Acknowledgments

Many thanks to Carien and Sullivan McPig, for many services rendered, including beta reading, assisting on All the Things, and in particular for photos of Fraeylemaborg, the inspiration for the Imperial Palace in Dasnaria.

Thanks to Marcella Burnard, for notes on all things nautical. As always, any errors are due to my obtuseness or willfulness, possibly both at once. She tried to teach me about sailing, folks—she really did. Also thanks to Anna Philpot, for close reading on a short timeline. And for bubbly in the grape arbor.

Hat tip to Jeremy Brazille, Karen Hardie, and Worldbuilders. You all know why.

Thanks to Peter Senftleben, editor extraordinaire, for loving Jepp best of all. (And not letting me kill her off in a previous book.) Attendant thanks to everyone at Kensington, all of whom work so hard to make these books wonderful and get them into readers’ hands, especially Rebecca Cremonese, Jane Nutter, Vida Engstrand, Lauren Jernigan, and Kristine Mills.

As always the terrific team at Fuse Literary gets my gratitude, particularly fabulous agent Connor Goldsmith and savvy agency partner Laurie McLean.

Many thanks to all the reviewers, readers, and book bloggers who’ve supported these books—I would be lost without you.

Love to bestie Megan Hart, forever and always an LH. And to Margaret, who remains my source of light.

Hugs to Veronica Scott, steadfast supporter and loyal friend. Same to Katie Lane, who always makes me smile.

Huge thanks, love, early morning coffee IMs, and cupcakes to Grace (Darling) Draven, for help with a difficult scene. No raw chicken parts hitting the floor—I just couldn’t go there—but I used most everything else, you gory wench.

I’d be a sad and lonely writer without my professional organizations. Here’s a shout out to the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)—especially the Keepers of the Flame in the chatroom—and the Romance Writers of America (RWA), with special hugs to the wonderful folks in my local chapter, the Land of Enchantment Romance Authors (LERA).

Finally, much love to my family. I was writing this book over Thanksgiving and Christmas—and no one blinked that I spent hours at Starbucks. My stepsister Hope even met me there a couple of times for a quick latte and left quickly. There is no greater love.

Always, to David, who’s with me every day. No cottages and picket fences for us either—and we’ve made it work brilliantly. I love you, my dear.