Nobody's Lost (Rescue Me Saga #5)
Kallypso Masters
Dedication
This one is dedicated to all of my patient and supportive readers who stood by me during my recent battle to overcome cancer. I know with your prayers and encouragement I beat it much more quickly than anyone expected.
Thanks especially to the members of my Rescue Me Saga Discussion Group, a secret group on Facebook, who were there to brainstorm ideas for this story, helping me find Megan and Ryder and bring them together.
And to my author friends who agreed to join me for my first KallypsoCon without having a clue what I had in mind. (Because my instructions were vague—fun, relaxing, and intimate!) Thanks, Lexi Blake, Eliza Gayle, Annabel Joseph, Kennedy Layne, Red Phoenix, and Cherise Sinclair for giving so much of yourselves that weekend. And to all the readers who traveled near and far to be there. We certainly had no idea what it would take for me to be there only three weeks post-op, but all of you provided the best-ever healing medicine enabling me just two weeks later to start writing Nobody’s Lost, something I probably wouldn’t have been able to do without that weekend.
Acknowledgements
My editorial team—Meredith Bowery, Jacy Mackin, and Ekatarina Sayanova—for working so quickly, sometimes in the midst of a major holiday week, to help me polish this book. They help me continue to improve and grow as a writer with each book I put out, large or small. Of course, I’m always changing something after my editorial team and subject experts sign off on a book and that invariably leads to new errors. So, as always, all typos and errors are solely my responsibility (and if you find any, please report them to Charlotte Oliver at [email protected].
My awesome beta readers, Margie Dees, Kathy Holtzclaw, Kellie Hunter, Kelly Mueller, Ruth Reid, and Lisa Simo-Kinzer who read through the entire book (some of them more than once!) and helped me fix both major and minor (but important!) problems.
I’d like to extend a special thanks to Iliana GK, a new beta reader who took on the challenge of reading Lost without having read any others in the series. She let me know that it truly is an enjoyable standalone read for those new to the series. She also provided great insights to help me improve several major scenes, especially the kink ones.
My proofreaders who all find my typos and errors—just not the same ones as each other—Alison K., Eva Meyers, Christine Sullivan Mulcair, Gilda Mary Sacca, and Lynde Shaw.
Toymaker and Mr. Sayanova who read over my BDSM scenes to help point out any problems in making them Safe, Sane, and Consensual.
Top Griz for his expertise on weapons, military, and Marine Corps references. And, as always, for helping me tune into Master Adam more clearly.
Ruth Reid and Ekatarina Sayanova for confirming that I nailed the psychological aspects of Ryder’s deep, deep pain and survivor guilt.
My Facebook friends and fans who, even before I realized this would be the next book in the series, helped me brainstorm ideas to help me understand who Megan, Ryder, and many other upcoming characters. I pose countless questions in my Rescue Me Saga Discussion Group on Facebook, as well as on my Facebook timeline and author page and they always come through for me. You always are there to help me out when I need you!
One of the discussion group questions was to ask readers to find me the perfect stock photo for the cover of this book and Stephanie Henderson found the perfect Ryder and Megan for the couple in my head (except that we had to add a touch of gray to Ryder’s hair).
Another question asked in the discussion group was to pick a first name for Wilson from Masters at Arms and Erin Miller came up with Ryder. Lots of other names were suggested, but that was the overwhelming favorite from the poll we took in the group.
And to whoever put together the information on vision quest rituals and purification lodge ceremonies at several Web sites (especially Barefoot’s World). This and other sites helped me take Ryder on the journey into his soul. I also learned from watching videos like the one produced by the Salt Lake City Tribune “Trib Talk: The importance of sweat lodges to Native American veterans”, as well as “Introducing the Sweat Lodge,” produced by GRYPHON Media Productions. It’s encouraging that the Veterans Administration acknowledges the importance of these Native American traditions in helping our wounded heroes find spiritual and emotional healing.
The Kallypso’s Street Brats who always entertain me with their pimping exploits. And to my Masters Brats (fans) the world around. Without you all telling all your friends about my books, I never would have reached so many readers.
My awesome new administrative and personal assistant, Charlotte Oliver, who helped keep me sane through so much activity and so many trials this year. She had everything under control when I had to check out of my writing world those first three weeks after surgery. I’m especially grateful to her for making my first KallypsoCon come together just the way I envisioned it and hoped for—only better.
Thanks to Leagh Christensen and Lisa Simo-Kinzer for keeping my online groups hopping and everyone informed of what’s happening in my unpredictable life.
Author’s Note
As I said on the dedication page, this book came about in large part because of my love for my readers. For those who might not follow me in social media and aren’t aware of what happened, let me explain. In September, just about two months before Nobody’s Dream was supposed to be released, I was diagnosed with uterine cancer. Five days later, I underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy and am now happy to say I’m cancer free.