Kristin Rens, thank you for slogging through this book with me and for your patience when I was struggling most. You may claim working on this book wasn’t as painful for you as for me, but I know it wasn’t easy. Having an editor who works so hard and is thoughtful, responsive, and kind is a blessing beyond belief. Many thanks also go to Kelsey Murphy, who makes sure all sorts of things run smoothly and does an outstanding job stepping in when Kristin is out of the office. Michelle Taormina and Jacob Eisinger—how do you keep giving me such incredible covers? Thank you from the bottom of my heart. The whole team at Balzer + Bray is one I’m lucky to work with. I’m so grateful to Audrey Diestelkamp and Caroline Sun and their teams for their contributions and support as my manuscripts travel through the cube maze that is book publishing.
Without my critique partners, I would be sobbing into a drink somewhere instead of having two finished books to my name. Elizabeth Briggs, you are a first-class mentor and friend, and I’m forever grateful that Pitch Wars brought us together. The ending of this book would still be a hot mess if not for your input and wisdom. Ben Chiles, thank you for your boundless encouragement and genuine friendship no matter how much our daily lives get in the way of staying caught up. Helen Wiley, thank you for being my primary plot wizard, reader, and rereader, always willing to lend a hand when I’m in a panic. You’ve saved me more times than you know. When your book is published someday, I can’t wait to cheer you on and support you with the same steadfastness you’ve always offered me. Kali Wallace, thank you for being the source of logic, common sense, and reminders not to overwork myself, even if I don’t always listen. Thank you also for your helpful plot suggestions, which mostly involve murder or finding dead things in the woods. Your thoughtful comments and careful consideration as a reader make you a wonderful critique partner, and it doesn’t hurt that I’m always disgustingly eager to read whatever you’re working on. #WallaceTrashForever
Paula Garner, what am I even supposed to say? It’s still not clear to me how or why we met, connected like we did, and built the friendship we have, but it’s one of the few things in my life that make me believe in some kind of higher power. You’ve immeasurably improved every book of mine you’ve read and critiqued, and you always leave me in awe of your diligence and talent as a writer. I may be the one who saved you from falling into the Willamette, but you’re the one who regularly saves me from drowning in my own life. When I’m sad, you make me laugh. When I’m upset, you comfort me. When we have hard conversations or disagree, you always listen and respond with honesty and respect. When I procrastigloom, you’re there with a swift kick to the ass. And when we write together, we make the most incredible magic. Never leave me!
A massive debt of gratitude is owed to the sensitivity readers who gave me thoughtful criticism of a number of aspects of Inkmistress. Dahlia Adler, thank you for your careful eye and wise notes regarding bisexuality. Vee Signorelli and Tiff Ferentini, I’m so grateful for the insightful comments you provided regarding the representation of genderfluid characters. Lastly, though I don’t know your name, thank you to the moon and back to the reader who gave me their perspective on the black characters in Inkmistress. Your feedback was delivered matter-of-factly and generously, even when I had screwed up in ways that were hurtful. Your patience as I struggled to get things right was deeply appreciated. My representation of black characters in this book may not be perfect, but it is a damn sight better because of you.
Thank you to my day job keepers of sanity, Allison Saft, Katie Stout, and Elisha Walker. Without you as members of my team, I might have collapsed into a heap of overwork years ago, never to emerge again. I am so grateful for the way our team supports each other through both good and bad times. Go Team Awesome! Speaking of coworkers, Gretchen Flicker, for someone who doesn’t write novels, you’re awfully good at plot and character motivation. Thank you for your help making the boar king who he is today, for the loan of your convection oven when I was in the mood for basque cake, and for the splendid visits to the central coast.
Thank you also to the Sweet Sixteens and the Class of 2k16, groups in which I found some wonderful friends and critique partners. Many thanks also to the Fight Me Club, who are an ongoing source of discussion, education, and righteous ass kicking. Yay YA and Team Briggs are also places I can always go for support and advice—thank you to all members for your generosity and helpfulness.
And where would I be without fellow writers? Thank you, Traci Chee, Jessica Cluess, Corinne Duyvis, Mercedes Lackey, Rebecca Leach, Malinda Lo, Jessica Love, Adriana Mather, Mary McCoy, Kathryn Rose, Gretchen Schreiber, Rachel Searles, Amy Tintera, and members of the Austin Java Writing Company. Events, blurbs, meetups, swag, moral support, getaways, plot ideas, or commiseration—you have me covered. I’m lucky to know all of you and am deeply grateful for our friendship or acquaintanceship as the case may be.
And of course a big thanks is owed to the blogging community—you played a huge role in the success of Of Fire and Stars and you were also some of the first Inkmistress enthusiasts. Thank you for doing all kinds of hard work purely out of love for books and reading. Your passion is a joy to behold, and authors are lucky to have you as cheerleaders.
And finally, there are no words large enough to sum up my appreciation of my sweet wife, Casi Clarkson. You are always so supportive and encouraging, and I’m grateful for the many times you’ve recommended my book to others. You also took on many heavy burdens and accepted being essentially widowed for a year while I wrote Inkmistress. Without you, this book never would have come to be. Thank you for making it possible and for loving me along the way.