A Spark Unseen

Acknowledgments

When I considered the acknowledgments for my debut novel it was very clear to me that no author writes a book alone. Now that I’ve completed my second novel, I realize just as clearly that no one publishes a book alone. Thank you, Scholastic Press. What an incredible team I’ve had behind me! Not only have you come together to make an amazing book, you’ve done your very best to turn this writer into an author and make me a part of your publishing family. Seriously, why are you people so nice?

For Lisa Sandell, my lovely, encouraging, gracious, and so very patient editor and friend: You’ve opened your office, your heart, and your home. Thank you for believing that I could do this!

For Sheila Marie Everett, my publicist: Everything’s better where you are!

For Elizabeth Starr Baer, Bess Braswell, Emma Brockaway, Jody Corbett, Antonio Gonzalez, Candace Greene, Emily Heddleson, Stacy Lellos, David Levithan, John Mason, Emily Morrow, Elizabeth Parisi, Lizette Serrano, Tracy van Straaten, Jennifer Ung, the fabulous Scholastic sales team, and all the people that have had a hand in getting both the book and myself where we’re going: many thanks. And also everyone in Book Clubs, Book Fairs, and the Foreign Rights department: I know you guys do a lot more than I will ever know. Thank you for being my champions.

For Kelly Sonnack, my agent: You know the combination of intelligence, savvy, humor, beauty, and being so darn good at your job is unfair to the rest of us, right?

For the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Midsouth Region: If the journey to publication is an upward climb, you gave me a ladder.

All my love and thanks to my writing partners, who continue to teach and hone me: Genetta Adair, Amy Eytchison, Rachel Griffith, Howard Shirley, Angelika Stegmann, Courtney Stevens, and Jessica Young. I would be nowhere without you. And also for Ruta Sepetys, who always manages to show me the way to being a better author and a better person: Thank you for blazing the trail!

For all my family: Your love, support, and enthusiasm have meant so much to me!

For my grandmother Betty Hill: Your résumé has been forwarded to the publicity department. Please watch for that, Sheila Marie.

For Christopher, Stephen, and Elizabeth: You guys would be horrified by all the motherly bragging I do about you while I’m on the road. Sorry about that. I probably won’t stop, though.

And for Philip, who has happily done more research, drawn more schematics, become my personal Internet cyber-stalker as well as a minor expert in the business of publishing, and who has dropped me off at more airports, and picked up more slack than anybody should have to. Seven years ago I got a crazy whim, and you are why each and every step toward fulfilling this dream has been possible. You are such a keeper!