachy Hansen, Miguel Almendarez, Jim Krueger, and Jared Romero. You all encouraged me develop the most unique set of characters I’ve ever put together on the same page. From our lively table read of the script, I’d like to thank Kelly Delany, who was the first actress to read Hope’s character out loud and show me how funny she could be, and Belle Adams, for bringing Mikaela to life. I must also thank Susan Rohrer, Brian Belknap, and Nathan Scoggins, for all the supportive calls and writing life advice.
Thanks to Janet Kobobel Grant, for her unending support of Rene and me doing these script-to-book novelizations and for believing in us as a romantic-comedy duo. And to the B&H Publishing team, for all of their help and support during this project, and especially Julie Gwinn, Karen Ball, Jennifer Lyell, and Kim Stanford.
Lastly, I must thank my wonderful family, my parents, Tom and Denise, for their constant cheerleading, my sister, Heather, and to my husband, Chris, for his unending love and support of me—and for showing up at the altar. (That’s a little Hope Landon humor.) And to God, without whom I wouldn’t be able to do what I do.
Please visit Cheryl McKay online at: www.purplepenworks.com or www.finallyone.com