Thirteen Reasons Why — 13 INSPIRATIONS

13 Inspirations

JOAN MARIE for saying, “I do,” and when I almost gave up because I thought

I’d never sell a book, for saying, “You will.”

ROBIN MELLOM & EVE PORINCHAK “The road to publication is like a churro—

long and bumpy, but sweet.”

You two made it sweet. (Disco Mermaids forever!)

MOM & DAD & NATE for encouraging my creative pursuits from the beginning… no matter how ridiculous.

LAURA RENNERT for saying, “I can sell this.”

KRISTEN PETTIT for saying, “Can I buy this?”

Your editorial guidance brought this book to a whole new level.

S.L.O.W. FOR CHILDREN

(my critique group) for being so critical…in a good way.

LIN OLIVER & STEPHEN MOOSER AT SCBWI for years of professional support and encouragement (the Work-In-Progress grant was nice, too).

ROXYANNE YOUNG AT SMART WRITERS.COM for believing in this book from the beginning

(the Grand Prize designation was nice, too).

KATHLEEN DUEY for mentoring me through the early stages of this creative pursuit.

CHRIS CRUTCHER for writing Stotan!, the first teen novel I ever read. and for encouraging me to finish this, the first teen novel I ever wrote.

KATE O’SULLIVAN Your excitement about this novel kept me excited about this novel.

THE LIBRARIANS & BOOKSELLERS OF SHERIDAN, WYOMING & SAN LUIS

OBISPO, CALIFORNIA Not just co-workers, but friends.

NANCY HURD The reason I wrote my first book…thirteen years ago.

“Thank You”