The Last Thing You Said

by Sara Biren

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  The Last Thing You Said is a book about grief, about healing, about love. The setting and elements of the book were inspired by the world around me, the places and things about Minnesota that I love best.

  Setting has always been important to me as a writer, and no place has been as inspiring to me as my home state. Minnesota’s landscapes are stunning, from the bluffs along the Mississippi River to the wide expanses of tallgrass prairie to the rocky shores of Lake Superior.

  Minnesota also has a rich and varied history, much of which is connected to its landscapes. My father grew up in Pipestone, Minnesota, near the Pipestone National Monument. For centuries, pipestone has been carved into pipes used for prayer, and the site of the historic pipestone quarries is considered sacred by many Native American tribes. My fascination with both Minnesota history and its natural elements began with my visits to Pipestone as a child.

  During my college years, I lived in Duluth, a city in northeastern Minnesota along Lake Superior. It was then that I became interested in the history of inuksuit, the stone structures of the Inuit. Although the Inuit are not native to the area, it is not uncommon to see rock structures or sculptures along the North Shore Scenic Highway, in parks throughout the city, or in art galleries. Area sculptors and other artists, musicians, and poets have found inspiration in inuksuit. A massive inuksuk, several feet tall, stands at the Split Rock River Wayside, the trailhead entrance to the Split Rock River Loop of the Superior Hiking Trail. The idea of stone markers as guideposts along life’s journey resonated with me, and came to mind when writing about the journey of grief in The Last Thing You Said.

  Like Ben, I’ve been collecting rocks for as long as I can remember—agates, stones from the shores of Lake Superior, gemstones, and minerals. I’ve spent hours searching for agates. I’ve studied the healing power and spiritual meaning of stones. At my desk, I keep a selenite crystal, said to deliver clarity, that fits in my palm and is worn smooth.

  I feel a great connection to the North Shore and the Brainerd Lakes area of Minnesota, and I returned to both places for inspiration many times while writing this book. I haven’t lived in Duluth for many years, but nothing soothes my soul more than the sound of Lake Superior waves crashing against the rocky shore. For me, nature holds healing power, and it was only natural that it would, too, for Ben and Lucy.

  I hope that someday you’ll have an opportunity to visit the Land of 10,000 Lakes, and that you’ll love it as much as I do. To learn more about Minnesota, including the history of the Ojibwe and Minnesota’s other Native American tribes, visit the Minnesota Historical Society’s website at mnhs.org.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I am so very grateful that my lifelong dream of having a book published has come true, and for the support, encouragement, and love from a vast number of people who have helped me along the way.

  A million thanks to my agent, Steven Chudney, who is equal parts hilarious and dedicated. You always know the right thing to say, and it usually makes me laugh. For that, and for loving this story, I will always be grateful.

  To my editor, Erica Finkel, who fell in love with these characters and their story, and worked so hard to make them the best they could be. Any time you’re ready to vacation at the lake, Minnesota and its sky-blue waters are here for you. To the team at Amulet, including jacket illustrator Sean Scheidt and book designer Alyssa Nassner, thank you for helping make this book so beautiful.

  Countless thanks to my critique partners and readers for your thoughtful notes, timeline charts, and endless support. Dawn Klehr, you’ve been with me from the beginning and I couldn’t have done this without you. Kari Marie White, thank you for write-ins, coffee, and your exquisite attention to detail. Erin L. Schneider, thank you for loving Ben and Lulu so much and for your keen observations. Thanks to the MNYA Writers, who saw very early sections of the book and are still cheering me on.

  Elodie Nowodazkij and Adrianne Russell, thank you for reading and for your boundless encouragement. Rebekah Faubion, thanks aren’t enough for your friendship and belief in me and this book. Stephanie Elliot, thank you for always being just a phone call away and for your amazing knowledge of soda brands (and pineapple).

  So many thanks to the young adult and middle-grade authors of the 2017 debut group. You are all amazing, wonderful people, and I’m so glad to be on this journey with you.

  Thank you to Linda Diaz, Sara Naegle, and Maris Ehlers for being my biggest fans, long before this novel even came to be. Your support and enthusiasm mean the world to me. And thank you, Maris, for my gorgeous headshots. You’re in a league of your own.

  I owe Chad Talbot a huge debt of gratitude for selling me an old laptop—cheap—when I was in desperate need. I wrote and revised many versions of this book on what’s affectionately known as “The Chad.” Thanks to DJ Hartley for giving me time and space when I needed it. And to Karen Carlson—I wish you were here to read this. I miss your laughter and your wit.

  I am so very grateful for the friendship and support of the UMD Gang over many years: Jacqueline Bonneville, LeeAnn Evans, Heather Green, Katie O’Dell, Jana Oman, Jody Rittmiller, and Teresa Robinson. My life has been infinitely better with all of you in it.

  Huge thanks to Jeff Evans for your incomparable fishing knowledge and your willingness to answer all my questions, no matter how basic.

  To my siblings, nieces and nephews, and in-laws—thank you for believing in me and cheering me on. Thank you to my parents, Ted and Terry Biren, for being the first people to support my dream of becoming an author, and for sending me to writing workshops and summer camps and graduate school. Mom, thank you for being my biggest cheerleader. And Dad, I wish you were here to see my novel on the bookstore shelf. I miss you every day.

  Thanks to my writing instructors: first, Joseph Maiolo at UMD, who said I had “the gift.” You were a bright light in my world, I learned so much from you, and you are missed. Thanks also to MSU’s Richard Robbins and Roger Sheffer, and especially Terry Davis, who encouraged me to write YA.

  My children have never known a time when their mom wasn’t writing or on deadline for one thing or another. Thank you, Jude and Halen, for thinking it’s cool that your mom is a writer, and for your constant love, hugs, and encouragement. Hold on tight to your dreams.

  And all of my deepest gratitude and love to my favorite: my best friend and husband, Troy, who has never once faltered in his belief in me. You are an inspiration to me every single day.

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