Because the Bob-and-Judy comments were filling up my brain, I was having a hard time responding to Johnny.
“Thanks,” I said. “I can’t believe we’ll be going to regionals. And New York, for the talent squad. I’m freaking out.”
Now Johnny frowned. “Wait, so you didn’t hear?”
“Hear what?” Oh no, regionals and the New York trip were going to be the same weekend. Well, I’d figure it out.
“Luther’s asbestos-free. It’s reopening for the last few weeks of the school year. Won’t you go back there?”
What?
WHAT?
So now I was going to regionals, and to New York, AND back to Luther???
It sounds like I’ll need some new plays for sure!
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
In writing a book, it would be nice to somehow include a play-by-play of all the ways people help along the way, through encouragement, understanding, letting me read things aloud in a neurotic way, calm guidance when I feel like nothing’s working, and the occasional caffeinated provisions. I guess the closest thing I have is acknowledgments, so here goes.
Big, huge, scoreboard-lighting-up-and-fireworks-exploding thank-yous to:
Claudia Gabel, editor extraordinaire, for her energy, patience, and guidance in helping me bring Gabby and her friends to the page. Thanks for fielding my questions (and my puns) and wonderfully coaching me as I rounded the bases of bringing a book into the world.
Marta Kissi for making me squee with delight at her illustrations of Gabby and company, and to Amy Ryan and Katie Fitch for their art and design know-how.
Alex Arnold and Maria Barbo Editora, who tossed me some great notes and pitched some excellent ideas for early stages of this book.
Katherine Tegen and the entire team at Katherine Tegen Books for supporting this project. Special mentions to Rebecca Aronson and Emily Rader for keeping things moving, and to Meaghan Finnerty for getting Gabby in front of the right crowds.
My agent, Fonda Snyder, who so frequently cheers me on when I need it, and who always makes me feel like I’m hitting it out of the park.
My dad and mom, Bill and Debra Palmer, who came to all my games and cheered me on, even on the days when I mostly daydreamed in the outfield. (And for always knowing I was more writer than an athlete.) I’m a very lucky daughter.
My sons, Clark and Nathan Stanis, who, if I’m being totally honest, have a capacity for distraction and destruction that was in no way helpful to finishing any of the drafts of this book but who light up my heart each and every day, no matter how chaotic things get.
My husband, Steve Stanis, who catches whatever I throw at him . . . even me. I love you so much.
CREDITS
Cover art by Marta Kissi, © 2017 HarperCollins Publishers
Cover design by Katie Fitch
COPYRIGHT
Katherine Tegen Books is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
GABBY GARCIA’S ULTIMATE PLAYBOOK. Copyright © 2017 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
www.harpercollinschildrens.com
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ISBN 978-0-06-239180-3
EPub Edition © April 2017 ISBN 9780062391827
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FIRST EDITION
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