Acknowledgments

When you look at the odds of successfully getting a book published, let alone publishing several books in this kind of environment, where other talented authors lose contracts all the time—it can seem rather daunting to decide to become an author, to try to make a career out of it. And if you do decide to take the big leap and hope that you get a contract, agent, your contract renewed, etc., you need to find time to pursue your dreams. You need to find those hours to contemplate characters and craft perfect scenes. More importantly, you need a group of people who believe in you and are willing to support you with their time and effort. They basically become your own little support team.

So I’d like to say thanks to the biggest member of my support team (in duties, not girth), my husband, Andrew. You’ve been there through the highs and the lows and always believed that I can do it and that I had the talent to pull it off. It takes a strong, patient man to do what you do with our household and family while I sit alone in a room writing. I can never say enough how I appreciate everything you do.

I’d also like to say thanks to my backup team—my parents, Donna and Craig Stratton. You guys have been there since the beginning, since I was scribbling stories in notebooks and daydreaming of the day I would see one of my books on a shelf. You still provide encouragement and effort (in the form of babysitting your lovely, crazy granddaughter) to help me crank out each chapter. Thanks so much for your love and support.

I’d also like to thank my editor, Mercedes Fernandez. Thank GOD you love telenovela/soap opera drama like I do! (Jane the Virgin is beyond compare, is it not?) This will be our sixth book together and I appreciate you allowing me to embrace complex characters, dramatic storylines, and hot love scenes, and believing in my voice from the first book.

And a big thanks to my agent, Barbara Poelle. I had secretly always wondered why I needed an agent. I rationalized that I got a book contract without one. I was doing just fine. Of course, agent extraordinaire proved why I needed one. Thanks for being my advocate and pushing me to be an even better writer. Thanks for treating all your clients (from the authors waiting for their debut to The New York Times bestsellers) like they’re all important to you. I see your skill and dedication and I appreciate and rave about it.

Thanks to my network of author buddies I talk to on the Web. Seriously, I will meet all of you one day in person! Your support and sisterhood help get me through the rough patches.

And thanks to the readers who have reached out to me to tell me how much you like my work. You complete the circle and make this all worth it.