Thank you to every English teacher I’ve ever had. Thanks for letting me hang out in your classrooms and talk about books, even when I was supposed to be somewhere else. Specific thanks to Dr. Johnson for being visible and making sure all the other black kids were, too.

To Jenni Walsh: For being my first substantial critique partner. For reading my really bad writing, somehow getting through it, and giving me important notes that I took with me when writing my next books. For letting me know it was okay to slow down, that I didn’t need a book by the time I was sixteen. For your guidance.

To Shveta: For your warmth. For listening to me complain about writing and everything that frustrated me about it. For sharing your knowledge and your own journey with me. For your words and your presence. For generally being great.

To Lana Wood Johnson, who said, “You won’t ever be the Oprah of daytime television. Or Shonda of nighttime TV. You’ll be the Camryn of…” I’ve been thinking about it ever since you said it, and I’ll continue to think about it long after this book is published. Thank you for saying it.

To my Wakanda Ladies: Adrienne, Elle, Angie, and Cara. Thank you for the safe space to complain about things only you-all would understand. Thank you for the guidance and for acting as honorary aunties. For paving the way for me.

To Mason, Cody, Ava: For letting me freak out over the smallest parts of the journey. For reading the book early on and falling in love with it. Thank you to Cody, for coming up with the title. For your encouragement and your excitement. For your advice. For your friendship.

To Courtney Milan: For your generosity. For giving me advice about things no one I know really understands. For taking it upon yourself to help me in ways no one (literally no one, at all) would expect you to. For looking at me, seeing I needed help, and saying, “Yeah, I’ll do this myself.” For being a resource and a person I could go to with questions. For your Twitter feed in general. Thank you.

To Nita: For being one of the best critique partners! For all the complaints we’ve shared about everything related to publishing. For sharing stories about your girls falling in love. For your soft, lyrical writing. For your friendship.

To Kaye: For your warm spirit. Your smiles and kindness shine through tweets, even back when they were only 140 characters long. Thank you for lifting me up before I thought I deserved it. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for consistently being such a lovely person. You are the best.