My husband and I traveled to Turks and Caicos in 2019, on what would become our last international trip before COVID-19. There, we enjoyed a suite on Grace Bay, ate incredible jerk chicken, dove for conch, and drank rum punch with our toes in the sand at Da Conch Shack. It was delightful to look back through pictures and relive this magical place for some of the location details included in these pages.
There were several resources for bringing the gaming components of this book to life. One of my favorites was the show Mythic Quest on Apple TV. This show rocks and taught me what TTP means, thus leading to my absolute need to include it in these pages.
The first person I must acknowledge is Micaela Carr. Though we didn’t officially get to work together on this book, you acquired it and collaborated on ideas for it, and that makes you an integral member of the WORLD team. Thank you, more than anything, for a dear, unexpected friendship.
Thank you to my agent, Elisabeth Weed, and the team at The Book Group, especially DJ Kim. You, Elisabeth, are my bulldog, cheerleader, champion, and advocate. I still can’t believe I get to call you my agent.
I am constantly in awe of the team at HarperCollins and Harper Perennial, and how they go to bat for me and swing big. Thank you, Heather Drucker, Lisa Erickson, Amy Baker, Laurie McGee, Emi Battaglia, Ezra Kupor, Suzy Lam, Gill Heeley, and Milan Bozic, among many more. Truly the best team. And especially Emily Griffin, thank you for being the most positive, capable editor I could ask for. I still want to pinch myself that I got to work with you on this.
Thank you to my brilliant additional publicity team: Hanna Lindsley, Leilani Fitzpatrick, and Crystal Patriarche at BookSparks for all you did to get this book into reader’s hands.
Thank you, Laura McCorry, Jill Beissel, and Grace Shim, some of my incredible early readers, for your notes, wisdom, and encouragement. Laura, for Revenge Cheese in particular.
Madhu and Teddi, you are such fantastic supporters, critique givers, and early readers. Grateful for you both, always.
Kate Brauning. Thank you for the early collaboration on plot. You are a brilliant partner for story development. Of all the programs and people and crafts books I’ve come across, you are the realest deal. Thank you.
Allie Gravitt. Thank you for being a never-ending well of weird ideas that were just what I need. I’m so lucky to have you to go to for random ideas. You get me and my weird sense of humor deeply. Lindsey Redd and Adrienne Schenck, you are such incredible hype women. I’m so grateful for our little group.
Christelle Lujan. I have no words, only all the love emojis. The Thelma to my Louise. The Tess to my Sloane. Although, in reality, you are Sloane and I am Tess. I love being on this ride with you.
There have been several book people who have championed me and my work; the earliest of supporters, the rooftop shouters: @reviewsbybee, @chelseahudsonreads, @miks_bookpicks, @katiereads.nj, @olivias.bookclub, @elizabethlyonsauthor, @mary.belle.books, @subakka.bookstuff, @overbookedmoms, @eat.pray.decorate to name a few. I hope you enjoy this one too.
Mom, Dad, Raj, Jane Alexander, Raelene Plant, Beth Lebowitz, Lindsie Davis, LaTrenda Lawson, and #pilotjeff—just, thank you.
Sawyer and Sienna. You care deeply about seeing your names in my books. Here they are. Thank you for rooting me on. You’re the best cheering section imaginable.
To my husband, Kris. I cannot write a love story without pieces and parcels of you sprinkled in. From the FREE HUGS shirt to “give me the Beach Boys,” you are present in every love interest I write. Including details of you is my way of shamelessly flirting. Is it working?
Finally, for all the Jack Palmers I have encountered in my career, of which there have been many—thank you for the inspo. I hope you are blessed with badass, capable daughters who make you see the error of your ways.
Finally, finally—to the readers. Thank you. However you found your way to this book, I’m so grateful you did.