Romanov(92)

The Romanov family had very strong values and this affected their ability to hope and forgive. Which values can you identify and how do you think those empowered the family?





Acknowledgments


No story is written—or lived—alone. My writing journey is filled with soul friends and supporters who have cheered me through the bogs and over the mountains. Here are only some (of the thousands) of thank-yous I wish I could give in person every day of my life:

Always first is the One who saves me daily and brings purpose to my life and writing: Iisus. I’ve experienced the power of your hope and forgiveness. Life, writing, breathing . . . is nothing without you. Thank you for creating my storytelling mind.

Mister Ninja: my one love. My fellow adventurer. The one who is always encouraging me to go tell stories and who takes me out to dinner to celebrate every completed draft, edit, and milestone. Thank you will never be enough.

My agent, Steve Laube: you are my hero. Truly.

My fantastic publishing team: Amanda Bostic: for answering my constant questions and for hailing a cab like a boss in New York so we could get to BookCon. Becky Monds: for keeping me sane and encouraged while I tried to meet deadlines through morning sickness, and for all your passion for history and the Romanovs. Kristen Ingebretson and Jeff Miller: for the mind-blowing cover. I’m speechless every time I look at it. Julee Schwarzburg and Jodi Hughes: for helping get this story squeaky clean. Paul, Allison, Matt, Savannah, and the rest of the TN crew: for all the marketing, brainstorming, and support you show my books. ?

To my papa: for taking me on my first trip to Russia, teaching me to be a traveler, and then cheering me on through the many trips afterward. To my sweet mom: for delighting in every little step I take with this publishing journey. To Melanie: for calling me before every nerve-wracking bookish event, Binsk for always reading early drafts, and Liza for giving my books as gifts to strangers. I love you all dearly.

To my YA sisters: Mary Weber: you cry with me and rejoice with me and I truly don’t know how I’d navigate this writing journey without our voxes. Sara Ella: for putting this idea in my head way back at ACFW . . . and fangirling when I told you I was going to write it. You’re my favorite fairy-tale princess.

Ashley Townsend: you have no idea how precious all our 2018 adventures were. The boba tea, silent discos, and spontaneous Disney trips . . . you’ve been a listening ear through every step of this writing journey. I thank God for you. Karen Ball: you always hear my heart and believe in the journey behind each story I pen.

My beta readers, Ashley and Rosalie: for reading this book on such a tight deadline, even while hospitalized, and giving me some of the most helpful feedback ever. To Katie Grace, Tricia Mingerink, Stephanie Warner, Lindsay Franklin, S. D. Grimm, Emilie Hendryx, and all my other dear author friends who seem to live and breathe encouragement my way.

To my family in Russia: for the many visits, lessons in Russian, meals of borscht and pelmeni, and hours of fellowship. I thank God every time I think of you. You are constant joy and eternal family. Thank you for the trip to St. Petersburg and the tour of the Alexander Palace grounds. I will never forget standing where Anastasia stood, jotting down notes so I could tell her story.

To my Ninjas: for sending me Oreos even when I went silent trying to meet these deadlines. Thank you for your constant excitement and encouragement. (Hidden Ninja hint: sometimes ninjas need to look backward to move forward.) To the Mitchtams: my writing community and word warriors forever. Thank you OYANers, Enclave Authors, Biola family, and CCH students for being my people. And thank you, Brandes family, for always understanding when my deadlines fall on holidays.

And of course, to every single reader and fan who gives my books a chance, who sends me fan art, fan mail, fan jewelry, all the fan things . . . I think your goal must be to keep me in tears and you’re doing spectacularly. And to all the amazing readers on Instagram/bookstagram who bring me joy and encouragement every single day. You are all so precious to me—whether my books are your thing or not. ;-)

The bonds of our hearts . . .