ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Here we are again—another Keeper book, another cliff-hanger! Do I at least get credit for being consistent with my evil endings? (Probably not…) And since I do realize that some of you are likely glaring at this page thinking, WHY ISN’T THERE ANOTHER CHAPTER? I thought I should maybe try to explain.

See… the moment I just left you with? (You know, the one that has you wondering, What does it mean???) That’s a moment I’ve been building toward for this entire series. It’s the game changer of all game changers! The biggest secret in the Lost Cities! And even though it comes about rather suddenly, I had to pause there so we can all reset, regroup (possibly even recover?), and get ready for all the twists and turns ahead!

(And, hey, you can always go back and reread chapter 42 if you need to fill the days between now and book 10!)

Also: I know everyone had to wait an extra-long time for me to write this part of Sophie’s story—thank you so much for bearing with me. I wrote Stellarlune with a brand-new baby, in a house under constant construction, while life threw every possible curveball it could at me. So it is one hundred percent true that I never would’ve been able to finish if it weren’t for the support, guidance, and wisdom of a multitude of people.

First up: Kara Sargent and Jessi Smith—I don’t know what I would’ve done without our weekly brainstorming Zooms. (And I hope you’re not sick of them, because “Hello, book 10!”) Thank you for helping me find my way whenever I hit a wall or fell into a plot hole. And I am so sorry for putting you through the World’s Most Miserable Deadline Schedule!

And speaking of deadlines… my team at Simon & Schuster deserves a truckload of cupcakes and puppies for all the hoops they jumped through in order to give me the time I needed to finish writing. I truly feel like Keeper has its own army at this point. Thank you, Valerie Garfield, Anna Jarzab, Jon Anderson, Mike Rosamilia, Chel Morgan, Rebecca Vitkus, Elizabeth Mims, Olivia Ritchie, Adam Smith, Jen Strada, Julie Doebler, Sara Berko, Alissa Nigro, Caitlin Sweeny, Mitch Thorpe, Michelle Leo, Nadia Almahdi, Nicole Russo, Ian Reilly, Jenn Rothkin, and the entire sales team. I also have to thank Karin Paprocki for designing the absolutely amazing cover and Jason Chan for creating a piece of art that actually had my jaw dropping when I first saw it.

I also would be lost in this complicated publishing business if it weren’t for my brilliant agent, Laura Rennert (and the rest of the Andrea Brown Literary team), as well as the Taryn Fagerness Agency, who have worked so hard to bring the Keeper series to so many countries. In fact, I’ve now reached a point where I’m running out of space to thank all of my incredible foreign publishers and translators—so if you’re a part of any of those teams, please know how much I appreciate you! And to my assistant, Katie Laird: You are officially my hero for keeping me organized during these mom-brain times! Also: I have to give a quick shout-out to Liesa Abrams Mignogna for all her advice over the years—and for taking a chance on this series in the first place.

On a personal front, I have to thank Ashley and Amanda for keeping my son alive, happy, and as clean as he’s capable of being every time I had to duck away to do this Working-Mom Thing. (And I’m sorry he poops so much!) And thank you, Betsy (aka Grandma) and Melinda (aka Nana), for filling in when the deadline got tighter and work hours crashed into personal time. And thank you, Paul (Grandpa) and John (Pa), for always coaxing out a few more baby giggles whenever you stop by. Thank you, Brett and Chris, for helping us put our house back together with the least amount of construction chaos. And thank you, Deb, Amy, Kasie, Jared, Kelly, Eddie, Elyse, Ronnie, Roshani, Abby, Natalie, Faith, Brandi, Eric, Mike, and Katie, for checking on me, sending hilarious texts, or helping me sneak away for nonwork things (occasionally!).

And to the two guys in my life—my Papa Bear and Baby Bear—I could go on and on and on about the joy and adventure and wonder you bring to every single moment. But I’ve had to be away from you both so much as I’ve fought through this deadline that I’m going to stick with a simple “I love you.” You two truly are the best surprises that life has ever given me. And now: Mama Bear is coming home from hotel purgatory for ALL THE SNUGGLES.

Finally, since I am one hundred percent positive that my tired brain has forgotten all kinds of super-important people, here is a space for you to fill in your name(s):

Thank you, whoever you are! This totally counts as including you, right?