Heart Shaped Rock
Page 25
Acknowledgments
First and foremost, thank you, Dear Reader, for reading this book. It means the world to me to get to share it with you. Although my story is fiction, it is rooted in truth. As a cancer survivor with a loving husband and two beautiful kids who mean everything to me, all I had to do to create this story was think “what if?”—and it poured out of me. All along the way, I rooted for little Shay-Shay’s happy ending, even though I wasn’t always sure how she’d get there. For anyone reading this, especially those who’ve lost a loved one, I root for your happy ending, too.
Thank you so much to all my cheerleaders and first beta readers. In particular, big thanks to my husband, Brad, with whom I share my own real-life love story, for your words of encouragement and belief in me, always. Thank you to my two daughters, Sophie and Chloe. Each of you inspired important aspects of Shaynee and Lennox, and you’re not even mad at me for it. When you two girls read this book, and cried over it, and understood why it mattered so much to me, and told me it mattered just as much to you, too, you gave me more confidence and inspiration than you can ever know. Thank you. I love you, forever and always.
To my dearest sister-in-law, Colleeny: Thank you so much. I squealed when you texted me while reading to say you were crying and laughing and swooning and loving it. Baby Cuz (David), your unwavering support of all of my creative endeavors gives me more confidence than I can ever put into words. And, by the way, your loving heart and adorable face and “sick beats” definitely provided a large chunk of the inspiration for sweet Lennox.
To Dad, thank you for believing in me unconditionally; for reading every draft, willingly; and for always telling me I’m great. Sometimes, I just need to hear that. You’re the best, Pops.
Thank you Lauren Coleman, Matthew Embree, Hunter Levy, Jennifer Argenti, Phillip Peterson, and Wesley Switzer for your indispensable contributions to the music for Heart Shaped Rock.
Thank you to the fabulously talented author, Jasinda Wilder, for your early support and enthusiastic encouragement. You rock. Your masterful writing is an inspiration to me.
Thank you, Alicia Street for your wonderful proofing and editing.
Thank you also to my agents, Jill Marr and Kevin Cleary, for believing in me always, and for encouraging me to keep going, no matter what. I am honored to work with you and call you my friends. Now, let’s make a movie, shall we?
A special thanks to everyone involved with “Kindle Love Stories”: the energetic and optimistic fans who swoon over a good love story like I do; the fabulously talented authors I’ve had the honor of meeting and interviewing (many of whom have generously shared their invaluable experiences and wisdom with me); and also the wonderful people behind the scenes who put the show together every week. Were it not for the incredible experience of hosting this fantastic show, I wouldn’t have sat down to write Heart Shaped Rock. In particular, a big thank you to Amy Michaels for reading my first book Rocking the Pink (non-fiction) and telling me, “Girl, you should write fiction!” and to Laura Hoffman, my coincidental namesake, who’s been nothing but encouraging of me at every turn. And finally, as always, thank you to my grandmother, yet another Laura Hoffman (this time, not coincidentally, since I am your namesake, after all), for inspiring me to be a writer.
Again, thank you, reader, for reading my book. It means so much to me to share my first work of fiction with you.
About the Author
Laura Roppé is an award-winning singer-songwriter, audiobook narrator, and author, as well as the host of Amazon’s weekly podcast and webcast, “Kindle Love Stories.” In her hometown of San Diego, California, Laura regularly performs cover tunes with her popular party/dance band, Cool Band Luke, and she also writes and performs original music, too. Laura’s song, “Float Away,” from her debut album, Girl Like This, won song of the year honors at the Los Angeles Music Awards in 2009; and following release of her sophomore album, I’m Still Here, Laura was ranked number five on Billboard Magazine’s 2011 year-end countdown of the top emerging indie artists in the world. Her music videos for “I’m Still Here” and “George Clooney,” both written during Laura’s cancer treatments, garnered YouTube awards and have become fan favorites. Laura’s personal favorite is the music video for her song, “Little Daughter,” featuring her own two daughters, Sophie and Chloe.
Before Heart Shaped Rock, Laura released her first book, the non-fiction memoir, Rocking the Pink: Finding Myself on the Other Side of Cancer, which details her journey from childhood dreamer to valet parker to corporate attorney to cancer survivor to (self-proclaimed) rock star, and her epic love story along the way. Here’s what people have said about Rocking the Pink:
“Gripping, funny, creative and courageous.” —Jack Black, Actor
“It’s inspirational, authentic and incredibly humorous. She’s not only a survivor, she’s a thriver. Rock on, Laura, rock on!” —Robin Roberts, Co-anchor, Good Morning America
“Rocking the Pink is a funny, raw, soul-joltingly joyful, effing Freebird of a memoir. It made me laugh out loud and ache in all the right places. Whatever excuse you have for not latching onto life, this book strips it away. Whoever’s telling you that you can't be the rock star you were born to be, this book makes a liar out of them.” —Joni Rodgers, New York Times best-selling author of Bald in the Land of Big Hair and The Hurricane Lover
“Rocking the Pink is compelling, romantic, funny, sad, smart, and most of all, the truth.” —Mark Hudson, Grammy-winning producer/songwriter for Aerosmith, Ringo Starr, Ozzy Osbourne
Want to connect with Laura Roppé?
Here are some links to help you do it:
Website: www.LauraRoppe.com
(see pictures and sign up for Laura’s newsletter)
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/LauraRoppe
(follow Laura’s crazy adventures)
Twitter: www.twitter.com/LauraRoppe (@lauraroppe)
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Epilogue
The Music of Heart Shaped Rock
Acknowledgments
About the Author