Acknowledgments

Book publishing truly takes the proverbial village, and Just One More is a testament to that. Big thanks to my amazing agent, Jill Marsal, who believed in me, and to the Women’s Fiction Writers Association for its part in connecting us. Thanks to everyone at Scarlet Books and Penzler Publishing who worked to make this book a reality: the editorial team comprised of Luisa Smith, Will Luckmann, and Nadara Merrill; publisher Charles Perry; and designer Charles Brock, who created the deliciously creepy cover. And of course, I must express my enormous gratitude to the legendary Otto Penzler himself.

The writing process can feel solitary, but it’s never truly completed alone. For helping this book along its way, I’m eternally grateful to Luisa Perkins and Sarah M. Eden, the other two members of our writing group affectionately called The Naked Mole Rats.

My critique partner, Julie Coulter Bellon, consistently points out holes in my work and shows me how it can be better. As my accountability partner, Luisa Perkins keeps me motivated and moving, and for this book, she provided much-appreciated revision notes.

A decent portion of this book was written in pre-pandemic days at Kneaders, fueled by their oatmeal (breakfast), sandwiches (lunch), and Diet Coke (always). Thanks to the Riverwoods location and team, who let me work for hours in the booth in the corner with the only outlet in the place. I relied on it when my laptop battery was on its last leg.

The best big brother ever, Mike Luthy, was an incredibly helpful resource on police procedure. Any lingering errors are, of course, mine.

I’m grateful to my parents for supporting me in a publishing journey that has spanned decades. Not every kid has their dreams taken seriously, but the Buddy L typewriter they got me for my fifth birthday shows that they have believed in me all along. They continue to prove their love and support with every new project I take on.

Thanks to my husband, children, and sons-in-law. In addition to being consistent cheerleaders and the reason I do so much of what I do, they know my weird writer quirks and love me anyway. I believe writing made me a better wife and mother. As my family has never known anything else, I certainly hope I’m right.

Finally, I can’t forget to thank Samantha Lyon Prinster, my eldest daughter, for inspiring a certain plot point. Many years ago, after hearing that I’d fictionally offed many characters and pets, she made me promise to kill a goldfish in a book. So, here you go, cutie. I have finally fulfilled that promise. I even had him murdered for you.