by Zoe Norman
Thank you N.A. Alcorn—another author big sister. You noticed our talent for writing together early on and have been a great resource for us. We are forever grateful for your words of encouragement and blueprint for getting us started in indie writing. Our love of writing, The Neighbourhood, 2:06, and the fact that you're a fellow Sinner will keep us bonded. Seriously. Right now.
Thank you to S.C. Stephens who has served as an inspiration to us as well. Our homage to Pete's Bar and the D-Bags is evident of your work and its effect on us. Thank you for your consent to using the references in Rescue Breathing and for your words of encouragement as we set out on this crazy adventure.
To our editor, Michelle Kampmeier, you are a godsend. You beat us up with your edits, but we deserved it. You took a chance on a new writing team and we hope that the end product makes you proud to be a part of it. We know without a hesitation that you have taught us more in two weeks then we could imagine possible. Your words of encouragement, gentle nudges to help us see a chapter/paragraph/sentence differently and calling us out on or over use of words has been invaluable. Thank you.
Thank you Robin Harper and Wicked by Design for saving us. When things fell through elsewhere, you rescued us and made room for our project on your already busy schedule. You put our minds at ease with your very first email and we knew right away that you would take care of us. We love the cover and look forward to working with you again very soon!
Thank you Anna Coy for being our second set of eyes before we hit “submit.” Thank you for taking a fresh look at the manuscript and for your valuable feedback.
Thank you to Karen Phillips at White Hot Ebook Formatting for your patience and understanding. After a few delays, we finally got our book to you for formatting and you turned our dream into a reality.
Thank you to Between the Sheets Promotions and Michelle Carroll for your hard work. You've helped to create the buzz to get Rescue Breathing off on the right foot and in front of the right people.
A PERSONAL NOTE FROM STEPHANIE
It's easy when you're life is full to not attend to that little voice in your mind. For me, that little voice spoke up whenever I'd be reading a particularly good book. It would mumble in my ear when emotions were evoked in me, when a certain passage would send a tear down my cheek, when a grin would spread across my face at a particularly funny line. What did the little voice tell me? It told me to write. It told me to reach outside the box I was so comfortable in. That voice has been whispering to me for a very long time, and finally, just about a year ago, I started listening. And so it began…
Heidi- I honestly don't know how to start this thank you. Is there enough paper? Enough words? I think not! I don't know how I found you…what cosmic force put you in my life when it did...but my God am I thankful for it. Your friendship has been one that most times I feel I probably don't deserve, don't reciprocate enough. But you always make me feel like it is. You accept my crazy schedule, my constant life interruptions without so much as a frown. I can't thank you enough for that. All our late night writing sessions, our chats on the phone that last hours, our fantasy vacation plans. Thank you for being my friend, thank you for taking this chance with me, this leap of faith. There is no one in the world I would rather be doing this with, and I am eternally grateful for your friendship every day.
To my family - How do you thank you family properly? How do you quantify the support and love they give you? I'm not sure but I'm going to try.
To my husband Jason, for finally coming around and realizing this might be more than my pipe dream. For being accepting of my friend and our crazy dreams, no matter how ridiculous they were. For having to endure me never knowing what's going on, on the show we're watching because I'm furiously typing. For countless bedtimes and bath times, with the kids that you took over. I love you.
And, for my beautiful, amazing, angels, Kyla and Maddie. My sweet, sweet, girls. Thank God for you. You won't get this now, but the joy you bring me every day is something I could never measure. You are both my sunshines and I love you to the moon and back.
To my parents and my sister - Thank you so much for supporting me on this project from day one. I was so scared to tell you about this crazy idea, but you didn't hesitate in jumping in and backing me up. Mom, thank you so much for reading our book. The fact that you loved it meant the world to me...
A PERSONAL NOTE FROM HEIDI
Who would have thought it? If you were to have told me a year ago that I would have co-authored a book and have it published, I would have called you crazy. Yet, here I am. Writing has become an outlet for me to express my thoughts, dreams, fears and love. All that expression has a cost, but the growing pains and getting completely real and vulnerable with myself have been the biggest benefit. It's been a life lesson and I continue to reap its benefits.
Stephanie, you have changed my life in ways that are immeasurable. We met in an unconventional way and from opposite corners of the United States (2907.1 miles to be exact), but you have become my soul sister, confidant, cheerleader and best friend. You have made my life richer, fuller, more vibrant and at least two times happier for being a part of it. I am my true self with you and there is such freedom in that. Thank you for your encouragement and your understanding, your hard work and talent and most of all, your friendship. Writing with you has been such a joy and I have enjoyed the all ups and downs of this process with you. Buckle your seatbelt, Sunshine. This ride is far from over.
To Jason and the girls, thank you for sharing your wife and mother with me as we pursue our dream together. I can't guarantee I'll be giving her back any time soon though. She's become a permanent fixture for me.
To Dad, Mom, Shana and Wade, thank you for your support and love. Although I kept this project under wraps for quite some time, you have embraced it and supported me in it. Your words of encouragement have more effect than you can possibly imagine. Thank you. A special thank you too, to Craig for being a sounding board for plausible storyline ideas and for serving as my technical advisor for all things fire company related. There are more books to come and I'll be calling on you again. You've been forewarned.
To those of you who have made it through our first novel—all the way to the acknowledgements—how could we forget to include you? Thank you for taking a chance on us. Thank you for hopefully loving Owen and Olivia as much as we do. And hang in there—their story isn't finished yet!