Thank you for taking this ride. Thank you for embracing my strange little story that’s a little different. Thank you for holding these characters’ hands, holding them tight, as they battled and fought through the things life threw at them.
It’s safe to say now, that you’ve read the end, that yes, I love superhero stories. I love the idea of origin stories, and of the responsibilities that come with power of any kind. This story brewed in my head for quite some time. I wanted to write a story about a boy who was just a little bit different—maybe even a little bit better—than the rest of us. The Like Us duet isn’t just Wes’s story, though. It’s very much about Joss, too, and the things that make her super. My goal, which I hope like hell I achieved, was to write a superhero story that felt real, that felt like this…this is how it would really be if someone like this existed. Our hero wouldn’t save the world. He would save his world. And the damsel, if you can call Joss that—she would be tough as nails. While Wes’s powers are a little more magical, Joss’s are tangible—rooted in overcoming adversity, defying odds, believing when it feels impossible, breathing when you feel dead inside. Villains abound in real life, too. And this time, the good guys win.
I don’t know that I’ll revisit their world, but I will never say never. I loved living here too much. I hope you liked this trip to Bakersfield, too.
I have so many people to thank. Tim and Carter, my boys…my world. Thank you for rooting me on, and leaving the house for hours when I needed to focus, and high-fiving me when the covers came out so dang good (I’m proud of them, at least). BilliJoy and Tina, thank you for making sure my words hit the mark. And my amazing beta readers – TeriLyn, Ashley, Jen, Bianca and Shelley – oh how you keep me sane and in line! Thank you so much!
For me, when I write, I like to make goals along the way. Sometimes it’s a deadline to my betas, and other times it’s the end-goal to my editor. But what I look forward to most is when I get to reach out to you, Autumn. You are my ambassador of confetti, waving at the finish line, ready to help me celebrate, then push out my latest work through Wordsmith Publicity. I’m so grateful for you.
I wouldn’t be able to tell stories like this if it weren’t for the passionate readers out there. Many of you blog, but even if you don’t, you share your passion for books you love wherever you can. If not my books, you share your love for others, and I speak for all of us trying to be noticed in this rough and tumble bookish world—thank you! Thank you for taking the time to post our covers, teasers, excerpts. Thank you for leaving reviews. Thank you for making this dream of mine real, and for putting a smile on my face. And Ninjas, members of my group—ohhhhh you guys, you know…you are everything!
I’m going to breathe for a day or two, but I’ve already got notebooks filled with outlines and characters, ready to dip into another world. I hope you’ll make the trip with me. I promise to be one hell of a guide.