After years and years of working and waiting, Above World is finally out in there in the wild. I’m going to steal a page from my buddy Sarah Prineas and take this opportunity to post the book’s dedication and acknowledgements. Today is also Valentine’s Day, which is fitting since my heart is overflowing with love and gratitude. Thank you, my friends, for helping me make this dream a reality.
Dedication
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And for Stephanie, who frequently saves me
Acknowledgements
First of all, thanks to Stephanie Burgis and Christopher East. They read each chapter of Above World as I wrote it and made me keep going. They are both incredible writers, cheerleaders, and unconditional friends. Thanks also to Sarah Prineas and Greg van Eekhout for almost daily support and inspiration on a whole heap of levels. Great friends do more than help you with your book – they help you with your life.
Thanks to my agent, Joe Monti, for believing in me and this book, and for encouraging me to include even more martial arts. Thanks also to Barry Goldblatt for creating a family, not just an agency.
Thanks to Sarah Ketchersid, my wonderful editor, for loving the book even more than I did most days. Her insights made Above World the book I wanted it to be. The whole Candlewick team has my gratitude, including Liz Zembruski, Kathryn Cunningham, Rachel Smith, Hannah Mahoney, Maggie Deslaurier, Martha Dwyer, and everyone in sales and marketing.
I have some of the best friends in the world, and they give some of the best critiques. Thanks to Sally Felt, Michael Jasper, Samantha Ling, Eugene Myers, Tim Pratt, Erik Ratliff, and Shelley Stuart. Above World also went to the Blue Heaven novel workshop with Paolo Bacigalupi, Tobias Buckell, Sarah Castle, Deb Coates, Charles Coleman Finlay, Daryl Gregory, Sandra McDonald, Paul Melko, Sarah Prineas, Catherynne M. Valente, and Greg van Eekhout. These guys kept me from looking like an idiot (at least with regards to this book).
Thanks to my World of Warcraft guild. (Don’t laugh!) They’ve been with me on this journey from the beginning, particularly: Andrea, Andrew, Andy, Bill, Brenda, Danielle, Erin, Jamie, Leslie, Lisa, Mike, Mikiel, Paul, Rachel, Rob, Roe, Shelley, Steven, Tom, and Tommy.
Thanks to my martial arts family at White Lotus Kung Fu: Master Douglas Wong, Master Carrie Ogawa-Wong, Master Phil Jennings, and the rest of my brothers and sisters.
For all-around awesome advice, support, and friendship, I want to thank Christine Ashworth, Claudia Hoffman, Heather Shaw, and my buddies at SAGE and Cosmic Toast Studios.
And last, thanks to my family: Mom, Jeff, Jason, Maya, Griffin, and Cassell. I love you.
Congratulations Jenn!
And thank YOU for sharing your work with us, from beginning to end. I can’t believe this day is finally here!! :D Congratulations!
You is such a classy author. Proud to know ya. Happy release day!
Just opened my Kindle and there it is!!! So Awesome. <33333
Hooray! I can’t wait to read your book!
w00t!
Arrived this morning from Amazon. BEAUTIFUL!!!
Congratulations! Can’t wait to get a copy!
Congratulations. Waiting for my copy to arrive any day now!
WOOOOO!!!!!
I’m so happy for you, Jenn! The final product is beautiful and the work inside is grand :)
*sniff* Love you, honey! And oh, what a wonderful book…huge hugs!!!
I got an ARC through NetGallery and, though I haven’t yet gotten to writing a review of it, I just have to say I loved it and I can’t hope and wait for more :)
Oh, YAY!!! Thanks for stopping by to let me know. :-D
Wonderful, joyous congratulations, Jenn! It’s here at last, and it’s beautiful! :-) WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! :-)