Frosted Kisses
Page 21
There’s pudding in my shoes and my borrowed coveralls are puddled around my ankles and I can feel my ponytail, stiff with pudding, slapping against my back with each step, but this is without a doubt the best day ever.
Thank you to Erin Murphy, my wonderful agent. I’m so grateful for your honesty, your kindness, and your willingness to plow through my first drafts. My gratitude to Jody Corbett at Scholastic is too big for this small space. Thank you for your time, for your thoughts, and for your deadlines. This story is far better than it would have been without you. And thank you to everyone at Erin Murphy Literary Agency and Scholastic for believing in this story. I’d also like to thank Anna Swenson of Scholastic Book Fairs and Ann Marie Wong of Scholastic Book Clubs for being so enthusiastic. And Ellen Duda for her beautiful artwork and vision for the cover.
Thank you to my mom and Kymberly McCuistion, who read my early drafts and encouraged me to keep digging even when I thought I wasn’t getting anywhere.
My final thanks go to Harrison. I wrote this book for you. Even if it isn’t at all what you’d choose to read. There are no dragons or robots or epic battles. There isn’t even one explosion (unless you count the fireworks). So, I thank you for countless dinners of tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, and for being my biggest fan but also my most honest critic.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)
Heather Hepler grew up an avid reader. In fourth grade, she was sent to the hall for reading instead of paying attention in class. She was almost kicked off her Little League team for hiding a novel in her glove when she was supposed to be playing right field. And more than once she missed her bus stop because she was too busy reading. And even though she’s grown up now, not much has changed.
Heather is the author of several novels, including The Cupcake Queen and Love? Maybe. She currently resides in Tyler, Texas, with her son and their very spoiled pets. She can be found online at www.heatherhepler.com.
Also by Heather Hepler
The Cupcake Queen
Love? Maybe.
Copyright © 2015 by Heather Hepler
All rights reserved. Published by Point, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., Publishers since 1920. SCHOLASTIC, POINT, and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc.
The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Hepler, Heather, author.
Frosted kisses / Heather Hepler.—First edition.
pages cm
Sequel to: The cupcake queen.
Summary: After her parents’ separation Penny and her mother moved from New York City to Hog’s Hollow—now, six months later, Penny is still coping with the dynamics of her new situation, including possible boyfriends, enemies at school, and getting swept up in her best friend Tally’s campaign to raise money to save the local animal shelter.
ISBN 978-0-545-79055-0
1. Money-making projects for children—Juvenile fiction. 2. Animal shelters—Juvenile fiction. 3. Best friends—Juvenile fiction. 4. Mothers and daughters—Juvenile fiction. 5. Dating (Social customs)—Juvenile fiction. 6. Schools—Juvenile fiction. [1. Fund raising—Fiction. 2. Animal shelters—Fiction. 3. Best friends—Fiction. 4. Friendship—Fiction. 5. Divorce—Fiction. 6. Dating (Social customs)—Fiction. 7. Schools—Fiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.H4127Fr 2015
813.6—dc23
[Fic]
2015001396
First edition, November 2015
Cover photography © 2015 by Michael Frost
Cover design and illustrations by Ellen Duda
e-ISBN 978-0-545-79059-8
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher. For information regarding permission, write to Scholastic Inc., Attention: Permissions Department, 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012.