Marigold

by Heather Mitchell Manheim

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  Thank You and Acknowledgments

  First, thank you to all the readers out there. I appreciate those who decided to buy and read my book, and I hope you enjoyed it. Your support is vital to me, and I encourage your feedback and constructive criticism. You can reach me via email at hmmwriting@gmail.com.

  Thank you to my husband, Todd, for all the rough drafts you read, all the editing you helped me with, and the ideas you contributed to this book. Thank you also for your support and encouragement as I endeavored to write this.

  Thank you to my family and friends! To my dad (who said to me one day when I announced I was writing a book, “I always wondered why you never wrote a book”), my mom, sister, niece, nephew, brother, and my families in Oregon (Crazy Cousin Crew), New York, Utah, Arizona, Florida, Alaska, and Canada. I especially want to send a “thank you” to Heaven. My grandparents were amazing and wonderful people who encouraged me to write, and they read everything I sent them. They are missed every day and never forgotten.

  Thank you to my girl crew, who I love. Thank you for laughing with me, crying with me, and enhancing my life as my un-biological sisters (This is in order of how long I’ve known you, not reflective of my love for you)! Tamara, Audrey, Lisa, Rebecca, Chris, Jessica, Amanda, Sunshine, and Tiffany. And my best guy friends, I didn’t forget about you (How could I?) Mikey-pants and Matt.

  Thank you to the Capotosta’s – a special family that has always treated me as one of their own.

  Thank you to Mary, who I first told I wanted to write a book based on a dream I had. She gave me a ton of support and information, even when my original idea didn’t come to fruition, and I completely changed the book (the book we initially talked about is coming next)!

  Thank you to my fellow bus drivers and the students who have ridden with me. You inspire and support me every day.

  Thank you to Mr. Stover, who first introduced me to the world of Creative Writing. Thank you to the teachers who put up with me in my morose years, and for those who didn’t put up with me, I can’t say I entirely blame you!

  Thank you to Dr. Sun, Dr. Wheaton, Dr. Babbit, Dr. Jacobs, Luminous Glow Skincare, The Hair Shack, Caroline Jordan Fitness, and Up to the Beat Fitness by Gina B. Thank you for keeping healthy and well.

  Thank you to all my early readers, Todd, Vicki, Tamara, and Tiffany. The feedback, edits, help, and advice were invaluable.

  I will not thank those who bullied me because there is never a reason for a child to feel tortured every day at school. But I will tell all those who are suffering through being bullied; those people do not define you; they do not have control of you or what you are capable of achieving. And you are capable of achieving so much. You will overcome it. Ryan, you were the one popular kids who didn’t torment me. I never said thank you for that, but I do now.

  Thank you to BookBaby, Frank, and the BookBaby editors.

  There is a multitude of people who helped and supported me through this book. I’m grateful for every one of you, and any omission is due only to my mistake and not a reflection of my appreciation for you.

  Last, but importantly, thank you to God. The day I was in despair, and I asked you what I should do, clearly, in my head, I heard, “Write.” That was the start of this and the others to come.