Scars Like Wings
Page 27
This book would not have been possible without the burn survivors who shared their stories—and scars—to help me tell this story.
Marius Woodward, you were my first inspiration, with your courage and humor and absolute knowledge that you are so much more than your scars. Thank you for being you. To Elizabeth Watson and Hope VanderToolen-Thatcher, you helped bring Ava to life by sharing your own pain and triumphs. Amy Farnsworth and Stephanie Nielson, thank you for reading and for being examples of strength to so many.
The joy, power, and beauty in the burn survivor community continues to overwhelm me. To all the survivors, whether you’re already soaring or still fighting the darkness, thank you. Keep flying.
Thank you also to all the organizations and people who support burn survivors every day and helped with my research, particularly Dr. Katherine Au at Shriners Hospitals for Children, Kristen C. Quinn at the University of Utah Burn Center, Kristen Black-Bain at Sugar House Rehab Clinic, Lynne Woodward, and everyone at the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors.
I am beyond grateful to my superstar agent, Brianne Johnson, for seeing the beauty in Ava’s story. You are the best agent/cheerleader/therapist a writer could have. Thank you also to Allie Levick for plucking me from the slush and Cecilia de la Campa for sharing my words with the world. To the amazing team at Delacorte Press, thank you for bringing this book to life. Wendy Loggia, your keen eye as my editor and your belief in this novel made all the difference. Thank you Jennifer Heuer for working to get the perfect cover for Ava, and to Colleen Fellingham and your team for your mad editing skills.
I am lucky to live among an outrageously talented and generous writing community. I started on this journey thanks to the time and love of Carol Lynch Williams and the WIFYR conference. I found my tribe at Storymakers. And of course, I couldn’t survive without the brilliant insights of my critique partners, Kim, LoriAnne, Cheryl, Michelle, and Matt, a wordsmith extraordinaire who turned my rough drafts into things of beauty. To the Knuckles critique group—Jaime, Brekke, Jessica, Crystal, and Taffy—you have the golden touch. Thank you to all my writer friends who read early drafts, particularly Shannon, Debbie, Lisa, and Rebekah.
To Atticus, thank you for loaning me a taste of your brief and beautiful poetry.
This book also would not have been possible without my people, the ones who never gave up on me as I pursued this dream.
Andrea Christensen, thank you for letting me live in your basement, where I wrote the first words of this story, and for being my friend through all the ups and downs of life. To Catherine Dunn, you are my forever writing buddy and the pride to my joy, or the joy to my pride, I can never remember which.
To my sisters, Katie and Jenny, you are my best friends and lifelong allies. To Don and Kathie Stewart, I’m grateful every day to have you in my corner. A huge hug to my backyardigan ladies, who help me raise my kids, babysit so I can write, and generally keep me sane. I’d be lost without you.
I wish I could sign a book for my grandparents Glendon and Bobette, who are undoubtedly tromping through heaven in cowboy boots, still cheering for me.
Thank you to my parents, Woody and Page Johnson, for raising me in a home with books and stories and imagination. You were always out there in the crowd—cameras ready—making me believe I could do and be anything.
To Ellie, Avery, and Cayden, a million thank-yous for being my biggest fans and for putting up with Mommy when I “zone out” during drafting or when we eat takeout for three weeks straight during revision. You’ve given me the time to pursue this dream, but know that you are the dream. You are each so kind, brave, and beautiful.
To my husband, Kyle: You had faith in me and in this book when it was just a bunch of random Post-it notes on the office wall. You believed in me even when I didn’t, and you loved me with all my flaws. None of this is possible without you.
Finally, I am forever grateful for a God who has given me more stars in the darkness than I deserve or could ever count.
Erin Stewart grew up in the woods of Virginia catching fireflies. She now makes her home in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains with her husband and their three children. Erin loves using her background in journalism to research and write fiction based on real life. A heart failure survivor and adoptive mother, she believes life throws plot twists and people in our path for a reason—always. Scars Like Wings is her debut novel.
erinstewartbooks.com
@Erin_N_Stewart
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