This book has been a dream for so long that it’s surreal to be writing my acknowledgments. I am so grateful that this book is a real, physical thing, and I am so thankful that you picked it up and read it!
So many people have been involved in the creation of this book. I have to start by thanking Doug Torrance and Chris Biernacki, whose relentless pursuit of something better was an inspiration to me when I was thinking about diving into this whole writing thing; and another thanks to Doug for selling me a laptop at a ridiculously low price because you knew I needed one if I was ever going to actually write anything. This book is my something better, and I wrote the first drafts of it on that laptop. Special thanks have to go to Sarena Straus and Will To, who read this book in its most undercooked form and gave me the feedback I needed to turn it into a Real Story. Millions of thanks to Hannah Rosser and Jeanette Foxx, who beta-read for me not once, but twice; and to Justin Rosser and Jordan Klefeker, beta-readers extraordinaire, thank you! To my good friend A. A. Woods, thank you for beta-reading, providing critical feedback, and commiserating, but especially thank you for your kindness at the pitch conference where The Lady Alchemist was born—without your suggestions, I don’t think this concept would’ve come to me. To my grandparents, Elizabeth and Richard, your support and encouragement have meant the world. Thank you.
I’d like to thank my agents, Gabbie Piraino and Rebecca Strauss. Gabbie, you understood the heart of this book from the very beginning, and you helped me take the story in the direction it needed to go. And you sent me pictures of the pupper, which was almost as important. Rebecca, I am so grateful that I get to work with you. Thank you for being such an amazing sounding board!
So many thanks to the entire Month9Books team! Working with you has been wonderful. Thank you for guiding me through the publication process for my debut book! I’d specifically like to thank Georgia McBride, Emily Midkiff, Jennifer Million, Nicole Olea, and Danielle Doolittle. You all made this book possible!
To James, my husband with the 72% cacao eyes: without you, this book would only be an idea. I started writing this when our kids were ages two and one, and if you hadn’t pushed me out of the house or made sure I shut myself in a quiet room to write, I never would have gotten anywhere.
Final and biggest thanks to my God, who (among many other things) reminded me of this dream of mine and gave me the strength to pursue it.