WRITING A BOOK—WHETHER just sitting down to start, or hammering away at keys, or scribbling longhand in a notebook (or, let’s face it, on a napkin if you’re hard-pressed) when the perfect line of dialogue hits you—may be a very solitary act, but bringing it to physical life for people to hold and read, on good, old-fashioned paper, or through the soft glow of a screen, is decidedly not. It took a lot of talented, generous people to get these words in front of you, and they are due some very special thanks. (And probably coffee when answering my many late-night emails): Italia, my agent, who was kind enough, and brave enough, to believe in me after our first phone call, telling me, “You have to write a book.” Well here we are, darlin’!; Liana Gardner and Vesuvian Books, for the pick-me-ups and steering me in the right direction when my ship was veering into uncharted waters; My developmental editor, Jason Kirk, who read through the madness and mayhem over and over to make sure everything seemed right even when things for the characters were going so deliciously wrong; Artist Sam Shearon for the incredible, original cover illustration. Comedy and tragedy never looked better or more menacing!; Michael J. Canales for the final design layout; Gareth Worthington, Betty Anne Crawford, Jonas Saul, Mary Ting, Alexandrea Weis, Katie Harder-Schauer, Tess Burnside, Clark Collis with Entertainment Weekly, Jeffrey Reddick, Peter M. Bracke, Mark Alan Miller, and Clive Barker; All the teen horror, thriller, and drama films and books of the 80s and 90s that scared me, made me think, made me wonder, and got me through tough times. You were an inspiration to me then as much as you are now; The singing, dancing, and, yes, drama, that filled the halls of the performing arts school I attended. It clearly also filled my head; And, of course, you, the reader. I wouldn’t be on this journey without you, and I am so immensely glad we’re in this together. After all, when the lights go out, and we hear a scary noise, we’ll need a hand to hold ...