This book, like every book, is a tiny miracle. I’m so incredibly thankful for everyone who made it possible. Words cannot express my gratitude, but I’m going to give it a shot.
Devin Ross, thank you for being as excited about this idea as I was. I am not sure I would have ever finished the manuscript without your support and encouragement.
Suzie Townsend, Dani Segelbaum, Pouya Shahbazian, Katherine Curtis, Veronica Grijalva, Victoria Hendersen, and everyone at New Leaf Literary & Media. You always have my back and my best interests at heart. That is a rare gift in this world, and I’m so grateful to have it and all of you.
Melissa Frain, thank you for sharing my obsession with the Titanic. But more than that, thank you for loving this book and idea enough to want to see it come to life. Your comments on this manuscript warmed my soul, and I look back at them whenever I’m doubting myself.
Kelly Lonesome, I count myself incredibly fortunate to have you as my editor. Thank you for championing this book, for helping me make it stronger. And for just … getting it. Or me. The same thing, maybe!
Everyone at Nightfire, Tor, and Macmillan, thank you for taking a chance on me and this book. Writing a book is only half the battle, if that. The other (enormously intimidating) part is getting it out into the world in such a way that readers know about it and want to read it!
Timo Noak, thank you for the gorgeous and absolutely chilling artwork for the cover. It is beyond my wildest dreams!
Katie Klimowicz, thank you for the incredible and PERFECT cover! It makes me giddy every time I see it.
Kristin Temple, thank you for enthusiastically supporting this book from the beginning and every step along the way, as well as keeping me in the loop and on track throughout the publishing process.
Jessica Katz, for managing all the details from the ARC all the way to the final PDF, including my picky little notes and questions, thank you for being patient with me!
Sarah Pannenberg, Jordan Hanley, and Michael Dudding, thank you for guiding me through the frightening (to me) waters of an online presence and working so hard to spread the word about Dead Silence in so many fantastic venues.
Anna Merz, thank you so much for the opportunities to talk about Dead Silence and connect with people on horror, space horror, and my love for all things nerdy and a little weird.
I am so very grateful to the entire Nightfire Dead Silence team! You literally would not have heard about this book or be holding it in your hands right now without them.
Alma Katsu, T. Kingfisher, David Wellington, Melissa Landers, Rachel Vincent, Lisa Shearin, Sarah Pinsker, Kendare Blake, Mur Lafferty, and Laurie Faria Stolarz, for taking time out of your incredibly hectic schedules to read Dead Silence and offer such generous words about it. Linnea Sinclair, for reading multiple versions of this book, listening patiently as I bounced around ideas in the most scattered of fashions, and being my ship/sci-fi/zero grav consultant. (Any mistakes are my own.) I don’t tell you enough how thankful I am that I found you and your books all those years ago and that you were willing to take me on.
Melissa Landers, for letting me email you a desperately early version of the pitch for this book and giving me feedback on what was, at that point, word salad.
Susan Barnes Oldenburg, for getting married. But also for being my sister and my best friend. And publishing/writing/life crisis consultant extraordinaire. (She listens to everything so you all don’t have to.)
Matt Oldenburg, also for getting married (see above). And for making me laugh. Also, for making sure I could park inside during the winter. So glad you’re officially part of this (occasionally crazy) family now.
Mark Billy, for asking the right question at the right time!
Devi Pillai, for listening patiently as I attempted to answer said question and for being the most badass person I know in real life. (The Rock holds that position in my not-real life.)
Rebecca Thompson, for Princess Margaretha’s pop hit title.
Mundelein High School, especially the English Department and all my colleagues in the Media Center, thank you for giving me a work home and for being excited with me on this publishing journey.
Fox Lake District Library, for teaching me how to “library.” And for always being supportive of my books and endeavors.
Amy Bland and Kimberly Damitz, for all the Georgio’s nights. I miss you both and can’t wait until we’re together again.
My parents, Stephen and Judy Barnes, who, with two children in publishing, are champions at listening to the industry drama and navigating the ups and downs along with us. You’ve supported me in every way possible, and I’ll never be able to thank you enough for that.
Greg Klemstein, thank you for more than twenty years of patience and support. Thank you for dragging me out of my comfort zone occasionally and letting me retreat to it when needed. And thank you for all the delicious meals! (PS Can we have the chicken thing with the rice and carrots tonight? It’s my favorite!)