by Zara Teleg
Acknowledgments
THE TEAM
To all those who have helped me get the word out about my books, I can’t thank you enough. I am so grateful that I’ve had the pleasure to work with readers turned team members who spend their time helping to promote my books across their platforms. You guys are awesome. I’d also like to thank you for the honest reviews and feedback that you provide to help make me a stronger writer. I hope you all enjoyed Maggie and Venom’s story. There is more to come, and I can’t wait to share it with you! And a special shout out to Gina Giovanoni, who named the bar Pussy Willows in my contest for a name!
Ritchelle, my wonderful, beautiful, brilliant editor, I couldn’t do it without you. Thank you for all the time and effort you take in making my books their very best. Even during the pandemic, with two kiddos at home, you always make time to talk with me and fit me into your busy schedule. I am so grateful. I look forward to working on lots of future projects with you!
Rebecca, you have not only become a trusted advisor but a friend as well. You’re so selfless and give so much of your time to writers and readers. I am so blessed to have met you and look forward to meeting you in person for coffee once this pandemic is over! You’re a treasure and I can’t imagine not having you to bounce ideas off of. You give wonderful advice and always point me in the right direction. Your honest feedback helps me grow. Thank you so much. You have no idea how much your help means to me. I can’t wait to share many future books with you!
Melissa, we have only been working together a few months and you have been so incredibly helpful and supportive. I appreciate all the hard work you put into helping me and promoting my books. Thank you for helping my books get in so many more hands. I look forward to many future projects working with you!
FAMILY & FRIENDS
Andy, my husband and best friend, 2020 was quite a year. Even through all the chaos, you stood strong behind me and kept pushing me to not give up, even when times were hard. I couldn’t ask for a better partner. I love you with all my heart and soul. You make me laugh, you listen to all my insane ideas, and even step on board when I say I want to sell everything and live in a van! You’re the best. You keep me focused and inspired. My favorite thing in life is waking next to you every morning and having coffee in bed. You bring so much joy to my life and your faith in me amazes and honors me. Thank you for your strength and belief, and I hope together we make our dreams come true. I love you!
Mya, my smart, beautiful, talented, amazing daughter, I can’t begin to tell you how proud I am of you. You’re 18 and graduating, I don’t know where the time has gone. I know life was crazy this year, and you were a trooper. You made the best of all the unexpected challenges this year brought. I hope you get to enjoy all life has to offer you. I hope you go on adventures and find what lights you up. I wish for you to have a life full of joy, laughter, freedom, peace, love, and light. Find what makes your heart sing and do it. You have the world at your feet, and this is only the beginning. Money can’t buy happiness, love, or time, so choose the things that bring you joy and laughter. You’re a superstar and I hope you create a magical life you love. I love you more than anything in the world and I will always be proud of you, my baby girl!
Mom, thank you for always being there for me. You always stop whatever you are doing to listen to me and give me good advice, even when you know I may be rolling my eyes! Ha-ha! I love you and appreciate all your insight and words of wisdom. Thank you for putting God in my life and never pushing me. I hope this book brings you joy. It was close to my heart and so much of what you have given me in life inspired it. You were there for so many challenges that this year brought, and always came with a crew, food, and a vat of coffee. You’re the best. I look forward to many more adventures with you and hope that this year we can get back to spending more time together and that we are out paddleboarding and drinking coffee watching the sunset over the bay soon. I hope this year brings you happy changes and that you get to take that trip to Italy you dream of. You deserve it. I love you so much!
Dad, thank you for always listening to me, and for teaching me so much. I get my love of research from you and I hope it shines through in this book. Thanks for all the support you give me and for reading my books and sharing them with others. I hope we get to spend more time together this year, especially out on the trails. I miss just sitting on the porch having coffee. I hope this year brings you the camper you dream of to take you on adventures you crave. I hope you find your happiness and do what you enjoy. I love you.
PJ, my baby brother, thank you for all you do for me and my business. You are the first person I talk to every morning. Your texts start my day with a smile. I hope this year brings you all the happiness you deserve. I love you so much and hope we are always as close as we are now. You are the best sibling I could ever ask for. I am blessed to have you! I love you!
Chachi, thank you for all the hard work you did at our home this year. You’re always a phone call away and I love you so much. I couldn’t ask for a kinder, more loving, and generous stepdad. Thank you for always being there for our family! I love you and appreciate everything you do.
Selena, thank you for being such an amazing little sister and aunt. You’re so sweet and so always there for us. I hope we get to spend more time together this year. I think of you every day when I am writing in my planner with the awesome pens I now can’t live without! ;) I love you!
Iva & Sully, thank you for being such amazing, loving, and supportive in-laws and grandparents. I love you and appreciate everything you do. I hope this year we resume BBQs and gatherings together! Love you both so much!
Lisa, oh Lisa, where do I start? You’re a friend like no other. You’ve been there through so many joyous and not so joyous occasions. You’re one of the most selfless people I have ever met. I am so blessed to have you in my life. We’ve shared so many rounds of laughter and tears, I couldn’t imagine you not being part of my life. I’ll miss you so much when I move. Knowing you are just a few hundred feet away gives me comfort. You play many roles in my life. For most, a neighbor is someone you borrow a cup of sugar from, but you are so much more. I have borrowed an entire office from you, you’re the nurse when someone is sick or hurt, the cat whisperer when we’re away, the therapist when advice is needed, the shoulder to cry on—or to uncontrollably laugh with. For 15 years, we have had so many adventures, but the one role that means most to me is your friendship. Thank you, and I love you!
Kate, Michael, & Maddie, wow, 2020 was quite the challenge for all of us. I will never forget how you all came and helped us get ready for our move. You rallied around us and were there any time, at a moment’s notice. Your friendship through the years has meant the world to me. Katie, you have been my bestie and part of my family since we were eight years old. I couldn’t ask for a truer best friend and sister. Thanks for always being there and always cheering me on. Your confidence in me has always helped push me. I can’t thank you enough. I love you and hope this is the year our dreams come true. Keep manifesting my moon sister.
Elaina, I haven’t known you many years, but I feel like our souls have been friends for lifetimes. You’ve become a close friend and family. I am blessed to have gotten to know you and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the help you have given me and my family over the years, especially Michael. You’re a true earth angel. I hope we can celebrate many more years of friendship in my new home, where we can fill it with plants and crystals together. I will always cherish and laugh about our trips to Ross. I look forward to more adventures together.
Aunt Grace, a special thank you for all your prayers in my times in need. Thank you for helping cheer me on and thank you for introducing me to the Shrine of Padre Pio. It holds a special place in my heart and I truly feel it where Ruthie predicted the direction my life would go. You are always there for everyone with your prayers and good advice. I love you, and also, thanks for giving me my first best friends and cousins Michelle, Nic
ole, and Corrine! I love those girls to the moon and back, and we will always be kids in our hearts, whenever we are together!
Aunt Deb, Uncle-cousin Billy & Michael. Losing you, Michael and Billy, was oh so hard and hurt my heart. I will never forget you, my cousins. Over the past few years, we made a lot of memories and shared so many laughs. You are missed by all and I know you are watching over us and still getting your kicks playing tricks! Thank you for being in my life. Aunt Deb, I’m so sorry for your loss of such strong men in your life. Thanks for all your prayers and for sharing my books with so many. I love you!
DeeDee & RiRi, you two have influenced my life since I was in diapers. We have shared laughter and tears. I am blessed to have cousins like you, who are also big sisters and support all my endeavors. I love you both so much and I hope you know how much you mean to me.
To all my other friends and family, I love you and appreciate you more than you know. Each of you has influenced me in some way. This year has been a tough one for so many of us. I look forward to things in the world getting back to normal and spending real face time with you all, and celebrating the time we missed with food, coffee, and laughter! Here’s to an awesome future and making our dreams come true!
Xoxo,
Zara
