I would like to thank Matt Stawicki for his beautiful cover art, Kenneth May for saying such nice things about my first-ever map, and G-Force Design, Dora Mak, Paula Greenberg, and Jackson Typesetting for the incredible quality of this book. Josh, you’re my hero. Marsha Jones? You might be free of questions about contracts and e-pirates, but not of me. Thank you for your help, friendship, and your kindness to my Poppa.
Speaking of family . . .
Thank you, Scott, for your help developing the Ansnan culture and names. And for making us so proud and happy, always. Thank you, Steph, for your encouragement all along. We’re proud of you too. Poppa, thank you for listening to, well, everything.
Roger? Whenever I looked too far ahead and doubted, because every so often I did, you’d cue Wisp’s theme on the big speakers, pour me a glass of my favorite wine, and say: “You’re having fun writing this. Nothing else matters.” For that, even more than your wonderful photographs that brought Marrowdell to life for me and for cheerfully missing holidays and doing extra so I could keep writing, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Always.
This book started with someone. It’s fitting it end with that person too. A few years ago our daughter, Jennifer Lynn, told me she’d enjoy having her name used for a character in one of my books. I said I would, but only if she read “her” story before anyone else. What began as a private mother/daughter notion grew to a true collaboration. Jennifer read every scene, most of them multiple times. She gave me feedback on plot, character, and pacing. (For Xmas, she gave me the stupendous house toad you see in my photo.) We consulted on cover sketches and copy, on every detail imaginable. When Jennifer reached the final page of A Turn of Light while sitting in an outdoor café in Thailand, she stopped a rather mystified pair of tourists to take her picture as she read. Why? To send to me, then and there, so I could share the moment.
Jennifer? It’s been a privilege sharing it all. There was always to be a happy ending. Because of you, every word of this story has been filled with joy.
However Far We Are Apart,
Keep Us Close.
A Turn of Light Page 90