Handler calls for Thorne. “We’re almost done,” Thorne says, leaving me.
For some reason, I think we will never be done.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
THIS BOOK HAS BEEN MY LIFE since 2010, so I’m beyond thrilled (and nervous!) to share Neely’s story with the world. I’m very grateful that I get to do it in a place like Spencer Hill Press that believes so strongly in their authors and stories. Thanks to everyone at SHP from the editorial staff to the publicity team for their time, passion, and creative ideas.
Thank you to Kate Kaynak, who connected with Neely and believed in this series. I have all the respect for you, and for the opportunities you’ve given me from intern to editor to author!
To my fabulous editor, who also has the pleasure of doubling as best friend, Patricia Riley, for always believing in this book and in me. This book is yours just as much as it is mine (maybe more.) Thank you a thousand times for being there when I wanted to give up. I can’t express how thankful I am to have you as my editor. Thanks for talking through scenarios, for knowing my characters almost better than I do, for letting me live in your basement, and for being adamantly against Neely eating trash. Thanks also to your husband and kids for letting me consume so much of your life-and your phone bill.
Hafsah Faiziel, thank you for the fantastic book cover! You took exactly what I wanted and meshed it with what I didn’t know I wanted, and I love you for giving my heart the perfect body.
Thank you to my unwavering crit partner, Christina Ferko, who read every draft of this book (nine, to be exact), and never grew tired of it. Thank you for pushing me and teaching me and for always believing in Xenith. And to my other CP/best friend, Cindy, for this insane ability to talk me off of ledges and this insight to make me smile and keep me moving when I want to sleep. You are a joy.
To the entire writing community-there are more of you than I can list here. I may not have said you by name, but you’re on my heart as I write this.
To Jenny Perinovic, because Neely is your homegirl and you made my book look so pretty inside; Helen Boswell, who helped me figure out my science-y/genetic stuff. You are a lifesaver! To my agent, Nicole Resciniti, for seeing something here and supporting me in every single thing I do.
To Jenn Rush, for the enthusiasm in my characters and this story, and for the fun distractions. It has always meant the world. I always thank the God that I have a friend like you. #hotboyswin
To the ladies of the HB&K Society-Amalie, Kristi, Angie, Kate & Cindy-for being these amazing human beings and writers who inspire me to be more, try more, and do more. I am so incredibly lucky to have all of you in my corner. Your support is endless, and I hope to repay the sentiment to each of you in some little way now and forever.
My best friend, Ashley Carmichael: I promised way back in high school that you’d get your own paragraph when this happened. Here we are. Thank you for pretending to care when I would IM you lines from all my writing or talk about my characters like people. Whether it was theater class or Harry Potter or singing duets on the phone or failing to meringue a pie correctly-you have been there. I would be utterly lost without your friendship; I’m not sure how that happened, but it does mean you are stuck with me forever. (One day we can go be British and they will not know what hit them.) And I really hope this paragraph was worth the wait.
To my little sister Cierra, who, like Neely, is stubbornly passionate. It’s a good thing to be because it means you won’t give up. May all of my journey (and Neely’s) show you that what you want in life is possible to achieve if you give your all, even when it’s hard. Probably especially when it’s hard. If you live a life of passion you can achieve things you only dreamed of-and I know that you will.
And thanks to my mom for always knowing I had these grand worlds inside my head, even as a kid, and letting me live in them.
To end, thank you whomever you are reading these words. This book is a huge piece of my heart and I hope it can be part of yours as well.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DANIELLE ELLISON spent most of her childhood reading instead of learning math. It’s the reason she can’t divide without a calculator and has spent her life seeking the next adventure. It may also be the reason she’s had so many different zip codes and jobs.
When she’s not writing, Danielle is probably drinking coffee, fighting her nomadic urges, watching too much TV, or dreaming of the day when she can be British. Danielle is also the author of Salt and Storm, a series about a snarky witch without magic. She has settled in Northern Virginia, for now, but you can always find her on twitter @DanielleEWrites.
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