I BELIEVE IN COMMUNITY. Whether it’s geography that brings people together, or a sports team, or putting on a play, there is value in the team.
As this final book of the Prey trilogy makes it into readers’ hands, I want to acknowledge how honored I am to be a part of the HarperCollins community. They have championed this series from the beginning, and I can’t thank them enough for their belief in this story and for all the hard work they do to publish and promote young adult literature.
I am indebted to senior editor Alyson Day, assistant editors Abbe Goldberg and Tessa Meischeid, copyeditors Renée Cafiero and Valerie Shea, designer Joel Tippie, marketing manager Jenna Lisanti, publicist Lindsey Karl, and all the wonderful people at HarperCollins who tackle the countless assignments it takes to publish a book. Thank you, each and every one of you, for doing what you do . . . and doing it so well.
I want to give particular thanks to my editor, Alyson Day. For a number of years now we have worked on these three books, and with every single interaction Alyson has treated me with respect, with humor, with kindness, with gentle prodding (when needed), and always with utter graciousness. She does her job with efficiency and, just as important, with compassion. I am more grateful to her than I can possibly express.
The same goes for my wonderful agents—Victoria Sanders, Bernadette Baker-Baughman, Chris Kepner, Jessica Spivey. They bolster my spirits when they need bolstering and challenge my writing when it needs challenging. Again, there aren’t the words to fully express my gratitude. I am honored to be on the VSA team.
As always, I want to thank my early readers who have accompanied me on this journey, in particular Ryan Gallagher and Katie Caskey. They asked the tough questions, even when I didn’t always want to hear them asked. I’m grateful they persisted.
I’ve dedicated this book to my parents. Although they’ve both passed away, they continue to be with me: guiding, encouraging, supporting.
Finally, I want to thank Pat, my true companion. She was with me when I had the idea for these books—when the notions of Book and Hope and Cat and the Less Thans first entered my mind—and she’s been with me every step along the way. More important, she teaches me the three Ls: to laugh, to live, to love. I am the luckiest guy in the world to get to travel through life with her.