Red Queen

Acknowledgments

I’ll do this chronologically, to try to include everyone, because I owe thanks to so many people. First and most of all, my ridiculously supportive parents who encouraged me to do anything and everything I wanted. They remain my greatest teachers, and I’m grateful for every gift, especially letting me watch Jurassic Park at 3 years old. To my brother, Andrew, who joined in on every game and every joke, and made my fantasy worlds so much bigger and brighter. My grandparents—George and Barbara, Mary and Frank—who gave and continue to give more love and memory than I can understand. Too many aunts, uncles, and cousins to name, not to mention friends and neighbors who tolerated me running through their lives and backyards. Natalie, Lauren, Teressa, Kim, Katrina, and Sam, who stuck with me through the rough teen years and questionable clothing choices. Of course, every English and social studies teacher I ever had, who continuously told me to stop writing novels for essays. And I have to thank the ones who influenced me beyond reason, even though they don’t know me. Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Peter Jackson, J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, C.S. Lewis. I grew up in a small town, but because of these people, my world never seemed that way.

The University of Southern California and their incomparable School of Cinematic Arts somehow let me slip in, and completely changed the trajectory of my life. My screenwriting professors, every single one of them, pushed me into the writer I am now, and taught me every trick I know. Not only did I begin to believe this storytelling compulsion of mine was a viable pursuit, but I started becoming who I wanted to be. The screenwriting program itself is the reason I got the chance to be a working writer, and I can’t thank them enough. I was lucky enough to make amazing friends, some of my closest, at SC—Nicole, Kathryn, Shayna, Jen L., Erin, Angela, Bayan, Morgan, Jen R., Tori, the Chez boys, Traddies, etc.—who made me begrudgingly better (and delightfully worse sometimes).

After college, I faced the terrifying prospect of an impossible career choice. Luckily, I had Benderspink at my back, especially my first manager, Christopher Cosmos, who encouraged me to write Red Queen. When I finished the first draft, he sent it along to New Leaf Literary, and set me on another life-changing path. I landed with the best in publishing: Pouya Shahbazian, who continues to guide RQ and me through the waters of the entertainment industry; Kathleen Ortiz, my passport to the world and the reason RQ continues to travel the globe; Jo Volpe, our fearless captain and wonderful friend; Danielle Barthel, Jaida Temperly, Jess Dallow, and Jackie Lindert, who tolerate my weird requests and are completely indispensable; Dave Caccavo, a fellow George Washington and USA soccer enthusiast, and I’m told he’s good at numbers; and sorry guys, I saved the best for last, Suzie Townsend continues to be my literary North Star. Red Queen is now a real book because of so many people, but especially her. She’s the push, pull, and pat on the head I’ll always need.

When Suzie called to tell me we had an offer on RQ, I told her I was driving and might crash into a tree. I did not crash, but I did accept the preempt from Kari Sutherland and HarperTeen. As my first editor, Kari held my hand on my journey into the larger publishing world, and turned a manuscript into a novel. I cannot express my unending gratitude to her, Alice Jerman, and the entire Harper team: our dauntless leader and editor-in-chief Kate Jackson; Jen Klonsky, appetizer extraordinaire and fantastic editorial director; production editors Alexandra Alexo and Melinda Weigel; copy editor Stephanie Evans, who wrangles my commas like no other; production manager Lillian Sun; design wizards Sarah Kaufman, Alison Klapthor, and Barb Fitzsimmons, along with cover artist Michael Frost, you’ve made a truly beautiful book; marketing team Christina Colangelo and Elizabeth Ward, putting RQ on the map; Emily Butler, Kara Brammer, and Madison Killen, for making me passable and comfortable on camera, not to mention in frame; the incomparable Gina Rizzo and Sandee Roston, the publicity team working around the clock to spread the world; Ashton Quinn, for sales and great support; the Epic Reads team, Margot and Aubry, who have shimmied their way into my cold heart; Elizabeth Lynch(pin), one of the hardest working people I know; and the joy that is Kristen Pettit, who bravely leads RQ and the rest of the series through its journey.

I won’t say it takes a village, because that’s overdone (but seriously, it takes a village). The rest of mine includes my entertainment team—all the troopers at Benderspink: the Jakes, JC, Daniel, the ever-wrangling David, and too many interns to thank. My lawyer Steve Younger, aka my West Coast dad. Sara Scott and Gennifer Hutchison, the warrior princesses hopefully bringing RQ to the big screen. And then there are the people I’ve never met in real life, who tweet and email and IM me through each day. Publishing and entertainment are very much alive on social media, and I’ve met so many inspiring and encouraging folks who welcomed me into the fold. Every author, blogger, writer, and fan is so valuable, and I thank you all for your words and support. Particularly Emma Theriault, my Canadian twin, reader, critic, and friend.

I’m a writer, and that means I mostly work alone, but I’m never truly that way. Thank you so much to everyone who stands by me and accepts my weirdness—Culver, Morgan and Jen especially, mindmeld Bayan, the arcane Erin, and #Angela, who never judge me (out loud). And my lifestyle staples that get me through the days—Jackson Market, the barista who never cares about my hobo clothing, Target, fall foliage, Pottery Barn, bookstores, yoga pants, tacky t-shirts, the National Parks System, the Patriots (both football and founding fathers), George R.R. Martin, and Wikipedia. I also have to thank the state of Montana, where I wrote chapter two and decided I was going all in on this book-writing thing.

I apologize for being so gushy, but I’m almost done. Once more to Morgan, my best friend and the kick in the pants I need and never want. I will continue leaving the hall light on. And again to my parents, Heather and Louis. They let me move home and focus on writing a book, which is crazy. They helped me go to an awesome but shockingly expensive university far away, which is crazy. They raised weirdo me into some semblance of a functioning human, which is crazy. And they continue to support, love, sacrifice, and take me down a peg, usually all at the same time. They got me to where I am, and enabled this book, this future, and this life to happen. Which is crazy.