House of Salt and Sorrows
Page 34
Shortly after my daughter was born, I set out to write House of Salt and Sorrows. Juggling a notebook and pen with a snuggly, sprawled-out baby might not seem like the best way to create a story, but my heart spills over with love whenever I remember those peaceful afternoons in her nursery. Grace, thank you for your patience and for being with me every step of this journey, from jotting down the first words to helping me drop my contract into the mailbox and pronouncing it “Good, good!” Watching your love of books, typewriters, and pink Post-its grow is truly one of my favorite things in life. I’m so proud to be your mama.
Sarah Landis, thank you for seeing something special in me and my words and knowing what on earth to do with them. You are amazing, and I’m so lucky to have you as my agent.
A huge wave of gratitude to Wendy Loggia, Audrey Ingerson, Alison Impey, Noreen Herits, Candy Gianetti, and everyone at Delacorte Press for your time and care with this book. Wendy, I’m still squealing with glee and am so darn grateful my book is in your capable hands. Fairy shoes for everyone!
I’d like to thank Jason Huebinger and #PitDark for such a wild whirlwind. I never thought one little tweet could change the world, but it certainly did mine.
To all of my dear family and friends, beta readers, and agency sibs—Jonathan Ealy, Sarah Squire, Sona Amroyan, Charlene Honeycutt, Maxine Gurr, Susan Booker, Scott Kennedy, Kaylan Brakora, Jenni Bagwell, Jeannie Hilderbrand, Kate Costello, Peter Diseth, Jeni Chappelle, Jennie K. Brown, Jessica Rubinkowski, Shelby Mahurin, Ron Walters, Meredith Tate, and Julie Abe: I couldn’t ask for a cooler group of people to go on this journey with! Your support and laughter mean everything to me. Thank you!
So much love and gratitude to Jessica Hahn, who taught me everything I know about the history of dress and design. I owe you so many sparkling ball gowns.
Hannah Whitten, you magnificent creature. I think you’ve read this book almost as many times as I have! I can’t imagine doing any of this without you—and furthermore, I wouldn’t want to. You are incredible, and I’m lucky to have you for a critique partner and friend!
To my sister, Tara Whipkey: you’ve been reading my stories for as long as I’ve been writing them. Thank you for afternoons racing around the log cabin, imagining we were mermaids or the Boxcar Children, for talking about my characters like they are real people, and for being the best sister a girl could ever ask for. You are a true joy, and I love you like crazy!
Paul, you are my always. Thank you for believing in me, for making me a tasty breakfast every morning, and for never believing me when I say we can go to a bookstore “just to look around.” I’m so blessed to have you for my husband and best friend.
This book would not exist without my parents, Cyndi and Bob Whipkey, who filled my childhood with Margie the Monkey, Anne of Green Gables, and all the girls from the Baby-Sitters Club. Thank you for every trip to the library, for endless batteries and flashlights to read under the covers with, and for never telling me my dreams were too big or wild. I love you so much.
Erin A. Craig has always loved telling stories. After getting her BFA in Theatre Design and Production from the University of Michigan, she stage managed tragic operas filled with hunchbacks, séances, and murderous clowns, then decided she wanted to write books that were just as spooky. An avid reader, decent quilter, rabid basketball fan, and collector of typewriters, Erin makes her home in Memphis with her husband and daughter.
erinacraig.com
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