by Marcy McKay
Also, watch out for Hell Bent and Heaven Bound, the second book in the Burger Heaven series.
Acknowledgements
There are so many people who helped bring Pennies to life. I owe my deepest thanks to the following: My Wednesday night critique group: Jennifer Archer, Linda Castillo, Anita Grace Howard and April Redmon. Each of you held my hand through the many years and incarnations it took to bring the right version of Copper Daniels’ story into this world. I am indebted to you for the laughter, the lattes, and the love.
My former literary agent, Becky Vinter, your editorial talent from your NAL/Penguin days made all the difference to my book. Deleting my story and rewriting the entire novel seemed impossible at the time, but it was absolutely worth it. I learned so much from you, and even though we never got the chance to sell Pennies together, your belief in me pushed me to persevere until I found the right home for my debut.
I found it. Pamela Fagan Hutchins and Eric Hutchins of SkipJack Publishing, I’m grateful for your friendship and for including me in the SJP family. I’m exactly where I belong. Rebecca (R.L.) Nolen and Ken Oder, I look forward to publishing our novels together over the years at SkipJack.
The late Reverend Clifton Mann and Reverend Jo Roberts Craig, I appreciate you loaning me your beautiful books on angels, and for being real ones to me and countless others.
Dr. Scott Milton, you answered all my weird medical questions with such patience and detail. Bart Boxwell, you explained about bodies decomposing in cold weather without acting like I was crazy, or calling the cops. Speaking of, Corporal Jerry Neufeld, I appreciate you teaching me about police procedures and for serving our community.
Pam Eubanks from Faith City Mission, you gave me an insider’s look into homelessness and addiction. I admire your commitment to the real Copper Daniels of the world. Beth Kean of The Hope and Healing Place, thanks for visiting with me the abandonment issues of homeless children so I could add authenticity to my characters.
Beta readers Britta Coleman and Tricia Evans, you each helped make this a better book with your wonderful insights, encouragement and suggestions. Friends in my corner: Mary Burruss, Brianna Cobb, Molly Davis, Amy Inman, Susan McKay, Shannon Pierce, Sheryl Piper, Lucy Puryear, Lexa Smith Craddock and Laurie Sprouse.
Jane Dixon Smith of JD Smith – Design, you created the perfect cover art for Pennies. I love it and can’t wait to do more of the same. Diana Cox with Novel Proofreading, you found where I forgot to dot my i’s and cross my t’s (plus, other typos). Many thanks.
Bobbye Marrs, SkipJack assistant extraordinaire, you weren’t there for the writing of this novel, but you were instrumental in its publication and book launch. Thank you for keeping me calm and sane. Abbey Road and Candi Fite, kudos for taking SkipJack Publishing to the next level.
Mom, Greg and Molly, I love the stories we’ve lived together as a family; you all and Daddy are with me wherever I go. To all the McKays, thanks for all you do for me. I married into such a fun bunch. And last, by never least, to my wonderful family: Mark, Mason and Luke – there are no words to describe how much I love you and how much you mean to me. You’re the reason I breathe and why I try to be a better person. I’m sure I’ve forgotten others. Please know even if I left you off this page that I carry you in my heart.
Thank you – m3
About the Author
Marcy McKay knew she wanted to write stories the moment she read about Oompa Loompas in the fourth grade. She’s an award-winning short-story author and copywriter, as well as a freelance journalist and creator of Mudpie Writing blog. Her work has appeared in Writer’s Digest, The Write Practice, Write to Done, Positive Writer and Jane Friedman. Marcy lives in Texas with her husband and two teens, who all still like her…most of the time.
Connect with Marcy at marcymckay.com, Facebook, or on Twitter.
The Story Behind the Story
My grandmother lived in a one high-school town where my dad grew up called Belton, Texas. My brother, sister and I visited her there as kids each summer. She always took us by the local cemetery to see “our people.” We’d clear away the weeds, then walk the beautiful property. She always spoke of everyone there with such love (above and below the ground) that I began to see cemeteries as mystical, magical places.
Fast-forward decades later to 2008. I was driving out to Llano Cemetery, one of the cemeteries in my hometown of Amarillo, Texas. It’s a place I’ve visited countless times because all my deceased family is buried there: my father, my maternal grandparents, all my husband’s relatives. I went there that autumn day for an contract assignment, to write the cemetery’s quarterly newsletter. Don’t laugh, it paid well.
As I drove past the wrought-iron gates that afternoon, I heard a female voice whispering in my ear (that’s normal for writers). At first, it reminded me of a story I heard from the publishers of Accent West magazine where I also wrote at the time. Don and Liz Cantrell said they’d met a homeless woman years ago who lived at that very cemetery. She’d sneak in every night because she felt safer fenced in since most people feared ghosts and hobgoblins too much to roam there after dark.
At first, I assumed the voice inside my head was that homeless woman, but as I started writing down her story, I realized…no, this isn’t an adult at all…it’s a young girl. She’s ten, maybe eleven…homeless and alone. Her Mama’s missing, too. This child’s smart and sassy, but also hungry and scared. She’s hell-bent on finding her Mama. That’s day the Copper Daniels was born and the rest is history.
Hell Bent and Heaven Bound (Book 2 in the Burger Heaven Series):
The anticipated sequel leads readers deeper into the dark and dangerous world where young Copper Daniels lives among the homeless on the streets of Remington, Texas. Told through the eyes of three from her inner circle: her Mama – Corrinne Daniels, hiding shocking secrets not yet revealed; her partner-in-crime – Tommy Tucker, who may be not be the hero he appears to be; and the cemetery groundskeeper – Eugene “Butt Munch” O’Dell, who uncovers a new mystery buried at Eternal Peace threatening those who Copper loves most. Heaven and hell collide as they battle the evil determined to destroy them all.
Other Fiction From SkipJack Publishing
PAMELA FAGAN HUTCHINS
The Katie & Annalise novels
Saving Grace
Leaving Annalise
Finding Harmony
The Michele novels
Going for Kona
The Emily novels
Heaven to Betsy
Earth to Emily
REBECCA (R.L.) NOLEN
The Dry
Deadly Thyme
KEN ODER
The Whippoorwill Hollow novels
The Closing
Old Wounds to the Heart
ANTHOLOGIES
Tides of Possibility, edited by K.J. Russell
Tides of Impossibility, edited by K.J. Russell and C. Stuart Hardwick
Nonfiction from SkipJack Publishing
HELEN COLIN
My Dream of Freedom: From Holocaust
To My Beloved America
PAMELA FAGAN HUTCHINS
The Clark Kent Chronicles:
A Mother’s Tale of Life with her ADD & Asperger’s Son
Hot Flashes and Half Ironmans:
Middle-Aged Endurance Athletics Meets the Hormonally Challenged
How to Screw Up Your Kids:
Blended Families, Blendered Style
How to Screw Up Your Marriage:
Do-Over Tips for First-Time Failures
Puppalicious and Beyond:
Life Outside the Center of the Universe
What Kind of Loser Indie Publishes,
and How Can I Be One, Too?
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