I’m grateful to my agent, Andrea Cascardi, who took a chance on me, who makes my books better, and who was (and still is) always there to talk me through this crazy publishing process. To Entangled Publishing and Erin Molta, my editor, for believing this story was worth publishing and for every single suggestion that made this story what it is.

Thanks to my parents for always supporting me. Always. And my mother for painstakingly proofreading what I write before I send it to industry professionals.

To countless family and friends who read my early work and provided support along my writing journey, especially Jessica, Anne, Ashlie, Misty, Ashtin, Beth, Anna, Abby—I rely on your feedback and I’m indebted to you. To Mariah, for letting me steal several random things you said in clinic for this book. You’re my favorite. The wonderful providers and nurses I work with every day who inspire me, and many of whom are found within these chapters. Mandi, I still miss you and I haven’t quite forgiven you for moving. Thanks to Ashley Manning for making sure I didn’t make any glaring mistakes regarding a person going through law school (and if I still did, the fault is mine), and Alison Slotterback for fact-checking Kansas City bits (also, your name is spelled wrong).

Thanks to Rachelle Gardner, Lauren Smith, Barb Crews, and Hayley Elliott for their advice and support. To Carmen Falcone and Christine Glover, the editors I hired after I wrote my first novel—thank you for not laughing at me and for being the first to give invaluable advice that I carried on to write this one. Amy Harmon, who is one of my favorite authors and a kind, kind person who took the time to give me advice on writing from the heart.

It may sound silly, but thank you Twitter, for pitch events like #PitMad and for the #writingcommunity where I’ve met thousands of other weirdos like me who write stories about their imaginary friends. You’re my people. #TeamCarly, the #NaNoWriMo18 group who, more than a year later, still keep in touch and support one another—I’ll always be thankful.

I couldn’t have done this without my husband, who takes the kids so I can have time to write, and doesn’t complain when I hide away in the dark, writing almost every (okay every) evening after the kids are in bed. You are in every hero I’ll ever write. Finally, I’m forever thankful to God for the gifts of creativity and perseverance, both of which were required for this dream to become a reality. I hope He’s pleased.

About the Author

About the Author