• My editor, Nancy Paulsen, who’s amazing beyond all measure and description. Originally, I wrote Starfish as a young adult novel. Nancy said I should rewrite it for middle grade because, as a YA novel, those who’d been bullied about their weight would read it and think, “Yep. That happened to me. It was horrible.” But Nancy said if I rewrote Starfish as a middle-grade novel, I’d be able to reach kids while they’re being bullied. I could help them realize their worth and give them the courage and tools they needed to confront the bullies. And maybe, just maybe, Starfish would reach the bullies and get them to stop. Nancy. Is. A. Genius. Pure. Genius.

• Sara LaFleur, associate editor, for teaching me so much about the editing and copyediting process

• Ryan Sullivan, copy editor, for your much-appreciated eagle eyes and expertise on the novel

• Jacqueline Hornberger, copy editor and proofreader, for your help on the author’s note, acknowledgments, and first pass

• Cindy Howle, executive production editor, for making sure even the tiniest details were correct

• Designer Kelley Brady and Nancy Paulsen for so generously asking for my input on the cover at every stage of the process

• Illustrator Tara O’Brien, for her beautiful artwork. You totally captured the essence of not only Ellie, but also Gigi.

• Patricia Boardman, aka Peejer-Beejer, my junior high literature teacher and high school journalism teacher, who became my best friend, and who’s always been my number one cheerleader

• Princess Gigi Pugsley, who was the best pug in the whole world. I’ll never forget your love and antics. You saw me through some of the darkest days of my life. You were loyal and faithful to the end. Like Sonya Sones said when you crossed the Rainbow Bridge, “Gigi will live on in your heart and in your poems.”

• Joan C. Waghorn Pochon, former librarian at my elementary school, who always greeted me with a smile, recommended amazing books, asked my opinion about what I’d read, made me feel welcome, and helped me see libraries as a refuge from the world, especially when the bullying got to be too much—and to all the countless librarians around the world like her who make a difference every day

• Phil Montgomery, one of my favorite Texans, who gives life-changing great advice and counsel

• My writing critique groups in Texas and Indiana for the valuable input and encouragement—not to mention lots of laughter and friendship

• Indiana University for helping me translate English to Spanish

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lisa Fipps is a library marketing manager. Starfish is her debut novel. She lives in Kokomo, Indiana.

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