by Kata Čuić
“Apparently, she’s the team psychologist for the Orlando Sharks.”
Evie smirks. “So, he has to come face to face every day with the only woman to ever tell him no? That must be a huge blow to his ego on a regular basis.”
“Not as much as you might think.” I rub Robbie’s back absentmindedly, remembering everything I felt during our pregnancy. “She’s pregnant with his baby.”
“What?” Evie yells.
And then all hell breaks loose.
Robbie lets out a wail; Evie lets out an apologetic shriek.
I know at least one set of parents who won’t be having any sex tonight.
Game over.
This part never gets easier. No book is created in isolation. It takes a team of dedicated individuals to put a novel in the hands of readers. CPs, beta readers, editors of varying levels, proofreaders, formatters, cover artists—the list is actually quite long. Then, there are those people who help, staying on the fringe of actual production, but without whom the writer would be lost—bloggers who review and get the word out; fellow authors who offer advice about marketing, promotion, and brand; PAs who handle scheduling, social media accounts, and fan groups; and dedicated readers who flood the internet with anything and everything by their favorite authors.
I’ve had all of the above and more throughout this journey. Inevitably, I forget to thank someone by name, and that always sucks. For both parties. I’ve also learned in the past three years that sometimes people don’t want acknowledgement. Either they prefer to stay behind the scenes, or they simply don’t want their name printed in someone else’s book.
So, rather than give you a long list of names, I’ll leave it at this:
Thank you. To anyone who helped, to anyone who read, you’ve made this series what it is today.
My gratitude goes beyond mere words.
Note from the Author
The Moving the Chains series, and Evie & Rob’s story, in particular, was never meant to be merely a work of fiction. While the characters and events aren’t based on actual living, breathing people, they could be anyone.
A neighbor. A friend. A sister. A cousin. The band queen. The cheerleader. The quarterback. The captain of the hockey team.
Sexual violence and rape culture affects us all, whether we’ve been in the position of survivor or not.
While the events of this series are, indeed, fiction, the situations these characters face are based on real-life scenarios.
Stalking. Shaming. Gossip. Hazing.
The statistics mentioned in these novels are accurate. One in four women will be sexually assaulted during their lifetime, but, men can also be survivors of sexual violence.
And, as anyone who loves someone who’s been changed by sexual assault can attest to, it changes everything. It changes life into a before, and an after.
If this book has touched you, or made you think, then I urge you to not simply push aside those feelings now that Evie & Rob’s story has reached a conclusion.
For the characters, and for those affected by sexual assault, the reality is, there is no conclusion. That event will remain for life.
If you would like more information, or to help in any capacity, here are several websites to get you started:
www.rainn.org
endrapeoncampus.org
www.joinonelove.org
The Sing Out foundation isn’t real, but there are so many organizations working to affect real change in our society. Check out your local college campuses, your state directories, and even some local high schools where women and men are striving so hard to end sexual violence.
Get involved. Give hope. Sing Out.
All my love,
Kata
Ah, come on. We’ve spent four books together. If you don’t know me by now, you will never, never, never know me. No, you won’t.
If you want to drop me a complaint about my super-cheesy use of song lyrics, you can do that in the following places:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest
Website: www.katacuicbooks.com
Email: [email protected]
Fourth and Inches Playlist
One Love-Marianas Trench
Bad Blood-Bastille
Story of My Life-One Direction
While We’re Young-Marianas Trench
The Mess I Made-Parachute
No Shelter-Seether
Turn Off the Lights-Panic at the Disco
Move Along-All American Rejects
Everything in Its Right Place-Radiohead
Water Under the Bridge-Adele
Let It Go-James Bay
Decode-Paramore
I Won’t Lie-Go Radio
Stay-Rihanna ft. Mikky Ekko
All the Same-Sick Puppies
Comfortably Numb-Pink Floyd
Sing for Me-Yellowcard
Nothing Else Matters-Metallica
Alibis-Marianas Trench
That’s What You Get-Paramore
Shot at the Night-The Killers
Dog Days Are Over-Florence + the Machine
Cross My Heart-Marianas Trench
Time After Time-Cyndi Lauper
Happy the Hard Way-Every Avenue
Distance-Christina Perri ft. Jason Mraz
Telling Lies-Sick Puppies
Some Nights-F.U.N.
The Kill-30 Seconds to Mars
I Lie Awake-Quietdrive
Scars-James Bay
Stubborn Love-The Lumineers
Say You Won’t Let Go-James Arthur
High Hopes-Kodaline
Who Do You Love?-Marianas Trench
Haven’t Had Enough-Marianas Trench
Hold on Forever-Rob Thomas
Kiss Me Slowly-Parachute
Then-Brad Paisley
Never Stop-Safety Suit
All of Me-John Legend
