Expanded thank-you’s for Dawn of Destiny
Husband: This guy. Seriously. When your husband says, “If you start to really work on your novel, you can quit your job,” you know you’ve got a keeper. Not only is he the best (and most honest) editor I have ever worked with, he’s been there for me through it all—the tantrums, the tears, and the pride that came along with this whole novel-writing business. This story would not be the same without his input and help, and I can never thank him enough. I love you more than you could ever imagine. Naing!
Son: When my (then) 7-year-old son said, “Mom, I want you to help me write a story for a strategy guide I’m making,” I couldn’t refuse. What you see here is the result of that little tiny kernel of an idea growing into a real-ass novel! Even though he drives me nuts sometimes and likes to wail on his drums while I’m trying to write, he’s my one-and-only baby and I couldn’t imagine life without him.
April Lewis: Without April’s encouragement, I would have never tried my hand at fanfiction all those years ago. (We can both blame a mutual affinity for a certain goofy-yet-loveable Estharian president for bringing us together.) She’s been the most incredible sounding board, editor, and friend, and I couldn’t have done this without her support and help.
Chris Lewis: Map maker of legend! He took my chicken-scratch examples and turned them into works of art! Never in my life could I ever have done what he’s done!
To my test readers, Quinn Fitzpatrick, April Lewis, and Philip Milbrath: THANK YOU. The feedback you all gave was incredible, and helped to give this book the extra little push it needed to be perfect. I know it’s a time-consuming endeavor to volunteer to read a long-ass book like this one, and I appreciate your time and effort so very, very much! Here’s hoping you’ll all want to do it again two more times to complete the trilogy!
Sean R. Frazier: All-around awesome guy, advice-giver extraordinaire, and the source of most of my twitter-related fits of uncontrollable laughter. He didn’t even tell me to shut up after I asked him 698,704,002 questions about self-publishing! Buy his books!
Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman: It was because of their book series, The Darksword Trilogy, that I got hooked on fantasy novels in the first place. Throughout my life, starting in my early teens, their books transported me into the most fantastic of realms, and put me on the motivational path to try my hand at my own original fiction someday.
More thanks to these fantastic people, who helped in one way or another with advice, encouragement, and friendship through this whole process. Robin Janney, Rob Nugent, and Katie Masters—go read their books! Much advice was received from these three, and I hope to someday be able to pay it forward to an aspiring writer looking for an ear to listen! Betsy Fong—starting waaaaaay back in my fanfic days, she was my go-to doctor friend who helped me hurt characters (and stay medically true!) And her knowledge was put to use in this book as well! Natali Heuss–best all-around amazeballs gal there is. You name it, she does it! She’s my web guru, and photoshop heroine. Andrea Shebesta—my best friend in the world. You got to read my book early (guess the secret’s out of the bag now, eh?) and the fact that you weren’t a fantasy reader and you loved it anyway meant the absolute world to me!
And last but not least, to all my friends and family who put up with all my shit for close to three years, read sample chapters, and endured all the necromancy talk—you guys deserve a freakin’ medal. (And now you all get to do it all again—two more times! *cue evil laughter*)
[[To everyone who reads this book. I hope you enjoyed it, and that you’ll be back for the next installment!]]