The Break-Up Artist

Acknowledgments

This may be the closest I get to an Oscars acceptance speech, so I better make it count!

Thank you to Becky Vinter for believing in The Break-Up Artist from day one and getting it into the right hands. And thank you to my fantastic editor Annie Stone, whose excitement over Becca & co. never wavered and who took this story from good to great. Not bad for a couple of newbies.

I am so grateful that my book landed with the awesome Harlequin TEEN team. This has been a dream experience. Thank you to Kathleen Oudit and her team for designing such a striking, unique cover. And the marketing and PR team of Lisa Wray, Amy Jones, Mary Sheldon and Melissa Anthony for spreading the word. Also thank you to the sales team, who worked hard to get The Break-Up Artist onto shelves.

I couldn’t have made it this far without the help and guidance of other writers. Thank you to my ragtag writer’s group of poets, essayists and graphic novelists for whipping this book into shape and always being honest: Jen Daniels, Eric Bjorlin, Sondra Morin, Matt Hieggelke, Jodie Aranas and Emily Johnson. Thank you to Brian Taylor for always believing in my writing, even when I didn’t; to Michelle Krys and the OneFour KidLit group for connecting me with a rich network of other authors; and to the YA Valentines for the long, long email chains filled with virtual chocolate and words of semiwisdom.

I have to thank my family for always being in my corner; and Miss Julia, who’s turned out to be my good-luck charm, oddly enough.

And finally, a special thank-you to Mike. You kept telling me I could do it, so I did it!