The Eye of Midnight (25 page)

It takes a village, I think, to make a book. My particular village is a charming one, inhabited by some of the most talented, supportive, long-suffering people I could ever hope to know.

Deep appreciation to my amazing agent, Danielle Chiotti, who has tirelessly held her lantern aloft to guide me through the perilous spheres of the world of publishing, and to my wonderful editor, Rebecca Weston, who understood the story I wanted to create and had the insight and imagination to make it come to life. We did this together.

Compliments and recognition as well to all the wonderful people at Delacorte Press and Random House who made the publication of this book possible, and to Kate Welch, who plucked my manuscript from obscurity and the query pile at Upstart Crow Literary.

To my friends Dan Haase and Skye Jethani, who subjected my chapters to the crucible and convinced me to share Maxine and William's adventures with a broader audience—it's a pleasure and a privilege to walk the journey with you.

Heartfelt gratitude to everyone else I foisted this book on, when it was still definitely not ready for prime time—to Todd Martin, Ken Kunz, Rachel Rusin, David and Renee Brumbach, and Colonel Dave Oleson; to my grandmother Maxine Brumbach, who I'm certain lent more to my heroine than just her name; and to five particular young people—my boys, Jacob and Drew, and Katie Chamberlain, Jackson Elliot, and Chris Haase. It was their enthusiastic responses to this book that allowed me to hope it could connect with the adventuresome hearts it was intended for.

Most especially, love and thanks to my wife, Lisa, who supplied the space and endless encouragement I needed to see this book through to the finish, and to my mom and dad, who still tell me I can be whatever I want to be when I grow up.

Andrew Brumbach grew up square in the hippie community of Eugene, Oregon, surrounded by artists and musicians and storytellers. He studied art in Texas, traded bond options in Chicago, and spent a few years lost in the neon neighborhoods of Tokyo. Somewhere along the way, he married the girl of his dreams and had four practically perfect kids, but he never overcame his weakness for the power and transport of story. Now he lives in suburban Illinois but secretly daydreams about chasing bandits across the desert with Lawrence of Arabia and Gertrude Bell under cloudless, starry skies.
The Eye of Midnight
is his first novel.

Visit Andrew at
AndrewBrumbach.com
.