ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

IN THINKING ABOUT the people who have supported me in this crazy writing journey, I am overcome with gratitude for all of your love and support.

Thank you to my agent, Natasha Kern, for believing in this book, and for your encouragement and patience with my many newbie author questions. I’d be lost without you.

Thank you to all the wonderful people at Tyndale. Jan Stob, thank you for taking this book on, for smoothing the many aspects of the publication road for me, and for extending grace during our brainstorming sessions. You are awesome. Caleb Sjogren, you’ve done so much to make this book all it could be. I’m so appreciative of your brilliant insight. Thank you for helping me dig deeper into these characters and for your positive spirit of encouragement. I love working with you. Nicole Grimes, thank you for this beautiful cover. And to Karen Watson, Cheryl Kerwin, Kristen Schumacher, and Shaina Turner, thank you for helping readers find this book!

To ACFW and the many writers who’ve read my work and helped me hone my craft over the years—Tessa Afshar, Melanie Brasher, Edwina Cowgill, and Nicole Miller. A special thank-you to Sandra Ardoin for her valuable insight and encouragement during our weekly check-ins, and to Melissa Jagears for not only being a wonderful friend and mentor, but for squeezing me into her own busy schedule when I’m struggling with those stubborn plots and characters.

This book would never have come to be if not for Susan Brower taking the time to read the first draft and give me advice to make it stronger.

Thank you to David Lambert, chief genealogist at NEHGS in Boston, for sparking an idea that helped tie these two stories together.

I’m very grateful for my local librarians. Thank you to Carol Gafford, who explained some genealogical research to me, and to Kaija Gallucci for organizing our local writers’ group.

Thank you to my church family at WDCC, and especially to John and Pam McPherson, who showed me how truly sufficient the grace of Jesus is.

Thank you to my parents, Scott and Donna Anuszczyk, who’ve taught me that real love is hard work, but it is so worth it. I love you guys. Mom, sometimes when I write words on paper, I hear you in them. I’m convinced your side of the family gave me this writing gene, and I’m happy to have inherited it. Thank you for teaching me to pursue my dreams.

Thank you to my sister, Krystal, for listening to me whine about all those rejections, and for being not only my sister, but one of my closest friends.

Thank you to my sons, James and Noah, for putting up with my computer, for jumping up and down with me at news of a contract, and for making every day both a joy and an adventure. Boys, I’m so proud to be your mom. I love you to the moon and back.

I am so incredibly grateful for my husband, Daniel, who not only encouraged me with words, but who worked many side jobs to help me afford travel to conferences. I could never write a fictitious hero without the inspiration of a real one right in my kitchen. Thank you, honey.

Last, but far from least, I am amazingly thankful to my God. He pursues me with a grace I don’t deserve, then gives me my dreams on top of it. Jesus, you rock.