Acknowledgments

IT IS FITTING IN SOME ways that Under the Southern Sky is a story of feeling untethered, of life getting in the way and having plans vastly different from our own. It was written in rental houses, condos, and apartments during the fifteen months our family was displaced after Hurricane Florence ripped through our beloved town and home, and edited during a pandemic that has felt straight out of a dystopian novel. But in Under the Southern Sky—as in life—miracles are born from adversity. Relationships are created in the void of lost love and dashed hopes. New life springs from the ashes.

For me, one of the greatest gifts—besides this book—to come from a challenging time was a weekly Facebook Live show, Friends & Fiction, with my dear writer pals, Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Patti Callahan Henry, and Mary Alice Monroe. Thank you, lovely friends, for creating a spectacular way for us to connect with our readers even when we couldn’t be on the road. And thank you to the tens of thousands of readers who have joined us on a literary journey of hope and connection. (Shameless plug: If you aren’t watching Friends & Fiction, join us on Facebook Wednesday nights at 7 p.m.!) Big love also to Meg Walker and Shaun Hettinger for being such an invaluable part of this journey. Michelle Marcus and Brenda Gardner, all the thank-yous for taking on the task of organizing our Friends & Fiction book club. We are all so grateful!

On that note, Friends & Fiction began with the mission of supporting independent bookstores—and I would not be here without the indies who have hand sold my books, hosted events and cheered me on since the beginning. This past year more than ever when in-person events were canceled and pivoting on a dime was necessary, you all stood by my side and sent Feels Like Falling into the world with aplomb despite the challenges. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your support.

To my incredible, amazing, brilliant team, I can’t possibly thank you enough for all you do to bring my stories to life. Kate Dresser, you “got” this book right away and traveled this path with me until it was the best story it could be. Molly Gregory, I am always grateful for your positivity and willingness to go above and beyond. Elisabeth Weed and Olivia Blaustein, agents extraordinaire, I wouldn’t be here without either of you. Kathie Bennett, thank you for rolling with the punches, for rising to every challenge imaginable, and, most important, for being almost as invested in these books as I am. Michelle Podberezniak, you amaze me every single day with your fresh ideas—and organization. Jen Bergstrom and Jen Long, I am so grateful for all your expertise and insight and for being on this road with me year after year. Bianca Salvant, thanks for your marketing prowess. Gabrielle Audet and Sarah Lieberman from Simon & Schuster Audio, y’all are total rock stars. I’m in awe of your creativity and so thankful for all your help getting my audiobooks into the world. Tamara Welch, as you well know, I couldn’t do what I do without you. You have been such an important part of this journey, and I am most grateful for you!

My Tall Poppy Writer tribe has been there for me through thick and thin before my first novel was published. This group—and its members—continue to evolve and change, but the constant is a group I can always turn to for advice. Most of all, I’m grateful for the friendship of each and every one of you! And to the members of our Bloom group: Y’all are so amazing, so supportive, and we love you! (Shameless plug number 2: Are you in Bloom? If not, join us on Facebook via Bloom with Tall Poppy Writers!)

To all the Bookstagrammers, bloggers, reporters, and influencers who have helped bring this book into the world, a huge and hearty thank you. Friend and phone buddy Kristy Barrett, thanks for all the book honey! Andrea Katz, your support and advice is always so welcome and appreciated. Stephanie Gray, I am so happy for the success of Porter Co. Book Shoppe and so grateful for all the book love through it and, of course, the Book Lover Book Club and Porter Co. Marketing. Special thanks to Jamie Rosenblit, Anne Mendez, Addie Wemyss, Judy Collins, Kristin Thorvaldsen, Courtney Marzilli, Bethany Clark, Kate Rock, Jennifer Clayton, and Nicole McManus for always going so above and beyond! And fabulous podcasters Zibby Owens, Grace Atwood, and Becca Freeman, thanks for being so supportive.

Susan Roberts, Susan Peterson, Sheree Kun, Michele Collard, Rose Goforth, Denise Holcomb, Annissa Holmes, and Susan Persons, I adore you and am so thankful you’re in my life. Everyone who follows my design blog, Design Chic, and all the friends I have met along the way, thank you for also reading my books so enthusiastically, showing up at my events and sharing them with your followers. It means more than I can say!

If you’ve read my books, you know that I love writing about families. How they come together, why they fall apart, what matters in the end, how they are created. I am so blessed to have the most wonderful family. Will and Will, I couldn’t have dreamed up a better husband and son, and I’m grateful for every day with you and, quite honestly, absolutely treasured every minute of being at home together for weeks on end. (Another unexpected gift!) Mom and Dad, you are and always have been the most amazing parents. Thanks for being the best examples. Ola Rutledge, Cathy Singer, Catherine, John, John Ross and Peyton Adcox, Anne and Tommy O’Berry, Raymond and Manika Smith, Rutledge Smith, Nancy and Tommy Sanders, Thomas and Halley Sanders, Sidney, Michael and Emilia Patton, and Jim Woodson, y’all are the best family anyone could ever have and, without even meaning to, you taught me what it means to be family first. You are always a part of my stories.

Perhaps most important, thank you to my readers who come back year after year for another story, another adventure. Can you believe this is number seven? Under the Southern Sky has such a special place in my heart. I hope it finds one in yours, too.