Lies Like Wildfire
Page 28
Thanks to an incredible show of spirit, 300 fire departments, operational areas, and protective districts from across the nation banded together and beat back the Kincade Fire, and no lives were lost. Against all the odds, they saved my town and my home from destruction. Once the county park reopened, I returned to the lake where I’d first imagined my story. The entire area was scorched black; everything around it had burned.
While Lies Like Wildfire does not feature first responders, they are the real heroes in the fight against wildfire, and that includes the inmate firefighting squads who also risk their lives. I’m forever grateful for their efforts! The emotional, physical, and financial details in the novel are drawn from residents’ experiences, and I want to thank the people of Sonoma County who shared their personal wildfire stories with me or with the media. Our community slogan became The love in the air is thicker than the smoke. #SonomaStrong
Though inspired by real-life events, please understand that Lies Like Wildfire is a work of fiction. This novel’s purpose is to entertain, but I hope it also educates about the dangers and traumatic aftereffects of wildfire. Thank you for reading!
Acknowledgments
I thoroughly enjoyed writing Lies Like Wildfire and want to thank the book’s first readers, two children’s book librarians—Sheila Nelson (my mom!) and Tiffany Bronzan. They were quick to read and give feedback and were quite helpful when I wrote eight different endings and sent them a new one each morning. I’m grateful for their unrelenting enthusiasm.
Special thanks to my second reader: my agent, Elizabeth Bewley. She instantly connected to Lies Like Wildfire and had ideas on how to improve the manuscript. With a talented and steady hand, she guided the book—and me—through the submission process to publishers. Since then, I’ve come to rely on her incredible eye for story and voice. I’ve been blessed with stellar support in this industry over the years, and I’m proud and pleased to add Elizabeth’s smart and thoughtful advocacy to my experiences.
I was thrilled when Wendy Loggia, Senior Executive Editor at Delacorte Press, acquired Lies Like Wildfire. The whole process was a whirlwind, and very exciting. Our first chat included everything from our love of dogs to our love of true crime and thrillers. I knew my book had found the best home, and as we dove into edits, that belief was confirmed. Thank you, Wendy, and Alison Romig, Editorial Assistant, for helping me uncover the story beneath the story. And much gratitude to Beverly Horowitz, VP and Publisher at Delacorte Press, for her quick and ongoing support.
Bravo to Casey Moses for designing the cover! She commissioned original artwork from an innovative, passionate artist named Mishko. The flame lettering is gorgeous and hypnotic on a background speckled with ashes. I love it! Much appreciation to Andrea Lau for using the cover’s design elements to craft a compelling interior with special features for the nixle alerts, texts, and press conferences. It’s a joy to see the work come to life.
Huge thanks to Carmen McCullough, Editorial Director at Penguin Random House Children’s Books, who acquired the book for the UK and sent me the most enthusiastic email! I am so excited for Lies Like Wildfire to publish overseas with such an amazing team.
Many more thanks to Szilvia Molnar, Foreign Rights Director, and Danielle Bukowski, Foreign Rights Manager, at Sterling Lord Literistic for their dedication to placing Lies Like Wildfire in foreign markets. Special gratitude to Pedro Almeida at Faro Editorial, who acquired the book for the Brazilian market. I cannot wait to read a Portuguese translation of the monster’s story. I won’t understand it, but that’s okay; I know how it ends.
I’m also thrilled to work with Berni Barta, agent at CAA. She’s so smart and creative and immediately had a strong vision for adapting Lies Like Wildfire to the screen.
Thank you to my fellow writers. No one gets this process like you do. When I’m freaking out over a plot hole, a terrible first draft, or monstrous self-doubt—you’ve got my back! Rather than miss anyone in this far-ranging group, I’ll thank the writers I speak with weekly: Natasha Yim, Shirin Yim Bridges, Robyn T. Murphy, Jennifer Gennari, Shells Legoullon, L. B. Schulman, Merriam Sarcia Saunders, and Nikki Garcia.
I am eternally grateful for my best girlfriends—you know who you are! You keep me connected to the real world, cheer me through my personal ups and downs, and join me for adventures. The writing life would be quite lonely without you.
And finally, thank you to my family. Sometimes you get the last piece of me, but the truth is, none of this means anything without you. I love you. Special gratitude to my husband, who encourages me through good times and bad. We all need someone who believes in us, especially when we don’t believe in ourselves. And last but not least, much love to the pets that inspire my animal characters. Thank you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jennifer Lynn Alvarez earned her B.A. in English Literature from the University of California, Berkeley. She is the author of two middle-grade fantasy series, The Guardian Herd and Riders of the Realm, and she’s the Sonoma County Coordinator for SCBWI. Jennifer also supports public libraries by volunteering for her county’s Library Advisory Board. Lies Like Wildfire is her debut young adult novel and her first thriller. Jennifer lives on a small ranch in Northern California with her family, horses, and more than her fair share of pets.
jenniferlynnalvarez.com
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