Until the Last Star Fades also gave me another chance to explore organ donation (I wrote about it for a magazine a few years ago). Back then, I interviewed living donors, organ recipients, and family members of deceased donors. For this book, I also received invaluable insight from the ‘Living Donors Online’ Facebook group. Three liver donors shared personal stories with me: Heather Badenoch, Megan Hornseth, and Meghan Hanley. It’s one thing signing up to donate your organs after you die (if you haven’t, please do!), but it’s quite another to selflessly give the gift of life when you’re living. These women are heroes.
I’d like to thank Heather, Bill, Tobey, and my family and friends for always supporting me. Love you so much.
Sending all the Pizza Express doughballs (plus hugs) to Vicki and Charlie. Cheers for the line that describes Ben perfectly (even though you thought of it for a different Ben!). Love ya!
Cristina, your talent inspires me, and I wish we could hang out more. Here’s to seeing Whishy together soon.
To my wonderful beta readers, thank you for all your help!
Caitlin (Editing by C. Marie), sorry for being a crazy comma lady! Thank you for the polish and your kindness.
Thanks to Steve Scanlon for your beautiful back cover photo.
Crystal Patriarche, Taylor Brightwell and the BookSparks team—you are PR rock stars!
Author shout-out! Thanks to Renée Carlino, Andrea Dunlop, R.S. Grey, and Colleen Hoover for blurbs and Instagram photos. One day, I hope we meet so I can thank you personally. Kristin Contino & Nicole Trilivas, I have met you both and adore you!
Darren & Zoey—you’re everything! I love you. You’re my life and my heart. I couldn’t do any of this without you.
To the Bookstagrammers, BookTubers, and bloggers who have read and supported my books: you’re so creative and AWESOME! Thanks for taking a chance on this indie author. Big hugs.
And to the Keeganites in my FB group! You make bookmarks, candles, have tea parties—celebrating my books! Cool doesn’t even begin to describe you guys and what you do! I love you to the moon and back. Thank YOU! xoxo
Glossary
Some people, places, and things mentioned in Until the Last Star Fades might not be familiar to all readers. Here are a few helpful explanations:
Drafted: Between the ages of 18-20, male ice hockey players are ‘drafted’ by National Hockey League teams while they’re playing college or junior hockey. Some players go pro and join their NHL teams the following season, while others like Josh finish their college education and then join the team that drafted them.
FOMO: Short form for ‘fear of missing out’.
Smiling depression: Also called high-functioning depression. People with smiling depression appear happy on the outside but feel sad, emotionally numb, or shut off from the world inside. Friends and family often have no clue that their loved one is depressed because they hide it so well. Sufferers are often high achievers and/or perfectionists who seem to have everything going for them.
Chef Boyardee ABCs: Pasta ABCs in tomato sauce from the American makers of canned ravioli.
Page Six: Society and celebrity gossip column in the New York Post newspaper.
Playoff beards: Hockey players are very superstitious and many grow beards for good luck during tournaments and playoffs.
Upcycling: Upcycling is the process of taking something no longer used and turning it into a product that’s more beautiful, interesting, and in some cases, valuable. Upcycling often gets mixed up with recycling, but they’re not the same thing.
Chemo brain: Term used by cancer patients to describe a foggy-brained feeling after chemo.
Muppet: British insult meaning idiot (not a cute and fuzzy puppet!)
PEZ: Small, rectangular hard candies that are kept in plastic dispensers featuring the heads of pop culture characters (Snoopy, Santa, Chewbacca, etc).
Back of the net: British phrase using football/soccer analogy for scoring a point in conversation.
FCUK: Stands for ‘French Connection UK’ — used by British clothing company, French Connection.
Up herself: British phrase meaning a woman is conceited.
Tisch Salute: Tisch students have two graduation ceremonies. The first one is NYU’s All-University Commencement, which in Riley’s graduation year, was held at massive Yankee Stadium. Then a few days later Tisch holds its ‘Salute’, their own ceremony featuring student performances and speeches from department chairs.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Therapy used to treat a variety of mental health issues including anxiety, panic attacks, and depression. With CBT exercises, a therapist helps the patient identify negative thoughts that can trigger anxiety, depression, etc., and works to replace them with positive or more realistic thoughts.
Health Resources
If you or someone you know suffers from depression, help is available.
United States
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
www.adaa.org
Canada
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)
www.cmha.ca
United Kingdom
Mind
www.mind.org.uk
Want to learn more about organ donation?
Find more info here:
United States: www.organdonor.gov
Canada: www.organtissuedonation.ca/en
United Kingdom: www.organdonation.nhs.uk
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