This particular book wouldn’t have happened without the endless creative brilliance, encouragement, and feedback of Susan Tuttle, critique partner extraordinaire. I’m so blessed by her friendship, and all she’s invested in my books. She helped draw out this story chapter after frustrating chapter, when I couldn’t see the big picture through the details and went back and forth endlessly as we untangled it. I’m also particularly grateful for the wisdom and story genius of Allen Arnold, who helped me reimagine the story and see clearly the “point” of it. He has taken every story I’ve written deeper and farther, and he’s taught me a lot about being a writer. Crystal Caudill, fabulous critique partner, thank you for your insights, your opinions, and even the fangirling. You bless me always.
My dad is another of those brilliant minds I couldn’t do without. Whenever I’m stuck, a simple conversation with him generating all these wild ideas gets my creativity going again, and his help throughout the text gets me thinking and polishing. He’s the finest first reader.
My team at Revell has shaped my writing career and my books with much talent and artistry. They provide gorgeous covers that become the face of each story, clean up the plots and polish the prose, then help me send it into the world. I couldn’t do this without them behind me, and I’m forever grateful for each person who works on my stories. No girl ever had better cheerleaders.
To the producers, actors, and fans of Signed, Sealed, and Delivered—thank you! This show was wonderful food for my heart as I wrote my own “lost letter” story. I felt over and over again the passion these people had for repairing the story of complete strangers through their letters, and the importance of the written word. These shows are a gold mine of beauty, and so is the tight-knit, kindhearted group of fans who enjoy them.
Mostly, I am overwhelmed with gratitude to God for reshaping this book from what I originally thought it should be. He never fails to impress and surprise me.