Renegade (The Elysium Chronicles #1)(92)

My husband and the love of my life, Ben, who I’ve been in love with since he was the only boy in my health class my freshman year and who took me to see a chick flick with three other girls, just so he could take me on my first date. Thank you for listening to my incessant rambles about my story and the problems I’m having with it, for helping me shore up plot holes, and for helping me research the science behind my world. Thanks also for reminding me it’s not the destination that matters, but the journey, and that love always conquers all. I love you now and always.

To my children, Charles and Aurora. Both of you know how much I love you and how much better my life is now that you’re in it. No matter how frustrated I get with you and you with me, I hope you’ll always remember and know how strong my love is for you. I hope you know that anything worth doing is hard, but to “never give up and never surrender.” And, of course, a huge thank-you, Charles, for helping me come up with the title. I doubt anyone could have come up with a better one.

To my mom, for showing me the gift of reading by giving me her well-worn copies of Nancy Drew and everything Louisa May Alcott. And my dad, for giving me the ability to fight for what I want.

Thank you, also, to my other family, my sisters at Oasis for YA. All you beautiful ladies have kept me going with your amazing talent and love for YA. And to the wonderful writers of the debut group, The Apocalypsies, for helping me navigate these rough and treacherous waters.

Thank you to my brilliant photographer, Jessica Grimm, with whom I share a name and a talent for the arts.

Thank you to Taylor Swift, Marianas Trench, Avril Lavigne, and Evanescence for creating the brilliant music that poured through my speakers as I wrote this book.

Thank you to God for giving me the talent and perseverance to see this project through to its end.

More thank-yous to my wonderful group of blog readers and Twitter followers and other online friends. You all are fantastic. Please don’t stop what you’re doing. Keep it coming. And last but not least, thank you to you, wonderful reader. I hope you enjoy my book. I’m grateful you chose this book from all the other wonderful ones swarming the shelves.





About the Author


J. A. Souders lives in Florida with her husband and their two children and is an active member of the Romance Writers of America, Central Florida Romance Writers, Young Adult Romance Writers of America, and Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Renegade is her first novel.