The Tour

by Shelby Rebecca

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  If you enjoyed this book, don’t forget to add your review to Amazon or Goodreads. When you do, be sure to email me at shelbyrebecca_author@yahoo.com and I’ll send a personal email to thank you.

  Thank you for helping to support Indie authors by letting others know what you think. To help spread the word, you can loan this book and tell your friends! Take care and keep in touch.

  Acknowledgments

  To my family, especially John and Elise, thank you for your patience with me while I’m writing, and when my characters are in my head and I don’t hear what you’re saying until you say it twice. We’ve been through so much during the time I was writing this manuscript. Our lives changed forever; we became stronger. It sucks when life tests your resolve, and we had multiple tests. I think we passed with flying colors. I love you, and recognize the sacrifices you’ve had to make while I live my passion—writing. Now, let’s buy a cabin in the woods and never come out unless we have to.

  I have to thank my blogger peeps. Debra Presley and especially, Paula Agnes at The Book Enthusiast Promotions, Jennifer at Read and Share Book Reviews, and T London from Crystal’s Many Reviewers, who connected with me after I’d published my debut, Sadie’s Mountain. All three of you have been my cheerleaders, waving me toward a finished book. It means so much to get an email or pm from you guys asking how I am, reassuring me that I can write. That everything’s going to be okay. Telling me you can’t wait to read it. It helps; all of it. So thank you.

  Realistic writing is not a solitary process. It takes reaching out to others for support when you need an expert. I had the extreme luck to meet Rudy Pariss from Season three of The Voice at one of his shows. The timing couldn’t have been better, as I’d just started writing The Stage, about a singing competition show. He was able to explain the process for trying out, how the show is shot, and the order that things are taped—or even small details like how an earpiece feels when it’s molded to your ear. He’s a talented man with a new album coming out. I hope his good will toward me will be paid back ten-fold.

  I also have the extreme luck to have a brother who’s a helicopter pilot. I knew Kolton wouldn’t fly commercially after what happened to him, so I reached out to my little brother, Joe Davis, and he walked me through a flying lesson over the phone. It’s such a cool process, especially the positive exchange of controls. I thought it was so symbolic of Kolton learning to let go, and Mia learning to trust again. So thank you, Poes. You’re the best.

  To my beta readers: Paula Agnes, Trenda London, Cara Olson, Deborah Tucci, Leigh Ann Christy, and Renee Hicks, your input has been vital in the process toward making this story the best in can be. I know I’ve pestered you all with questions, and I appreciate all of your help.

  To my editor Juli Valenti of Juli’s Elite Editing, I think we make a great team. I see you like a sculptor, taking my design and removing the unnecessary words and helping me say what I’d meant to say. It takes talent to do. I’m so glad to work with you again.

  To my cover designer, Kari Ayasha at Cover to Cover Designs, I love how you take my thoughts and make it an even better reality. You’re so talented, and I’m proud to have your work adorning my book.

  To my proof reader, Marlene Engle at Book Mama Blog. Thank you for working so hard to help me reach my deadline. I love that you help me by finding those little oops! moments. Thank you so much.

  I wanted to thank Lisa Watmough from Rock Wat Designs. She’s a rocker at survivor and a rock star at heart, and so talented. I know my readers are going to love your key chains. Amazing job you did!

  Thank you to all the talented and successful authors who’ve answered all my questions, from cover art, formatting, and marketing. There’s one important thing I’ve learned during this last year, and that is, even though we run our own—well, everything from writing to publication and marketing—we Indie authors aren’t really doing this alone. Thank you to all the authors over at Club Indie for taking me under their wing and answering all of my questions—even helping me through those low moments when I think I’m making the wrong choices, or when I’m obsessing about things I can’t control. You all teach me to just keep doing what I love—writing.

  And to my readers, thank you for taking a chance on my writing and trusting me to take you on this journey. The Tour is the final book in The Phoenix Rising series. At some point, I would like to come back to Kolton and Mia and write their wedding as a novella. But first, I’m starting a new book, and have a few others planned before I revisit Mia when she’s old enough to get married. Thank you so much. A book is nothing without a reader, so I wouldn’t do this without knowing you’d be on the other end reading it and caring about my characters like I do. I promise you, their story is not over. We’ll all get our happily ever after.

  Thank you so much.