My critique partners, Giulia Skye and Vicky Tiseros, have been invaluable. I’m always amazed at how they pinpoint ways to improve my novels. I also really value our friendship, and I feel privileged to be on this writer journey with them. Thank you especially to Giulia who encouraged me to publish independently and answers all my publishing questions. I’m so glad I met you on the train to the RNA Conference in Leeds!

A special thanks to Linnea Sinclair and Gay Walley who taught me so much about writing and improved my writing craft exponentially. They are both gifted teachers—although now when I am editing, I hear their voices in my head: “Are the stakes high enough? Is she between a rock and a hard place? What does she feel?”

When I first thought I’d like to try to write a novel for real, I took the Penguin Writer’s Academy “Constructing a Novel” course, and I want to thank my teacher Bea Davenport, who said that the dialogue between Audrey and Eve was “sparky.” That made my month. She, along with my fellow students, first gave me hope that I could actually write commercial fiction—and not just legal briefs and compliance policies.

I also want to thank the Romantic Novelists’ Association and the published authors who volunteer their time to read manuscripts by unpublished writers like me in the New Writer’s Scheme and give such constructive feedback.

One of the best parts about this new career is meeting other writers. Thank you to Delphine (my partner in the querying trenches) and Evie Alexander for all the pep talks. I also love the camaraderie and supportive vibe of Anita Faulkner’s Chicklit & Prosecco Facebook group and the RNA’s RomCom Group. I’m always inspired by the critique group Word-Slingers-Plotters-and Pantsers, who helped me with my blurb and my first chapters and is a great group for bouncing ideas around. My #TBR pile is enormous, but I love reading all your books and celebrating your publishing successes!

A huge thanks to Heidi and Allison for helping me with the career details for music marketing executives and chefs, respectively. Any inaccuracies are mine.

And thanks to all my friends who read excerpts, brainstormed titles, commiserated about writing, suggested plot points etc.: Michelle, Tammy, Becky, Sharon, Matthew, Charlita, Seetha, Ketsia, Koethi, Seendy, Crystal, Mary, Caroline, Jennifer, Jenny, Annette, Suzanne, Kim, Saika, Anne, Mark, Minke, Richard, Elliot, Nisha, Ruth, Mr. Tony, Jen, Nupur, Lin, Jessica, and all my other friends who cheered me on.

Thank you to my book cover designer, Cover Ever After. I love my covers!

I also want to thank my editors Kathryn Craft, Rachel Lynn Solomon, Julie Mianecki and Emily Poole, all of whom improved this manuscript and taught me more about writing craft.

Thank you also to my blog and newsletter subscribers and to my ARC reader team. I’m so happy to be on a team with you.