A Shadow Bright and Burning

by Jessica Cluess

  This is the single most daunting task I’ve faced during this process. Not only do I have to be short and succinct, which won’t happen, but I have to adequately thank all the incredible people who’ve made this possible.

  Chelsea Eberly, for believing in this book, and for making it the best that it could be. Your suggestions challenge me to do better, and your questions lead me to the most exciting ideas. It’s sometimes embarrassing to think you understand these characters better than I do, but it’s always thrilling.

  Brooks Sherman, for being an extraordinary agent and the first to see potential in this story. Thank you for guiding me through the insanity, and for not hanging up on our first phone call when I made weird noises and had no questions. You’re a gentleman and a scholar, and sometimes Batman.

  Thank you to the wonderful people at Random House, including Mary McCue, Hannah Black, Melissa Zar, and Mallory Matney, for so much hard work and energy. Massive thanks to Nicole de las Heras, Hilts, and Tracy Heydweiller for the sensational cover design and packaging. Setting things on fire never looked so good.

  Thank you to Jenny Bent, Molly Ker Hawn, and the incredible team at the Bent Agency for all your help and insight.

  Brandie Coonis, yin to my yang, Spock to my Kirk, Pike to my Cole. The best friendships are a perfect balancing act. Thank you for your sharp eyes and sharper wit. More wine, Doris.

  Alyssa Wong, for your creativity, your courage, your compassion, and Catbug. We’ll always have the Skinny Emo Space Lords. Yes, that’s in print now.

  Isabel Yap, for writerly wisdom, grace, and sending me pictures of sad anime boys.

  My cohorts from the Clarion Writers’ Workshop, who have become my second family. Team Rocketship Spatula forever. Thank you to Shelley Streeby, Karen Joy Fowler, and Kelly Link, who opened the door for me.

  Thank you to Victoria Aveyard, Tamora Pierce, Sarah Rees Brennan, and Kelly Link (again) for being so gererous with your time and mad blurb skills.

  Josh Ropiequet, for night drives, fancy dinners, and ten years of friendship. Ten more, please.

  Jack Sullivan, who coined the phrase Victorian Cthulu Harry Potter to describe this book.

  Ronen Kohn, Zev Valancy, Jessica Puller, Emily Crockett: Thank you for being in my life.

  The Forbes-Karols (Robby, Terra, JoJo, Cory) and the Rosenblums (Mike, Alison, Jordan), for love and support.

  The Sweet Sixteens and Class of 2K16, thank you for your community. Traci Chee, for bonding over scavenger hunts. Tara Sim, for the transparent heads. Audrey Coulthurst, for crashing that party with me. Gretchen Schreiber, for singing along and bringing me ARCs.

  Barnes & Noble at the Grove, for not minding that I was the world’s worst barista. Special thanks to Amanda Santos, who read my query letter in the break room.

  Patricia McGahan and Claire Hackett, for giving guidance and teaching lessons.

  My parents, Joyce and Chris, and my sister, Meredith: Thank you for loving me, putting up with me, and encouraging me. It means more than you know. The rest of my family, Blanche, Margo, Angelo, Janet. Finally, for Mike Ozarchuk, who didn’t get to see this, but who would have enjoyed the hell out of it. Love you more.

  JESSICA CLUESS is a writer, a graduate of Northwestern University, and an unapologetic nerd. After college, she moved to Los Angeles, where she served coffee to the rich and famous while working on her first novel. When she’s not writing books, she’s an instructor at Writopia Lab, helping kids and teens tell their own stories. Visit her at jessicacluess.com and follow her on Twitter at @JessCluess.

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