My Executive Officer of Operations, Mistianne Langston, who keeps my life running smoothly so I have more time to write.
Amanda Lee Borgstrom, for keeping us straight back in the day.
Sue Hadley, who took such good care of my parents—and the rest of us—when my parents were here.
My parents, who aren’t in physical form anymore but still hang around sometimes. Daddy, I know you love to make the little dog bark, and that’s okay. Mama, I hope the Church Ladies in heaven don’t give you too much grief about the sex scenes. I couldn’t bring myself to take your advice and “leave the s-e-x at the bedroom door.”
Rita Gallagher, a founding member of Romance Writers of America, who tutored me in her by-invitation-only critique class. I know she’s looking down from heaven, saying, “It’s about time.”
Haywood Smith, NYT bestselling author who took the time to guide and encourage an unknown writer like me. All her books are on my keeper shelf. http://haywoodsmith.net/
Geri Krotow, writing goddess and good friend, who was happy to read a chapter when I needed a fresh perspective. http://gerikrotow.com/
Margie Lawson, who teaches fantastic writing classes that I highly recommend. http://www.margielawson.com/
The talented team at The Killion Group, for creating a gorgeous cover and doing all the jobs I can’t, like formatting, uploading, marketing... Kim, Dana, Jennifer, Shelly... So glad I didn’t have to do all that stuff. http://thekilliongroupinc.com/
My daughter Tessa, who drew the logo for my publishing imprint, Tranquil Dragonfly Press.
My critique partners and writing support team, The Plotting Wenches:
Jessica Trapp, whom I met at my very first RWA meeting in Houston. It was her first meeting too, and we gravitated toward each other because we were both dressed like hippies and wearing Birkenstocks. We started critiquing when her son and my youngest daughter were in strollers, and now they’re in college. Our friendship has lasted longer than most marriages because we’re both awesome. http://jessicatrapp.com/
Jo Ann Sky, fastest reader, writer and CP in the West, who somehow skipped fifteen years of dues-paying by becoming an accomplished novelist practically overnight. We’ll be critiquing forever, too, I hope, because she’s just brilliant. http://www.joannsky.com/
Faith Eides, who met my husband when they attended the same high school in Kinshasa, Congo. He knew that Faith and I were peas in a pod, so he introduced us, and I’m so glad to know her and to have her literary and editorial talent as part of my team. www.amazon.com/Faith-Eidse/e/B00IWT66YA
Kimberly Savage, author and playwright who also has an amazing blog. I bow down to her ability to keep up with it all. https://kimberlysavage.com/
Lisa Miller, who writes YA and teaches a fantastic class about plotting called Safari. Think of her as your own personal GPS when it comes to writing. lisawmiller.com
Past critique buddies who shared a vital part of my writer’s journey:
Cindy Miles, who actually mentioned me in the acknowledgments of her first book! That meant so much to me. Being thanked for my input by such a talented author gave me hope and helped me believe in myself. Finally, I get to thank her in return. http://cindy-miles.com/
Ann DeFee, one of the funniest people I know. We always planned to be sitting next to each other at RWA National book signing events, since our last names are too close in the alphabet to allow anyone to come between us. http://www.anndefee.com/
Kay Austin and Betty Pichardo, amazing writers and CPs.
Shana Galen (AKA Shane Bolks) who critiqued with Jessica and me back in the day. http://shanagalen.com./
PJ Mellor, who’s known for writing hot and sexy contemporary romance. http://pjmellor.com/
Friends who gave me a reader’s perspective of this and other manuscripts; Celia Lambert, Shelley Glass, Jenn Reed, and Lauren Whitley.
Contest judges JoAnne Banker, Genevieve Montcombroux, and many more—some who became friends, and others whose names I never knew—who offered feedback and encouragement.
Colleen Thompson http://colleen-thompson.com/ and Sharon Sala http://sharonsala.net/ for being so open-hearted and down-to-earth.
Friends, neighbors, and relatives who are always just a phone call away to give support, encouragement, and positive energy. Too many to name, because I’m so lucky (but you know who you are, and so do I).
And those few people who have acted as spiritual sandpaper, forcing me to learn the art of remaining positive in the face of negativity... Or when that’s not possible, slice them into tiny (figurative) pieces and cobble those pieces together to make a multilayered antagonist that I can, if I choose, kill off at the end of the book.
Author Bio:
Babette de Jongh lives in the backwoods of L.A. (that’s Lower Alabama) with her husband, whichever of the kids happen to be home, and double-digit numbers of assorted animals. When she’s not writing, she’s outside working in the garden, in the basement sculpting something, or working at her “other” job as a telepathic animal communicator, counselor, and healer. She teaches workshops on animal communication at Dragonfly Pond Farm.
Please visit her at
www.BabettedeJongh.com, www.HearThemSpeak.com,
and connect with her on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/BabettedeJongh.author, and
https://www.facebook.com/Italktoanimals/
Twitter https://twitter.com/Babette_deJongh
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/bestbabette/
Copyright © 2016 Babette de Jongh
Publishing House: Tranquil Dragonfly Press
ISBN: 978-0-9979398-0-4
ISBN: 978-0-9979398-1-1
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is purely coincidental.
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Angel Falls (Angel Falls Series, #1) Page 28
