by Sam Maggs
But I didn’t write this novel alone! As always, I would be nowhere without my incredible agent, Maria Vicente, who had faith in my writing long before I did. It’s been wonderful to watch her career blossom, and I’m so grateful to have her as my partner on this weird and wild writing journey.
Con Quest! itself was brought to life with the advice and assistance of my brilliant editor Weslie Turner. Her enthusiasm for this project (and her deep love for Gen Con!) helped steer this book in the best possible direction. I’m so grateful for the patience, kindness, and guidance she showed me as a first-time novelist. I also owe a huge debt of gratitude to my original editor, Rhoda Belleza, who dreamed up Con Quest! and who took a chance on me as its writer. Go read her Empress of a Thousand Skies, because it rules!
Truly, the entire team at Imprint has been a dream to work with. Erin Stein and John Morgan, it’s been great to meet you … at cons. Ha! To them, and to managing editors Dawn Ryan and Hayley Jozwiak, production managers Raymond Ernesto Colón and Jie Yang, copy editor Kathleen Scheiner, and the rest of the Imprint team, thank you for all of your hard work and support over the last two and a half years. Thank you also to our ASD sensitivity reader, Lyn Miller-Lachmann, for your wonderful advice on bringing Alex to life (and your great LEGO knowledge!). And have you seen how cool this book looks?! Chris Danger and Natalie Sousa, you crushed it. Thank you for your time and your talent.
Con Quest! is based largely on my own experience competing in a massive, nerdy, world-wide scavenger hunt, so I must thank my ridiculous and amazing GISH team, the Trash Pandas: Andrea D., Emma L., Esti P., Kimberley B., Kristin L., Meg S., Rachel W., Sarah, Scott W., Stacey D., Mia S., Angela V., Erick B., Lisa J., and all of Stacey’s tarantulas. I still can’t believe Meg wore an all-vegetable cheerleader outfit in public. #blessed
There would be no book at all without the love and support of my best friends: my family (awwwwwwww, barf!!). My mom was my very first convention buddy, and our biannual trips to Gatecon are still my favorite trips in the world. I would (and do) fly across the world for her Slovak cabbage noodles. My dad made me a nerd to begin with, and I wouldn’t have this career had he not been willing to pull me out of school in the sixth grade to go see The Phantom Menace. (We’ll get you to San Diego, Dad … one day!). And my amazing, supportive, kind, nerdy husband(!): Blair made sure I ate and slept and generally survived the writing of this book and never once complained about my absurd work schedule. I love you all so much. The best geeks a gal could possibly ask for.
And to you, my reader! Embrace your wacky, your weird, your wonderful. I hope to see you at a con sometime soon!
About the Author
Sam Maggs is a bestselling writer of books, comics, and video games including Marvel Action: Captain Marvel, The Unstoppable Wasp: Built on Hope, Tell No Tales, and Marvel’s Spider-Man for the Playstation 4. Her work has taken her to comic book conventions all over the world. A Canadian in Los Angeles, she misses Coffee Crisp and bagged milk. Con Quest! is her debut middle-grade novel. Visit her online at sammaggs.com or @SamMaggs, or sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
1. Cat
2. Alex
3. Fi
4. Cat
5. Alex
6. Fi
7. Cat
8. Alex
9. Fi
10. Cat
11. Alex
12. Fi
13. Cat
14. Alex
15. Fi
16. Cat
17. Alex
18. Fi
19. Cat
20. Alex
21. Fi
22. Cat
23. Alex
24. Fi
25. Cat
26. Alex
27. Fi
28. Cat
Tips for Having An I-CON-ic Con Experience!
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Copyright
A part of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC
120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271
CON QUEST! Copyright © 2020 by Imprint. All rights reserved.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2019948845
ISBN 978-1-250-30727-9 (hardcover) / ISBN 978-1-250-30728-6 (ebook)
Our ebooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at [email protected].
Illustrations by Chris Danger
Imprint logo designed by Amanda Spielman
First edition, 2020
eISBN 978-1-250-30728-6
mackids.com
Whoever steals this book from me
Shall face a fate worse than death:
Forced to watch every cursed movie
On repeat ’til their last breath!