TO MY EDITOR, KRISTIN DALY RENS, WHO inspired this book. More than just an editor, she’s a muse.
To my agent, Ginger Clark, without whom I’d be curled up under my desk in the fetal position half the time. She’s a friend and a warrior, and I’m so lucky to have her.
To my fabulous team at Balzer + Bray—Alessandra Balzer, Donna Bray, and Sara Sargent, who have been cheerleaders and rock stars all around. And to the extended HarperCollins family, specifically copy editor Amy Vinchesi, production editor Kathryn Silsand, Emilie Polster and Stefanie Hoffman in marketing, Caroline Sun and Olivia deLeon in publicity, and the amazing cover designer Ray Shappell.
To Holly Frederick and Dave Barbor at Curtis Brown, Ltd., who have, once again, worked tirelessly on behalf of this book.
To the greatest group of readers the world has ever known: Carrie Harris, Jennifer Bosworth, Jennifer Donahue, Amy Bai, Lisa and Laura Roecker, Christine Fonseca, Roy Firestone, Mark Uhlemann, Rachel Hunter, Abby McDonald, LynDee Walker, Nikki Katz, and especially Laurel Hoctor Jones.
To my network of supporters who keep me sane with a variety of phone calls, texts, chats, happy hours, and mental health days: Jessica Childress, Shannon Spencer, Amy McKenzie, Amy Dachtler, Tara Campomenosi, Rachanee Srisavasdi, Amy Romero, Eileen Tsai, Ellen Files, Bryn Greenwood, Leah Clifford, Jen Hayley, Jill Myles, Jessica Morgan, Juliette Dominguez, David Eilenberg, Kirsten Roeters, Suzanne Keilly, and Jake Gilchrist. Plus the denizens of Purgatory, the collected awesome of the Apocalypsies, and the YARebels old and new.
To Scott Tracey, who, when he heard the pitch for this novel, insisted I write it.
To Alpheus Fletcher Underhill IV, for technical expertise and an unlimited supply of story ideas, which I could never use but appreciate nonetheless.
To Yadira Taylor, one of my dearest friends, who will always be tied to this book. It’s dedicated to her mom, whom I miss dearly.
To Roy Firestone, who made me cry several times during the writing of this book. I’m a better person (and friend) because of it.
To my mom, who did so much to facilitate my deadline I can’t even list them all for fear it might make me sound like a dysfunctional twelve-year-old. She’s the best mom ever. Enough said.
Much love.