The What If Guy
Page 28
Acknowledgments
The “What If” Guy was a labor of love born at one am in a hotel room in Bellevue, Washington, while my mother sawed logs in the next bed over. It’s based in the tiny town of my youth where I discovered my love for reading and writing. I owe a debt of gratitude to the town of Fairfield for being that tiny speck on the map I love so much.
A wholehearted thanks to Entangled Publishing and Liz Pelletier for taking a chance on me, from the bottom of my cheese- and all-things-vintage loving heart. Every published writer has their moment when they get ‘the call.’ I am so thankful for Heather Howland. Not only for seeing my core story through my incessant need to repeat myself and improper use of dialogue tags, but also for calling me on April Fool’s Day to ask, “How strongly do you feel about the word ’wetly’?”
No writer would ever be successful without a most excellent editor. Tracy March, you are brilliant, and you deserve props for muddling through my eye rolls, eye colors, and eye-talics. Thank you for believing in my voice, and making it sing.
A special thanks goes to Caroline Phipps. It takes a brave woman to put up with my artiste (with a French accent) personality. There is a special place in heaven for a fourth editor, who comes in blind and still does her job so well.
Danielle Barclay, you’re the most thorough and consistent publicist this debut author could ask for. It’s not always easy to hang with someone as clueless as I am, but you do so with a smile and a chipper perspective and for that, I am infinitely grateful.
To my mother the librarian, thank you for inspiring me to love books and for your unwavering affection. It all started when you brought home a copy of Home Song by LaVyrle Spencer. To my brothers, a special thank you for crafting me into the neurotic, slightly obsessive-compulsive creature I am today. To my father, I always knew you loved me, even when you couldn’t show it.
And, of course, thanks to my nerd and four monsters. In order to properly articulate love, you have to have experienced it. Thank you for giving me such brilliant material, my loves. Now pick up your socks.
A heaping bowlful of gratitude goes to my writing partner, Jess Macallan. There are times when I need a swift kick in the a**, and I am proud to have your boot in my a**. But no spooning!
My girlfriends, or early ‘fans’—you know who you are—you ladies are the reason I never gave up. I have the coolest friends ever. *jazz hands*
Here’s to more stories, more laughs, more tears, and more romance to come.
- Brooke Moss
Brooke Moss lives in beautiful eastern Washington state with her nerdy husband, four dirty-faced kids, and one dim-witted dog. When she’s not changing diapers and spinning tales, Brooke watches entirely too much reality television, often changes the color of her hair, and fancies herself a cheese aficionado. She loves to write stories that are equal parts hilarious and heart-wrenching, and enjoys finding the love story in every ordinary couple’s past. Now, if she could just dig out from under that pile of dirty laundry...
Find Brooke on the web at www.brookemoss.com.