Chapters (45)
To my devoted mom, thank you, as always, for reading early drafts, pet care, tea making, and barn shuttle services—and most of all, for putting your own life on hold so I could give this novel my uninterrupted attention. You are my ballast.
Thanks are also due to my wonderful agent, Kevan Lyon, who was a crucial sounding board when I first conjured up the idea of the Crinoline Academy. To my endlessly patient editor, Sarah Blumenstock, whose enthusiasm inspires me so much. And to Liz Sellers, Yazmine Hassan, Anika Bates, Lynsey Griswold, Christine Legon, Marianne Grace, Lisa Davis, Sierra Machado, Rita Frangie Batour, Kelly Wagner, and the rest of the stellar team at Berkley / Penguin Random House who work tirelessly to get my books in front of readers.
A huge thank-you to my critique partner and friend, Isabel Ibañez , whose feedback was invaluable in getting Effie and Gabriel exactly where I needed them to be. Thank you, as well, to Alissa, Sandy, and Flora, who read early parts of this novel and offered such heartening words.
Additional thanks to Rel Mollet for her friendship and grace, and for taking charge of things so I can write. To historian and friend Jacqueline Bannerjee for research help on the St. Giles District Board of Works (and for all her kind words and encouragement). To the amazing and always supportive Lyonesses—I’m so honored to be one of you. To my little brother, Joe, for putting his black belt in jujitsu to good use by helping me choreograph a fight scene. And to my spectacular readers for sticking with me and my stories all these years, even that one time I threw in a Victorian vampire.
Last but never least, much love to my animal family—Stella, Tavi, Bijou, and Asteria. And to my own little black poodle, Jet, who served as the inspiration for Franc, all the way down to his occasional fearsomeness and the joyful quiver of his pom-pom tail. I never believed life could truly be better with a poodle, but it is—it is!
Rules for Ruin
Mimi Matthews
