Текст книги "Finding Me "

Автор книги: Mariah Dietz

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Текущая страница: 19 (всего у книги 19 страниц)

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“I love the person I’ve become, because I fought to become her.”

-Kaci Diane

I’m probably going to get sappy because although this ride is far from over, having this chapter come to an end truly makes me feel nostalgic.

There is someone that has walked this long journey with me, and that is Lisa Greenwood. I met her online as a beta reader and rambled my way into her life where she will forever remain a main character. She is my friend, my sister, my honesty, my strength, and my biggest encourager. She holds my hand when I’m scared, and shoves me when I’m being wimpy. She comforts me when I’m sad, and smacks me when I’m being whiney. I love you, I love you, I love you.

Terri Peterson, what can I say to my Terri. Your love for Max and Ace STUNNED me. I consider you my first fan because you didn’t know me at all when you told me you loved them. You simply loved them, and that was what introduced us to our friendship. You’re one of the most loving and caring people I know, and also the most loyal. Your friendship is one that I cherish, and I am so grateful for all of your time, love, creativity, but most of all: your friendship. You are such a beautiful story.

Katie Ross!!!! Girl you know I love you. I really, truly do. Your love for books and the indie community is inspiring! You were one of the first people to take a chance on me, and you introduced me to so many people and ideas. Your ingenuity keeps me on my toes, but it’s your heart and humor that made me fall so hard for you.

Katherine Mazur, you are such a breath of fresh air. I have loved getting to know you, and look forward to many more shared experiences! Thank you for all of your support and your friendship.

Jenna Chianello I am so glad these books introduced us! I adore you so much and can't explain how very much I appreciate all that you do, and really look forward to sharing more of this craziness in my head with you.

Jessica Frider, the way that you believe in me makes me feel like anything is possible. Thank you for always being so generous with your words and heart. You are one of the strongest women than I know. I honor and respect you for continuing to always see the good.

The amazing ladies at The Review Loft, Stephanie Powell and her awesome team at Night and Day Book Blog, and Becca and Candy with Prisoners of Print who have given me so much love and excitement for all that is to come. StephanieDeLamanter Phillips with Stephanie’s Book Reports for being one of the sweetest and kindest people and taking a chance on Ace and Max. Becca Manuel with Becca the Bibliophile for being so crazy talented and loving. Yolanda Ann with The Art of Romance, Tabitha and Gia with Amazeballs Book Addicts, Kristin with a A Beatiful Book Blog, Jen, Jodie, and Kim with Lustful Literature, Stephanie with Mean Girls Luv Books, Michele with Hooked on Books, Renee and Brianna with Renee Entress’s Blog, Jodie with Jodie’s W.I.N.E List, Becca and Candy with Prisoners of Print, Vera with Vera is Reading, Lisa Marie with Risque Affair Book Blog—you ladies took a chance on me and I can not thank you enough. With so many amazing books and authors out there, you guys chose to read and support each of my books from the beginning, and I will always, always, ALWAYS appreciate that. You ladies are my friends, and I can’t wait to meet each of you and hug the crap out of you!

The Bosse Babes. If you love Ace and Max and aren’t a part of this awesome group, get on FB and look it up. These women are everything.

The Book Broads. You know who you are. I flove you ladies. Thank you for creating a safe and supportive area where I never have to worry about which hat I’m wearing.

Tammi Lea Ahmen, , Jenn Wood, Mariah Rice, Lucy Mae Enderby, Mary Garner, and the rest of you amazing women, THANK YOU. Thank you so much for all that do you, and for all of your continued love and support.

Susan Reeves Kleist, Jenna Chianello, Shell Williams, Courtney Kay, Terri Peterson, Katie Ross, Katie Mazur, Jessica Frider, and Lisa Greenwood, you ladies have given me so much support and recommended me to so many readers. Each time I see you refer my books to someone I am blown away. When I started this, the prospect of having anyone read my books seemed like the impossible, and you amazing ladies have given me the strength and confidence to create so many more stories. Without you all, this dream may have died. You all have provided me with a support system that has truly allowed me to reach my goal of making someone feel something while reading my books. Regardless of what happens now, this will always be my first and foremost greatest achievement as an author.

For each of my books I change up my beta team. Perhaps this is crazy, but for me it seems like a practical decision so that people don’t become too close to me and fear potentially hurting my feelings by telling me something in my book sucks. This round my awesome team of ladies was Christy Peckham, Stephanie Powell, Katie Ross, Terri Peterson, Samantha Lloyd, Katie Mazur, and Lisa Greenwood. Thank you for your honesty, scrutiny, time, and love.

Max Dobson, my fearless editor. You have taught me so much, and I know that at times that was really sucky for you since English and Creative Writing is not what I went to school for. I thank you for your continued patience, expertise, and kindness.

Murphy Rae with Indie Solutions by Murphy Rae, you are amazing! Thank you for losing your free time and creating such a gorgeous cover! You were such a lifesaver, and did it with such grace, professionalism, and awesomeness that I will never be able to say enough wonderful things about you. I never would have guessed after meeting you at the release of Maybe Someday by your awesome sister, that I would be working with you. It was an absolute pleasure, and I look forward to more!

Mary and the rest of the ladies at Love Between the Sheets, thank you so much for all of your help and doing such an awesome job of hosting things! I so much appreciate everything you have done.

A special thank you to my family. These books took a lot out of me at times. I lived their pain, and shared some of mine with them. There were times that I felt emotionally drained and lost in a fictional world. Thank you for your patience and love, and for supporting me while I shared myself and time with these characters. This includes you, Sarah Pinkerton, because you are forever a member of my family. I love you so much and can’t thank you enough for all that you do.

And to everyone that has taken this journey with me. THANK YOU!!! Thank you so much for reading these stories and sharing them with your friends! It means the world to me. Each time I receive a kind message, my heart swells with love.

We all feel lost at some point, and sometimes we’re much older than twenty or twenty-one when we do, and that’s okay. Remember, defy convention and find your own path.

Wow. Wow! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate each and every one of you for taking this journey with me. I started writing these books over two years ago on my cell phone because these characters kept talking to me, sharing their story with me. It wasn’t until I had bits and pieces from the second and third, the first one complete, and the end finished that I realized this was something I truly wanted to share. I named it a series rather than a trilogy because like many of you, I fell in love with the supporting characters, and I plan to write additional books thatiwill have them as lead characters.

I feel like these characters are my family. Ace and Kendall are my sisters. And Max is my beau, though I know he will always be Ace’s. I fell in love with them and all of you while completing their story.

I was often asked when book one was published: What inspired you to write Becoming His? I couldn’t really answer it without giving everything away, so I will take the opportunity to do it now. Death has always been one of my top fears. I’ve never dealt well with it. When my husband and I met with a lawyer to construct a will when I was pregnant with our first son, I cried a lot.

When my son was one, my father suffered a heart attack. Thankfully, he was okay and has been since, but my fears changed from the prospect of death, to not being able to protect him and show him all of the beauty life holds.

Then my second son was born, and this book began. It was funny, romantic, sweet, but I didn’t know where it was going until my husband’s grandfather fell ill, and then his grandmother, two people that I am so proud and thankful to call family. It seemed to awaken that fear of death I’ve had for as long as I can remember, and through Ace, I faced that fear by realizing that fearing it does nothing but prohibit living.

Life is a gift and love is what makes every day so damn special. That love is not always a romantic one. Sometimes it’s the love for a child, a parent, friend, grandparent, cousin, but, you must remember that as important as it is to love others, it is just as important to love and accept yourself. We are all flawed. We are all broken. We are all beautifully imperfect. That is what makes us all unique and special, and in the grand scheme of things, that is what allows us to love.

Appreciate your strengths, take notice of your own beauty, believe in yourself, and no matter what—don’t give up.

Mariah Dietz lives in Eastern Washington, with her husband and two sons that are the axis of her crazy and wonderful world.

Mariah grew up in a tiny town outside of Portland, Oregon, where she spent the majority of her time immersed in the pages of books that she both read and created.

She has a love for all things that include her sons, good coffee, books, travel, and dark chocolate. She also has a deep passion for the stories she writes, and hopes readers enjoy the journeys she takes them on, as much as she loves creating them.

Learn more about Mariah at:

http://www.mariahdietz.com/

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, printed, transmitted, downloaded, distributed, stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical. Please do not participate or encourage piracy in any capacity.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination, or are used factiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Cover Design © Murphy Rae, Indie Solutions by Murphy Rae

Cover Photo © odd-add, and © Iravgustin

http://www.murphyrae.net

[email protected]

Edited by Max Dobson, The Polished-Pen

http://www.polished-pen.com/

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