Keeper(99)
To my amazing critique partners, J. M. Miller and Christine Danek: You read the earliest and crappiest drafts of this story and still encouraged me to keep going. I can never thank you enough for that! You not only helped me shape this story but you also helped shape me as a writer. Thank you for believing in me and this book!
Megan LaCroix: Without you, Lainey wouldn’t be who she is today. Thank you for helping make her as strong as I always envisioned her to be. I am so grateful to have connected with you, and aside from being an excellent critique partner, you’re an amazing friend. Thank you for everything!
Ashley Zarzaur: I can honestly say that this book would not exist if not for you. You have always believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. You helped me through the rough patches, talked me down from the ledge, and saved me from “the creepy car scene.” Thank you for your never-failing support, friendship, and encouragement.
To Mari Kesselring, Megan Naidl, and the team at Flux: Thank you so much for taking such wonderful care of me and my book! This experience has been a dream come true and I am SO grateful to all of you for taking a chance on me and Keeper. You helped make my dream come true!
To my editor, Reece Hanzon: Thank you for being an advocate and supporter of this book from the beginning. I cannot begin to tell you how truly grateful I am for your kindness and encouragement throughout this process. Working with you has been such a wonderful experience, and I am so thankful Keeper landed in your hands. Thank you for helping me turn my dream into a reality.
To my amazing agent, Caitlen Rubino-Bradway: You changed my life the day you offered me representation, and I will never stop being grateful to you for taking a chance on me. Thank you so much for being so encouraging and supportive and for working so hard to make sure Keeper found a home. I couldn’t ask for a better agent, and I hope you know how wonderful I think you are! Also, thank you to Lauren Galit, whose behind-the-scenes efforts have not gone unnoticed. And I haven’t forgotten that I owe you both pie!
To Mom, Dad, and Amiee: I couldn’t ask for a better family! Thank you for always encouraging me to go for my dreams and for always believing in me. Your love and support are everything to me, and I hope I make you proud!
To my beautiful children, Shiloh, Harlee, and Rhys: Thank you so much for sharing mommy with the writing world. I love you more than life itself, and I want this book to always be a reminder that dreams can and do come true! Always reach for the stars, my darlings!
To Jim: My love, you are everything. I thank God every day that you chose me and continue to choose me every single day. You are my life’s greatest blessing, and I will never be able to put into words how much I love you or how grateful I am to have you by my side. Thank you for never letting me quit and for always believing that I could do this. Thank you for taking on more than your fair share of kid duty so that I could write and for always being willing to talk through plot holes, writer’s block, and self-doubt with me. Thank you for being you and for being absolutely everything to me. The Big C always! I love you!