Acknowledgments
If you’ve gotten this far into the book and enjoyed it, then let me acknowledge you first. To all my readers and fans who one-click purchase my books, post reviews, heart my posts, share my book news, send me encouraging messages asking when my next book is coming, and overlook my run-on sentences (ahem), your enthusiasm nourishes me during my late-night writing sessions and weekends behind my computer. You’re the best!
I’d never finish my first draft without the endless support of my husband, Craig. To the man who I know would take my place in prison, you are my everything. Seriously, without you I’m pretty sure I’d wither away to skin and bones, a corpse stuck to my office chair. You’re my childcare provider. My smoothie maker. My personal masseuse. My errand runner. My joke teller. My favorite chef. And everything in between.
To my kids—Talia, Kainen, Kiara, and Ariana—you are endless inspiration. I love how you’ve embraced writing your own stories, and your love of reading (even if they’re only graphic novels) makes my heart swell. And to the ones who don’t like reading, I still love you. Just not as much as your siblings (kidding!). Oh yeah, my favorite thing about you guys? Our endless joking around. You keep the laugher going.
There are not enough words to thank my editor, Kevin Cook, from Proofed to Perfection. Your little red marks have helped me grow as a writer from the very first book, and while I still have a ways to go, I’m endlessly learning from you. I’m not sure I’ll ever master whittling out my purple prose and cleaning up my plot holes…so don’t go easy on me!
To my mom, mom-in-law, Emily, Jess, Becky, Bri, Jamie, Angie, Missy, Rachel, and the many other friends and family who have supported me with each book, there are not enough thank-yous to show how much I love you and appreciate you. I’m writing this after a twenty-hour editing spree, so if I’ve forgotten anyone, that’s why.
There are countless more people who have shared in my publishing journey, but motherhood beckons me as my children are begging for dinner in the background as I finish this. Such is the life of an author mom. I love and cherish you all.
As long as you keep reading, I’ll keep writing for you!