A Ragged Magic (31 page)

Acknowledgements

I
have so many people to thank for this book happening at all.

Of course thank you to my publisher and editor Jak Koke, for reading the version I had put away for so many years. Thank you for liking it enough to say yes, and helping me to make this new version as good as it can be.

Thanks to Karawynn and Shannon, for copyedits, proofs, feedback, and saying “this is good,” when I needed to hear it.

To Scott, who emailed that earlier version to Jak while we were at a party, despite both mine and Jak’s consternation, when Jak said he was looking for manuscripts.

To my writing group pals, for reading version after version, for corrections and ideas, for loving the story, and for believing it was good even when I flubbed whole chapters.

To my family, for cheering me on from a distance, or reading manuscripts and giving me feedback. (Especially Mom, who said, “I was surprised how much I liked it.” Thanks, Mom.)

To my writer friends, many of whom read bits and pieces, had ideas to make it better, and wanted to see more. Thank you for being my tribe and my cheerleaders, thank you for kicking me in the butt when I need it, and thank you for patting me on the head and giving me cookies when I need that, too.

For all my friends, thank you for being your awesome selves, and for believing me when I said “I’m a writer.”

To Angie, for being my best friend and for making a kick-ass cover, because she is kick-ass, and so is this cover.

And again to Scott, for being who he is, for being there for me, helping me when I’m overwhelmed, and for loving me as I am, warts and all.