Written in the Stars(100)

I absolutely would not be where I am without the other amazing writers who have helped me along this journey. To the Pitch Wars class of 2017 and the Golden Heart class of 2018, the Persisters, thank you for showing me what it means to be a part of a writing community. This business has the propensity to be solitary, but you all have made me feel like I’m not alone. Your knowledge, commiseration, and support mean the world to me.

Brighton Walsh, I very well might’ve given up on writing had it not been for you seeing a kernel of something in my writing worth encouraging. You taught me so much and I honestly can’t do justice to how much I appreciate you reading—and rereading—an earlier manuscript of mine and for telling me to not give up. I will never forget your kindness and your willingness to help other writers. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

To Layla Reyne and Victoria De La O, I am so appreciative that you chose me as your mentee in Pitch Wars 2017. Thank you for choosing me out of countless submissions and helping me strengthen that manuscript. Without you both, I’m confident I wouldn’t be the writer I am today.

Brenda Drake, thank you a million times for creating Pitch Wars. You’ve helped so many writers in their journeys to publication, myself included. I can’t possibly thank you enough for building this community and giving it your all without asking for anything in return.

Rompire. Oh god, I don’t even know how to begin to express my gratitude for all of you. I’m so honored to call you all not just my writing pals, but true friends. Amy Jones, Lisa Leoni, Megan McGee, Julia Miller, Em Shotwell, Lana Sloan, and Anna Collins, thank you for listening to me rant, make cheesy jokes, and for not laughing when my hair is a hot mess on Marco Polo. You’ve kept me sane over these past few months—and for some of you, much longer—and you all inspire me more than I can say. Because of you, I strive to be a better writer and I’m in awe of the amazing women that you all are. Thank you. And a special shout-out to Amy for reading so many of my words, even when I had no idea what I was doing. Your feedback has been invaluable.

I’ve been blessed to have many amazing teachers who changed my life for the better. To David Kline, my high school creative writing and theater teacher, I can’t possibly thank you enough for encouraging my passion for storytelling and creating. You made me believe that a life dedicated to art is never a life wasted. On the flip side, thank you to the creative writing professor I had in college who laughed at my interest in genre fiction. I’m just stubborn enough that telling me I shouldn’t do something is a surefire way to make me want to throw myself into it, heart, body, and soul.

To my fur baby, Samantha, thank you for being the best alpha reader a girl could ask for. And by that, I mean thank you for listening to me talk to myself and for only looking at me like I’ve lost my mind a little. Each time you fall asleep on my notebooks and stomp across my keyboard, you remind me that stepping away from the computer and focusing on the world around me is important. You are my ultimate cuddle buddy and I love you to the moon and back, Sam.

Last but not least, I would not be here—quite literally—without my mom. Mom, thank you for always encouraging me to pursue my passions and supporting me no matter how many times I changed my mind about what I wanted to do with my life or how many times I failed. From the very beginning, when I was a little kid telling wild stories about my imaginary husband, Rodger, a green dragon whose mother hated me, you supported the quirky storyteller inside of me. You are my best friend and I love you to the stop sign and back.