A huge thanks and shout-out to my wonderful editorial team at Alloy, spearheaded by Annie Stone, who I’ll dearly miss working with. Sara Shandler and Josh Bank, and all the people there who do wonders for my books.
I’ve got the pleasure of having a second lovely group of people championing my books at Harlequin Teen. T.S., who makes my books better, even if he loves hard shell tacos. Tashya, Siena and everyone at the NYC offices, as well as Bryn, Michelle, Lisa, Amy and all those I had the pleasure to meet in Toronto the summer while writing this book. Thank you so much for all you do, for the countless hours you work on my behalf.
To all champions of books: librarians, booksellers, reviewers, publicists, sales reps, book club members, a bunch of titles I’m forgetting. Twitter users, Goodreads reviewers, anyone who can’t contain their love of books, whether they’re mine or not. Thank you for making this world a more bookish place.
Thanks to my family, their love. You should know my brother Shay almost derailed my interest in cooking by getting me angry one of the only times in my life, but he taught me plenty and probably fueled my interest more than either of us knows. I owe a great deal of my understanding about the world of restaurants to him. Many of my cooking skills come from my mom, and I’m eternally grateful to all the times she let me be her sous, and all the times she’s returned the favor. My sister, who spent a rainy summer in Mexico City with me watching Top Chef, the show which made me jealous of people who can cook and made me want to try to myself. My dad eats everything I cook and says it could be served at a restaurant, so that’s pretty sweet. Also, for being my constant cheerleader, and for being a probably severely underpaid business manager. Cat, for being the best reader in my family and maybe my biggest fan. Moms don’t count.
To Laura, of course, and her love. Of me, my writing, travel, food, balconies, sleeping, all of it.
I’ve been so thankful to find a wealth of friends in the YA author community. I wish I knew you all better. There are so many opportunities in a profession like ours to be envious or jealous of talent and success, but you’re such lovely people that I can only ever be jealous when you are hanging out without me. Come visit me in Mexico City. I’ll feed you. Ask Eric Smith and Zoraida Cordova. Whom I want to specially thank for coming to hang out with me in my hometown and making a few days of writing that much better.
A few other friends who’ve helped in a variety of ways I could list but I’ll save the space to list them instead: Chris Russell, Maggie Vazquez, Josh Zoller, Dave Rueb, Amy Olson, Bret Sikkink, Leslie Barnheizer, Perri Devon-Sand, The Dongers Crew for the travels and the meals (Laura Fairbank, Greg Fairbank, Steph Polvere, and Mackenzie Day), Jason and Mary Cornwell-Wright, John Powell, Dan Godshall, Jorge Brake, Federico “Bugs not Rico” Hernandez, Dawn Ryan, Leah Kreitz, Gonzala Scaglia, Claire Tinley, John McGrath. G and Berky, I wasn’t going to forget you this time. I’m sorry for the other two. I understand if you still hate me.
My agent, Pete Knapp. Thanks for believing in my writing. I’m excited for all that’s to come.
Lastly, and probably most importantly, thank you to my readers. I get to do what I do because of you, but your tweets, emails, Instagram posts, reviews and general support make it that much sweeter. Seriously, thank you for reading.