The Library of Lost Things
Page 28
I pulled out the small yellow pad. It wasn’t blue stationery, but it would do. The beginning had to be now. It had to be here. I grabbed a pen from my bag as my eyes filled. I would tell Asher everything later on a Santa Barbara beach. Now I needed to be alone with words again.
I declared them in my head and made them all the way true. Then the real-me started like this:
Dear David Elliot,
I’m your daughter, Darcy...
* * * * *
DARCY’S READING LIST
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen
The Book Thief
Markus Zusak
Jane Eyre
Charlotte Brontë
We Are Okay
Nina LaCour
The Hate U Give
Angie Thomas
The Sun Is Also a Star
Nicola Yoon
Water for Elephants
Sara Gruen
Caraval
Stephanie Garber
Looking for Alaska
John Green
The Remnant Chronicles
Mary E. Pearson
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Writing a book is anything but a solitary endeavor. I am finally able to hold my debut in my hands and share it with readers because of the support and contributions of so many people.
To my agent, Natascha Morris, thank you for being my fiercest advocate, often-editor, steadfast supporter, pep talk orator, guacamole conspirator, and the finest representative of my work.
To my editor, Lauren Smulski, thank you for loving Darcy’s tale the way you do. Your vision and guidance have inspired me to be the best storyteller that I can be.
To Allison Bitz and Joan F. Smith, you are so much more than critique partners. Thank you for sharing your talent, time, expertise, friendship, and your lives with me. I am better for being on your team.
To the team at Inkyard Press, special thanks to Natashya Wilson, Laura Gianino, Justine Sha, Linette Kim, Jennifer Lopes, Lisa Wary, and Connolly Bottum. To Erin Craig and Elita Sidiropoulou for making Darcy’s library come alive on my cover. There are so many involved in creating such a beautiful representation of my story, and sharing it across many platforms and across the world. I appreciate all of you.
To Jessica Faust, James McGowan, and the whole team at BookEnds Literary.
To Beth Ellyn Summer, for plucking my book out of your Pitch Wars pile, and being the very first to mentor me and my story.
Dear writing community, I value you and thank you for guiding me through the many aspects of publishing. Special thanks to Elizabeth Van Tassel, Kelly deVos, Heather Cashman, Nikki Roberti, Aimee Salter, Rachel Lynn Solomon, Mara Rutherford, Hannah Capin, Alechia Dow, Eric Smith, Vicky C., Autumn Krause, my Pitch Wars family, Team Nat agency siblings, and #Novel19s debut group.
To my dearest friends, old and new, and my wonderful family. I treasure you.
To the McCauleys, for filling me with music and friendship.
To Ximena Avalos, for being my Marisol.
To my beloved husband, Ed, for your unwavering support, and being my faithful coffee courier and real-estate book source.
To my children, Alec and Kate. I am blessed to be your mother, and you make me so proud.
To my own extraordinary mother, for more things than I have time and space to list.
And finally, but never lastly, to my father, who instilled in me my love of reading. One day, I will get to tell you about my book. And to God, who holds you close until then, and in whom I am never lost.
ISBN: 9781489290335
TITLE: THE LIBRARY OF LOST THINGS
First Australian Publication 2019
Copyright © 2019 Laura Taylor Namey
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HQ Young Adult
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Table of Contents
Back Cover Text
Praise
Title Page
About the Author
Dedication
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Epilogue
Darcy’s Reading List
Acknowledgments
Copyright