I think I dread writing acknowledgments more than I worry about writing books. This is because I spend the whole time drafting these pages absolutely terrified that I will leave out key, obvious people who were fundamentally important to both the making of this story and just keeping me sane in general. This fear, this FOLO, haunts me, always, even now, as I watch you read this section in the already-printed book, lurking behind you behind the curtains. Nonetheless, I will once again endeavor to give proper credit where so much is due. As always, to anyone not listed here who rightfully should be, know that it’s not because I’m ungrateful for all you’ve done to help me on this writer’s journey, but rather because, like always, I’m an idiot.
Genesis is a dark, twisty, crazy novel that I put a lot into, and it took a lot out of me. It would not have been possible without the borderline superhuman efforts of my wonder-editor, Ari Lewin. Thank you for all the time you’ve poured into Project Nemesis, and for enduring those mid-afternoon phone calls with me, when I haven’t spoken to anyone else yet all day and have THOUGHTS. Thanks as always to the incredible teams at G. P. Putnam’s Sons and Penguin Young Readers, including (but by no means limited to) Bridget Hartzler, Jennifer Dee, Elyse Marshall, Amalia Frick, Dana Li, Jennifer Besser, Christina Colangelo, Erin Berger, Emily Romero, Kara Brammer, Caitlin Whalen, Lindsay Boggs, Felicity Vallence, Katherine Perkins, and countless, countless others. Man, I love being a Penguin. March me where you will.
Cheers also to Venetia Gosling, Kat McKenna, Jo Hardacre, and the whole team at Pan Macmillan. This has been a wonderful partnership, and I hope it continues long into the future. I will soon travel to England and hug you all. Fiercely. You have been warned.
Endless, bottomless thanks to my agent, life coach, and partner-in-cackles Jodi Reamer. Everything that is happening now happened because of you. I cannot praise you enough. More effusive thanks to Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, Margaret Riley King, Anna DeRoy, Janine Kamouh, Simon Trewin, and the team at William Morris Endeavor. You’ve been there every step of the way, and I’m eternally grateful. And thanks, Mom. Again.
Heartfelt, joyous thanks to my Vermont College of Fine Arts advisors who help shape Genesis from, well, its . . . genesis. Tim Wynne-Jones provided acerbic and witty critique on the very first baby draft, helping me find my story. An Na then gave it heart and depth, shepherding me to a completed manuscript. Further refinements and tweaks were added by Kekla Magoon, Shelley Tanaka, and David Gill, and the book is so much better for it. And no mention of my MFA experience could possibly fail to mention my beloved Tropebusters, who listened to and provided encouragement and feedback on my very first drafts, and also shot bizarre ghost videos with me in a schoolhouse subbasement. You guys are the best. I ain’t afraid of no Trope. (To Elizabeth, Sarah Hunter, and Allison: Go Lake Monsters.)
And here I must separately thank the beating hearts of my VCFA experience, my Airbnb roommates Ally Condie, Robin Galbraith, and Salima Alikhan. I can’t express how much fun I had living in the unit below yours for two years of Vermont’s blazing summers and freezing winters, all while I was working on this book. I miss our late-night chats already, and look forward to many future retreats. The author’s lounge is always open.
Special thanks to author Cynthia Leitich Smith and Professor Scott Pinkham of the University of Washington for helping me with a hyperspecific question regarding Native American tribes of the Pacific Northwest. Your taking time out of busy schedules to help me get something correct is much appreciated.
My career doesn’t even happen without the unflinching support of my YALL-family. I’m raising a glass right now to Margaret Stohl, Melissa de la Cruz, Kami Garcia, Veronica Roth, Alex London, Rafi Simon, and Jonathan Sanchez, as well as West Coasters Marie Lu, Tahereh Mafi, Ransom Riggs, Leigh Bardugo, Holly Goldberg Sloan, and Richelle Mead. Further thanks to Tori Hill and Shane Pangburn for actually doing everything, and managing to smile (mostly) all the way through it. YALLFEST and YALLWEST are my favorite weekends of my year, and that’s because of you. YALL MEANS ALL.
Particular thanks to my do-everything, keep-me-in-line assistant, Emily Williams. If you got an email response from me this year, it’s because Emily reminded me. She’s basically in charge now, and that’s a very good thing.
Thank you to my fellow authors who have supported the Project Nemesis series with their precious time, open arms, and thoughtful praise: Ransom Riggs, Carrie Ryan, Renée Ahdieh, Ally Condie, Jay Kristoff, Victoria Aveyard, Alex Bracken, Margaret Stohl, Melissa de la Cruz, Kami Garcia, James Dashner, Marie Lu, Stephanie Perkins, Danielle Paige, Ryan Graudin, Rose Brock, Lauren Billings, Melissa Thomson, Lauren Oliver, Sabaa Tahir, Alex London, and Veronica Roth. You’ve endured my venting and/or whining more times than any human should have to. The world is beautiful place, and I know this because you are in it. I am blessed to work in a field of such generous colleagues. Know that you’ve got a friend in me.
I need to specifically thank two authors who have become my support system. To Ally Condie and Soman Chainani: I have no idea what I’d do without you. Don’t ever change or leave me behind. Thanks for always being in my corner.
Most important, thank you to my beautiful wife, Emily, and my wonderful children, Henry and Alice, to whom this book is dedicated. I love you all very much, and thank you for sharing me with the road. Also, thanks to Wrigley and Fenway for being hilarious, evil cats, and Soldier and Turk for being good dogs. We have a full home.
Finally, to my readers, please know that you make everything worth it. As I said before, I will repeat here again: your support has given me a career that I love and a happy, exciting, fulfilling life. Thanks upon thanks until the end of time.