ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ARE ALWAYS one of the parts of publishing a book that I both worry over (I know I’m going to forget someone!) and enthusiastically anticipate (it means the hardest parts are behind me and I get to be all gushy and sentimental!). It’s also a part of the book that I realize is often skipped over by readers, so I feel perfectly fine using this line to say things like SHMIFLY! for my husband, Wade; You clod! for my daughter, Sierra; and Windows … are the eyes to the house, for my oldest daughter, Ainsley. They’ll know what I mean.
In my debut novel’s acknowledgments, I listed my sweet family last (but not least), so I decided here I’d thank them first. Without my daughters, Ainsley and Sierra, I’d never have been inspired to write, and without my husband, Wade, I wouldn’t have had the time and space to truly explore what writing a book is or how to do it (also, he’s been a real champ over my coffee-shop bill!). It’s undoubtedly through my family’s unconditional love and support that you’re reading this book today.
I am forever grateful and thankful to Swoon Reads and Jean Feiwel for taking a chance on me and this story and for giving so many YA authors the opportunity to publish their words on SwoonReads.com.
A triple-chocolate-covered-in-rainbow-sprinkles-with-a-unicorn-on-top THANKS goes out to the readers at SwoonReads.com. I am forever humbled and honored they took the time to read my words and critique my work. Honestly, if it wasn’t for their insightful feedback and passion for this book, I’m not sure you’d be reading it today. The story has changed a lot since it was up on the website and I hope you all love the final product as much as I enjoyed creating it!
There isn’t thanks enough for my amazingly talented editor, Kat Brzozowski. The manuscript Swoon Reads originally chose to publish has evolved beyond anything I ever could have imagined and blossomed into the book you now hold in your hands. This wouldn’t have been possible without Kat’s keen eye for details, unwavering support of me and this story, and her overall vision for the project. I’m not even kidding when I say editors wear many hats: reader, cheerleader, flowery prose police, and drill sergeant to name a few. Fact: I hit the editor jackpot.
A huge thank-you also goes out to Lauren Scobell, director of Swoon Reads, who, along with Kat, saw the potential in my writing and was a partner throughout multiple revisions and the ultimate molding of this story. Lauren helped me connect a lot of dots (and delete several that weren’t necessary), which ultimately helped Beware the Night truly come together in the end.
A big, squishy thank-you to Swoon intern Ruqayyah Daud and former Swoon intern Rachel Diebel for their invaluable insight and spot-on feedback for this story. You gals are truly the cat’s meow and I’m forever grateful.
To the rest of the wonderful Swoon Reads staff: publicist Madison Furr, production editor Alexei Esikoff, production manager Raymond Ernesto Colón, designer Liz Dresner, and marketing associates, Ashley Woodfolk and Teresa Ferraiolo—thank you for turning my story into an actual, physical book. Without you all, Beware the Night would just be a mountain of words on a screen.
Special thanks goes out to artist Elen Winata. With her special illustration magic she was able to encapsulate not only Veda as a character, but also the symbolism, mood, and setting of Beware the Night. Elen’s gorgeous cover art left this author speechless and misty eyed. It’s quite honestly one of the most beautiful book covers I’ve ever seen.
Gigantic hugs to my critique partners and early readers of the many versions of this story: Dani Bird, Megan Cordaro, Fiona McLaren, and Sarah Stith. Thank you for always being enthusiastically willing to read my words.
There isn’t enough thanks (or chocolate) in the world to express my gratitude toward my critique partner/writing BFF/doppelganger/right-hand gal, Jeannette Smejkal. It’s an understatement, but I’m so glad we met during that blog hop so many years ago. I seriously don’t know what I’d do without your moral support, sense of humor, and overall CP-badassery. This definitely calls for a DORIAN!!!
Last, but certainly not least, a big, lovey thanks to my mom and dad for always fostering an atmosphere of follow your passions.
On a personal note, I wrote Beware the Night (it was titled The Offering back then) in 2011, not too long after I sustained a traumatic brain injury from a sharp jerk of a metal window frame. When I look back, I’m honestly not sure how I was able to write an entire book during that time of fatigue, depression, and anxiety. But writing gave me a wonderful escape, as it still is, and the characters, per usual, were extremely insistent I tell their story. Despite the fact I could only sit and focus for so long, I wrote this novel in a matter of months—a bit of magic all its own. I made quick work of it while the rest of my world sort of chaotically spun around me.
Still, it was important to pause every so often to wait. And listen.