This novel was the result of that pressure, but also the unleashing of an imagination that I had pushed away for years because I thought imagining was not something grown-up people did. For too long I ignored it, despised it, and let it manifest itself in other, unproductive ways. When I wrote the Queen of Hearts series, and in particular Blood of Wonderland, I let it flow out through every pore. I let it consume me. That is why we have trees that know, that is why there are giant stone cranes and curling blue smoke that takes you to the stars. To the readers out there, I hope you hear that imagination isn’t just reserved for our fleeting childhoods. It is essential to our hearts.
With that being said, another truth I learned is that had it not been for some incredible people (and lots of coffee consumption), I may not have made it through the Queen of Hearts series.
So, please accept my deepest gratitude and thanks to the kindhearted people who made this novel happen. You have the soul of the Yurkei with the determination of the line of Hearts.
Ryan Oakes, for his endless feedback, support, and the sheer power of his belief in this novel—thank you for your unflagging love, your creative mind, and your amusing nerd knowledge; I’ll never stop needing it.
For Maine . . . I wrote this book when you were nothing more than the brightest dream. Now that you’re here, I know that even my imagination couldn’t fathom something as awesome as you are.
Tricia McCulley and Ron and Denise McCulley, thanks for always coming to the book signings and pretending like it’s the first one in all of history. I feel it’s important to note here that my own father is a very nice man who has never tried to kill me, not once.
Cynthia McCulley, getting to be your sister never gets old. Thanks for agreeing to be a horse.
To my village, my beloved people who help my writing process by just being their superb selves: Kimberly Stein, Katie Hall, Nicole London, Butch and Lynette Oakes, Karen Groves, Emily Kiebel, Sarah Glover, Cassandra Splittgerber, Elizabeth Wagner, Erin Burt, Amanda Sanders, Katie Blumhorst, Erin Chan, and the entire group hug that is RSLC.
For the beta readers who helped sculpt Queen into something very unique and special—Michelle Rehme, Erika Bates (equestrian fact-checker), Jen Lehmann, Patty and Sarah Jones, Angela Turner, Holly Cameron, and Stefanie Feustal—thank you. I wish I could take you on a tour of the wood you helped build. We (probably) wouldn’t die.
This book and all the Queen novels have passed through the hands of more than a few skilled editors: Erin Armknecht, Jeni Miller, Jess Riley, and Wayne Parrish, who prepared it for the devoted PR team at Sparkpress: Crystal Patriarche, Heidi Hurst, Sara Divello.
To Emilia Rhodes, my editor at HarperTeen, whose skilled and merciless brain is only matched by her generous smile—thank you for putting faith in a book that thought its run complete and giving it a completely new life. I have been dazzled by what you and your team can do. I’m so thankful that Queen found her forever home at HarperCollins.
To Jen Unter, my agent, who was making deals for me before I was even her client, thank you for your dedication, your straightforward nature, and your patience. “Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”
To the team at HarperCollins: Jenna Stempel, for a cover that makes me happy every time I look at it, and Reuben Ireland, for the images of Dinah that have come to define her character as much as I have; Gina Rizzo, such a cool chick and such an incredible publicist, and Elizabeth Ward, who is so kind even when she’s telling me to be better at Twitter; Alice Jerman, for additional editing and proofing, Jennifer Klonsky, and Jon Howard.
For all the Bookstagrammers who have posted such beautiful pictures of Queen of Hearts and now Blood of Wonderland—you’re my favorite thing.
Thank you finally to a God who promises not a comfortable life but a grace-fueled, fulfilling one. I’m almost halfway through my journey here and I think I’m finally starting to understand the difference.