Jana Riess: You said I wasn’t allowed to give you an entire thank you page, so here is a line: THANK YOU, JANA!
Jana Riess is the Sacagawea of memoir. My editor, coach, hand-holder, and friend, Jana guided me through the rocky, terrifying terrain of becoming an author. This book exists because she does.
Kathryn Helmers, my beloved agent: You are a certified miracle worker with the heart of a tiger. Thank you.
Jonathan Merkh and the entire team at Howard Books, including my wonderful editors, Ami McConnell and Amanda Demastus, publicity maven Jennifer Smith, marketing gurus Rob Birkhead and Brandi Lewis, and Becca Craig: I could not be more honored, humbled and grateful to be working with such a talented group of people. Thanks also to the larger Simon & Schuster team who worked on this release!
Deborah Arca at the Patheos.com team believed I could become a blogger. Wes Yoder and the Ambassador Speakers Bureau believed I could become a speaker. Jim Henderson of Jim Henderson Presents and the Where’s God When (www.wheresgod.org) tour team believed my message had earned a stage and spotlight. Drew Marshall believed in giving me all the help he could. And Paul Young believed in me, period. I love you all.
To the original Team Peacock, led by Brad Lyons at Chalice Press, along with Steve Knight, Helena Brantley of Red Pencil Publicity + Marketing, editor Mick Silva, Brigid Pearson, Gail Stobaugh, K. J. Reynolds, Hollie Woodruff, The Salt Project: You continue to amaze me. #nosmalldreams
Tess Clark changed the ending, literally. Iva Nasr does indeed have a bat phone to the (God)iverse. Sue Goodwin kept me from quitting. Samuel Autman lent me his expertise. Susan Eaton let me “turn in” my shitty first drafts. Andrew Bowen talked me off my first author ledge. Elizabeth Wood was my first, cherished reader. Eric Marrapodi at CNN.com printed the first mention of PTCS on the Internet. Frank Schaeffer made my dad believe my writing might be more than a hobby. Brian McLaren encouraged me when I needed it. Christian Piatt helped me in so many ways that I don’t know where to start. The PTCS moderators created a healing space online. Pastor Peter Edward Matthews, Eden United Methodist and coach Shelly Bamberger prepped me for public speaking. Tony Burkardt of Blacklite Productions recorded the first round of my audiobook.
Thank you to readers: Amy Clark, Amy Sanders, Saumya Arya Haas, Iggy and Suzanne Garcia, Gary Herron, who each gave invaluable feedback, and the Doepke family (Dan, Treva, Jordan, Stephanie) who made me cry with joy.
To my Book Club, especially Megan, Nadine, and Michelle—I love you girls! Same goes for the No Name Book Club in Centerville, Ohio.
In addition to those already mentioned, I owe a debt of gratitude to: Anne Lamott (On 11/12/13, I gave Anne Chief Hoopwatcher’s disco ball at a book signing, because Bird by Bird saved me on many occasions), Jim Palmer, Jessica Buchanan, Sarah Thebarge, Teresa Pasquale, Frank Schaefer, Kristen Vincent, Nimue Brown, Marquelle Garcia, Creative Trust, Emily Finley, Allison Lewis, Jeanie Kaserman, Jen Lancaster, Hannah Brencher, and Steve Gillen.
Elizabeth Gilbert is one of my author heroes, and I still pinch myself every time I see her endorsement on the cover. Thank you, Liz, for paving the way for healing journeys with Eat, Pray, Love, and for continually bringing the light wherever you go. Cheryl Strayed: I read Wild five times while I was writing PTCS. You are just as lovely in person as your words are on the page. A. J. Jacobs: thanks for letting me e-mail stalk you, and for loving the disco ball. Martha Beck: thank you for saying, “That’s a great title . . . you’re going to sell a gazillion copies.” You helped me find my own North Star. Rhoda Janzen is my modernday humor role model. Rob Bell, your books made me believe there might be a Christianity I could believe in. Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way helped me recover creatively. The works of Napoleon Hill, Carolyn Keene, and Jean Kerr never failed to inspire me.
I wrote this book one song at a time with help from: The Script, Nichole Nordeman, Katy Perry, Travie McCoy, One Repulic, John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band, Gym Class Heroes, Christiana Perry, Train, Fergie, Mark Schultz, Sidewalk Prophets, Taylor Swift and Coldplay. I never would have finished without the Grandview Starbucks grain-free chocolate chip cookie dough, and lots of cheap wine (in a mug, of course).
Kelly Frere: Only the three of us will ever know how fun that photo shoot was. (If you need an awesome photographer, call Kelly St. James Photography!) Dr. Pinkham and Connie: You saved my life. To the Urban Monk: You made a difference for me when no one else could. Bless you. Josh: XOXO, my Smurfy friend. Pastor John: Stone Village Church will always be home, no matter how far away I am. Chief Hoopwatcher (aka Iggy Garcia), Condor Eagle Chapter of Nemenhah, and Bushi Yamato Damashii of Daishan Buddhist Temple: Thank you for supporting this work.
To every person and congregation mentioned in these pages, whether by name or pseudonym: This journey couldn’t have happened without you. Andre: Best Neighbors Forever! Erin O’Brien Mickley, sister and the world’s best pep-talk giver: I wish I could hire you to sit beside me as I write. Nick Mickley: Your technical and design skills are only outweighed by your kindness. (Everyone: if you need a website, call Green Gum Solutions!)
Becky: MRM1 and the best mother-in-law ever, thank you for always sharing the magic with me. Moyer family: I’m so glad I married you. Ortquists: You kept me from losing my mind when I had two jobs, and made me laugh a LOT. Millers and Dallys: Thank you for all the support! Grammie: Aside from Mom, you are my biggest fan. Mom and Dad: Thank you for being brave, bold, and humble enough to allow me to share parts of your lives with the world. Mom: You are my light, my angel, my everything. KC: Thank you for the kind notes (and the Samantha doll). Dad: I’ll always be your little girl . . . but please pass the Chardonnay because I’m ready to write our father/daughter memoir now. Edie: Your peacock gifts, prayers, and disco ball helmets always arrived at the right times. Mary: Thanks for Religious Fanatic Barbie, for avoiding haircuts in solidarity and for being my unpaid intern. Marcia: I love you more than life itself. All of you: I am more thankful than words can say.
Erma Bombeck: You may be gone from this world, but your humor is alive in my heart. (And if you aren’t already my Prankster Guardian Angel, please put in a transfer request!)
Trent: I won the lottery of love when I married you. You believe in me even more than I believe in myself. Thank you for being the partner who—when I said I wanted to fly to the moon—asked, “Should I build the launch pad in the backyard or the driveway?”