Текст книги "Immaculate"

Автор книги: Katelyn Detweiler

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 21 (всего у книги 21 страниц)

Acknowledgments

Even before I worked in publishing, I would always start a book by flipping through to the last page—not to take a peek at the ending (never!), but to read the acknowledgments first. I was curious about whom an author would thank, and how they would do so. Because a book is never born from just one person. It is shaped by so many hands—before, while, after the actual writing takes place. And now, better than ever, I appreciate just how true that really is. I am incredibly blessed to be surrounded by so much love, so much inspiration, and so much talent every single day of my life.

Jill Grinberg—my agent, my boss, my guide, my friend. I am eternally grateful that my path brought me to you and to JGLM. Thank you for believing in me as a writer and as an agent—and for always encouraging me to be both. Signing with you and your brilliant arsenal of authors was the day I first considered myself to be a writer.

Cheryl Pientka—my cheerleader from day one, there’s no one else I’d rather have championing my baby all around the globe. Thank you for the endless pep talks and the endless insights. I am so glad that you’re always just a shout across the office away.

Leila Sales—I feel tremendously lucky to have not just an exceptionally talented editor at my side, but an exceptionally talented writer to boot. You have a way of talking to the voices inside my head and making much more sense of them than I ever could. Thank you for being my Book Whisperer, and for making Immaculate everything that it is today. So glad we got that coffee.

To the entire Viking team—I am honored to be a part of your list. Thank you to each and every one of you for working your special magic. I know how much time and energy and passion goes into every single book, and I respect and value your efforts beyond measure.

Leslie York and Sarah Barley, my publishing wing girls—your wise words and your cheers from the sidelines helped transform a questionable rough draft into a living, breathing, viable creation. I will always be supremely grateful for your role in crafting Mina’s story.

Thank you to my OB/GYN experts, Dr. Anne d’Avenas and Dr. Molly McStravick, for making sure that I kept as much fact in the fiction as possible.

Thank you to the authors whom I’m lucky enough to work with firsthand—you motivate me every day to be a better writer.

Thank you to the amazing teachers along the way who convinced me that making a career out of reading and writing wasn’t just a silly pipe dream, and that I only had to keep reaching. Mr. Leskusky, Mr. Quatrani, Mr. McCaig—you made all the difference.

Thank you to Laura, Ashleigh, and Therese, my beautiful roommates who read and reread and let me hole away on Friday nights and sunny Saturdays. Thank you for keeping me sane—for being my home and my family in this crazy, magical city.

So many, many thanks to my childhood muses, my Hannahs and my Izzies, my lifelines who will always tie my heart back to Hoppenville. Melissa, Sarah and Amy, Kathy, Jenny, Betty, Christine Ellen, Mindy. You are part of my forever story. And thank you as well to the rest of my amazing early readers—Rob, Prinky, Rachel, Katie, Charlie. You are all the best friends and the best fans a girl could ask for.

Thank you to my family—the full clan of Detweilers and Noels—for encouraging my nuttiness over the years, and for always making me feel loved and supported (even during the more obnoxious phases). You are the ground beneath my feet.

Thank you to my dearest big brother Peter—I may have scrapped Mina’s brother from the story, but you are still here, on every single page. You are the co-author of my childhood. And Lauren—I feel lucky every day that life handed me a sister like you. (Your vast and inimitable expertise of YA is just a bonus, of course.)

Dad and Mom—it’s impossible to adequately express my appreciation when it comes to you two. There is such a never-ending flow of gratitude for the hope, reason, and inspiration you gift me with each and every day. Thank you, Denny, for always reminding me that it’s not what happens to us in life, but how we deal with what happens. Because this book is all about “dealing” with a quite unexpected happening, and how someone—how Mina—becomes better and braver because of that ultimate test of character. And Carebear, thank you for that moment all of those years ago, when I turned to you in the old van and asked yet another of my many obnoxious hypothetical questions to fill the time: Would you believe me if I said I was a pregnant virgin? You looked at me and smiled—and then you said yes. Your answer made me realize that this story was possible, that there is so much trust and hope and faith in this world, if we could only just keep our hearts and minds open wide.

Thank you, lastly, to all of the readers. To everyone who gives this story a chance, who pushes themselves to wonder—and maybe even believe—outside of the black and white lines. Thank you to those who dare to venture into the gray.

Thank you, because truly, you are my miracle.

Peter and Lauren Detweiler

Katelyn Detweiler (www.katelyndetweiler.com) was born and raised in Pennsylvania—in a small town much like Mina’s—living in a lovely centuries-old farmhouse surrounded by fields and woods. After graduating from Penn State University, she made the move to New York City, where she is a literary agent representing books for all ages and across all genres. Katelyn currently lives, works, and writes in Brooklyn. Follow her @katedetweiler.

Peter and Lauren Detweiler

Katelyn Detweiler (www.katelyndetweiler.com) was born and raised in Pennsylvania—in a small town much like Mina’s—living in a lovely centuries-old farmhouse surrounded by fields and woods. After graduating from Penn State University, she made the move to New York City, where she is a literary agent representing books for all ages and across all genres. Katelyn currently lives, works, and writes in Brooklyn. Follow her @katedetweiler.

Looking for more?

Visit Penguin.com for more about this author and a complete list of their books.

Discover your next great read!