ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I could go on forever. My apologies in advance for everyone I miss.

I dedicated this book to my writing group, but a special shout-out to Michelle, Justyna, and Vivi for beta reading. That involved countless hours of exceptionally detailed work to help me get across the finish line. I appreciate you all so much.

For Ben and Keith of TGG Podcast for their talent and support and my first official HOURGLASS review. To David Slayton for the wonderful blurb (and for the gift of reading his masterful urban fantasy). To Julie Czerneda, a friend and godlike sci-fi writer; and Patricia A. Jackson, teacher and author (read her urban fantasy debut!). To Meredith Moon for the life-saving web and IT support.

In a breathless shout: To Bruce for the stunning blanket. Steph (@electricpurple9) for the idea of using the chicken church, and also for finding blueprints of Beacon Towers! (I literally have the floorplans of a mansion demolished in the 1920s, to preserve the accuracy of where Brand drags Rune when they go room to room.) To Charlie for customizing the Beacon Towers blueprints. To Neya for contract advice. To Krista for a million and one things. To Mary for helping establish a TTS merchandise store. Thank you Dkauffman, @hearts530 (Sam!), @orbynit, Perry. To @aildreda and @raenbowpunk for helping name Lady Death. To Luga and God of Mugs and @Quass for Wiki work. To @atavaniel for Lady Priestess’s name and Lady Moon’s name. To @flarpfreak for Lady World’s name. To SheLion-Who-Misses-Remus for helping name Remus, and Vic Grey for naming Flynn. To @PirateTrisha for Lady Justice’s first name and diminutive. To @egglorru for the kakodaimōn naming. To @electricpurple9 for Cornelius’s name. To @KahviPro for Christian’s Naginata. To One of the Many Brians, Jake Shandy, Menonorc and Matty (for Liege Ladybug, too!), Kop, Oblivionsdream, MJ, Reece, Glasspunk, Alix, Rox, Natasha, Alex, Cole, Kathy Shin, Fiona, Frost Dragon, Kelsi, Thurmond, the author T. Frohock, and so, so, so many others. To be continued for six more novels… One of the things I love best about this series is sharing the world-building with longtime readers. I want people to be a part of this city.

To Lachlan Criptid for sensitivity reading on disability issues, advising on Bethan, and helping pave the way for Tavis. To Dr. E. Del Chrol, Chair of Humanities, Marshall University, @kingamongknight, and Katie Rask for Latin translations. (And Katie for her friendship!). To 8/11/20, the day I found out readers had appropriated a typo as their own war cry. (Helltdcctdcdctyc is when Brand gives up swearing at Rune and just bangs his head against a keyboard.) To Michele Zorrilla, who works at Insomniac Games, and asked me if Rune will appear in Spider-Man undies. (Huge applause to that game for its wide suite of accessibility options.) To Meghan Elizondo for helping navigate GR issues and restore lost pages.

Many thanks to the staff at Pyr—Ashley, Marianna, Hailey, Jennifer, and others. Thank you to Kim Yau at Echo Lake Entertainment, for media rights. To conference buddies Shawn and Arin; and Multiverse, ConCarolina, WriteHive, WorldCon. To the massively talented cover artist, Micah Epstein. I would not have completed this first trilogy without you. And to Audible for all its support, and especially its amazing, amazing, amazing narrator, Josh Hurley. To Flyleaf, Quail Ridge, Glad Day, and all the amazing booksellers out there who tirelessly support and champion new authors.

To my friend and superstar agent, the phenomenal Sara Megibow of kt literary. To my amazing editor, Rene Sears, who didn’t blink ONCE when I first told her I wanted to publish a nine-book series. To my family, both near and far. I love you all. And my friends—especially the ones who refuse to let me hide for long (Love you Lance). To all the artists, writers, singers, poets who found inspiration in these stories and shared them back with me. I am constantly in awe of your talent. To the Discord crowd, especially folks like Pei and Sia and all the moderators (you’ll get a book dedication someday too) – for your kindness, empathy, advice, and unflagging support. To Brink Literacy Project for letting me be a part of the Tarot Literary Deck—and letting me choose the Sun card! To Open Eye Café (and Michelle, Jack, Brady, Heather and others) for the picnic table and friendship. To Rainbow Crate (a marvelous book subscription service) for the constant support and amazing giveaways. To Matt, Jessica, Raisa, and all my colleagues who put up with my vanishing to conferences. To Miss Hubbard, the first teacher who recognized and rewarded me for writing, and cemented a lifelong passion.

And to you. Literally, yes, you. You right there. Thanks for joining me on this ride.