I’ll have to put it right next to the future statue of Mary Kate Castellani, my fearless editor at Bloomsbury. I don’t know if I can put into words—hi, I’m a writer—how much I appreciate Mary Kate’s influence on my writing. Whenever I think something is good enough, she pushes me to make it better. When it’s better, she pushes me to make it the best. Mary Kate has a brilliant vision and always finds the story I didn’t know I was looking for. Thank you, Mary Kate, for everything.
Speaking of Bloomsbury, I’m going to need to build a statue for Cindy Loh, Claire Stetzer, Lizzy Mason, Courtney Griffin, Erica Barmash, Cristina Gilbert, Anna Bernard, Brittany Mitchell, Phoebe Dyer, Emily Ritter, Beth Eller, Melissa Kavonic, as well as Diane Aronson and the copyediting team—my yard is going to be really crowded, but it’s fine—and everyone else at Bloomsbury who had a hand in putting this book into your hands. I wish I knew everyone’s name so I could thank you all individually. Please know that my gratitude is endless, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your efforts on my behalf.
This book took a tremendous amount of research, from Harper’s cerebral palsy to Noah’s medical training to Grey’s skill at throwing a knife. Huge, tremendous thanks to Erin Kanner, my lifelong friend, for all her insight into cerebral palsy and what Harper could and could not do in a challenging situation. I think my favorite text exchange was when I said, “Could you leap off a galloping horse to tackle a guy, if you were trying to rescue someone?” and Erin wrote back enthusiastically, “I could!” Erin, I am so grateful for our years of friendship, and even though we’re forty (!!!) and living on opposite sides of the country now, I hope we get another chance to careen around on horses like we did when we were young. Just don’t tell Mike, because he’d worry.
Many thanks to my good friend Maegan Chaney-Bouis, MD, for insights into what Noah could do to piece Grey back together, as well as what he’d be able to do when he was stuck in Emberfall without the convenience of an ER. I owe you a drink. Bonefish Grill next weekend?
Additional thanks go to Claerie Kavanagh for doing an impressively thorough sensitivity read, and offering amazing suggestions for where I could add clarity about Harper’s CP and her abilities. I’m so glad we were able to work together. Your feedback was invaluable.
Holy cow. I’m on my fourth page and there are still people to thank. Deep breath!
SO MANY PEOPLE read early drafts (or later drafts) of this manuscript and gave me feedback and input and insights. I joke that I wrote 300,000 words of this book to get it into your hands, but that’s actually true. It might have been more. Special thanks to Bobbie Goettler, Nicole Choiniere-Kroeker, Joy George, Michelle MacWhirter, Alison Kemper Beard, Lee Bross, Shyla Stokes, Steph Messa, Sarah Fine, Tracy Houghton, Nicole Mooney, Sarah Maas, Jim Hilderbrandt, Jen Fisher, Anna Bright, Lea Nolan, Amy Martin, and Rae Chang. I couldn’t have gotten to this point without you all. Thank you.
Tremendous thanks to book bloggers and bookstagrammers and book vloggers. I appreciate everyone who takes the time to talk about my books on social media. I still remember the first bloggers who spread the word about my debut novel, and I won’t forget anyone since. Your support means everything to me. Thank you.
I also owe a debt of gratitude to Steve and Allison Horrigan at Stone Forge CrossFit. CrossFit helped me find a stress release I didn’t know I needed, and a confidence I didn’t realize I was lacking. I’m stronger and fitter than I ever thought possible, and I’ve met the most amazing community of people. When I say CrossFit changed my life, I mean that it literally changed my life. I’m a better person and a better writer because of it. Steve and Allison, thank you.
Finally, huge thanks to the Kemmerer boys, Jonathan, Nick, Sam, and not-such-a-Baby Zach. Thank you for being such wonderful boys, and for letting Mommy follow her dreams. I can’t wait to watch you soar as you follow your own.
BLOOMSBURY YA
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First published in the United States of America in January 2019 by Bloomsbury YA
Text copyright © 2019 by Brigid Kemmerer
Map copyright © 2019 by Kelly de Groot
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Kemmerer, Brigid, author.
Title: A curse so dark and lonely / by Brigid Kemmerer.
Description: New York : Bloomsbury, 2019.
Summary: Eighteen for the three hundred twenty-seventh time, Prince Rhen despairs of breaking the curse that turns him into a beast at the end of each season—until feisty Harper enters his life.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018010847 (print) | LCCN 2018017988 (e-book)
ISBN 978-1-68119-508-7 (hardcover) • ISBN 978-1-68119-509-4 (e-book) Subjects: | CYAC: Blessing and cursing—Fiction. | Magic—Fiction. | Cerebral palsy—Fiction. | People with disabilities—Fiction. | Fairy tales.
Classification: LCC PZ8.K374 Cur 2019 (print) | LCC PZ8.K374 (e-book) |
DDC [Fic]—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018010847
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