On a Slippery Slope
Page 12
Erin and James, thank you for understanding when Mom needed these “little breaks,” and, as always, for your unconditional love, your teen-culture expertise, and your excitement in watching Hannah grow along with you.
Snowboarder extraordinaire, Clare Bennett Gibbs, and Gary Hubley, expert of all things alpine-sports-related, I am forever grateful to you both for your helpful insights and expertise.
The staff at The Agenda with Steve Paikin, thank you for helping with some of the TV terminology!
Teaghan, thank you for your advice, and for being one of my biggest fans! I am so happy that you have been part of this super fun adventure.
Tom, Mom, and Dad, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your unwavering support and love.
Shelley Hartling, thank you for your help and for being amazing. Your love for Hannah warms my heart.
Evan Munday and Courtney Horner, I squealed with joy when I saw this cover! Thank you for totally capturing the spirit of the book! You nailed it.
Shannon Whibbs, how can I begin to thank you? You have understood me, encouraged me, laughed at me, corrected me, and believed in me since the very beginning. You are a dream-come-true editor, and I’m so proud to call you mine.
And finally, Kirk Howard and all the other amazingly talented people at Dundurn Press, especially Karen McMullin, Carrie Gleason, Synora Van Drine, and Margaret Bryant, thank you all for your tireless efforts in helping Hannah Smart reach kids everywhere!
Available Soon
Coming in Fall 2016, Hannah Smart is In Over Her Head! Here’s a sneak peek!
“Hannah, come on in,” Phillip says, pointing toward a chair. “Sit down. I’ve got something to discuss with you.
I look at him questioningly and plunk myself down in the armchair across from him.
“I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but lately I’ve been looking into some exciting projects outside of the news.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Okay …”
“I’ve always wanted to try my hand at reality TV.”
“What? You mean like Big Brother or like The Real Housewives of …”
“No, no, no.” Phillip laughs. “Nothing like that. Think adventure, Hannah!” He looks off into the distance, spreading his hands out in front of him.
“Adventure?”
“How would you like to be part of a treasure-hunting reality show? We could tie it into your Friday segments, but instead of filming in the station, you would be doing check-ins while on location.”
“So, by location do you mean, like, on some tropical island where I’d be searching for pirates’ treasure?” Wow, that would be exciting!
Phillip’s eyes crinkle at the corners as he laughs heartily. “No, you’d be like on a boat searching for sunken treasure under the sea.”
“Under the sea?” I gulp and shift uncomfortably in my chair.
“Yes, under the sea.”
“Um …”
FYI — I hate water! Believe it or not, I just learned how to swim last summer, and only because my parents forced me to. I’ve been afraid of pools, lakes, rivers, oceans … pretty much any body of water (I don’t even really like bathtubs) since a near-drowning incident. When I was five years old I stupidly decided it would be great idea to do a running leap into the deep end of a swimming pool. It was a really hot day, and I had been eyeing this huge whale floaty in the pool that was staring back at me, like he was almost daring me to jump on. A minute or so into our “stare down” I was suddenly filled with all the courage and determination in the world. I was gonna do it! I figured that if I built up enough speed by running across the pool deck, I could jump on that whale’s back and he would take me zooming expertly across to the shallow end, where I would hop off, triumphant. In that utterly magnificent moment, I would throw my hands in the air and then bow and blow kisses to the cheering crowd, who would be wildly applauding after witnessing such an amazing feat of bravery. Of course, I missed the whale altogether and immediately sank. Thank god, my mom was watching and was able to jump in and save me. Anyway, point being — I HATE WATER!
“Hannah …” Phillip wags his finger. “‘Um’ … is not the answer I was expecting from my brave, adventure-chasing, take-life-by-the horns Hannah Smart! This is the chance of a lifetime. Probably one of the most exciting things you will ever do! Imagine, being out there on the open sea, with an entire crew of professionally trained treasure hunters! Haven’t you always been fascinated by sunken treasure, Hannah?”
“Um …”
“Hannah! I’m surprised that you are not more excited about this!”
“It’s just that I’m not much of a boat person.”
“Well, maybe you’ll be more of a boat person when I tell you who else is coming along.”
“Who?” I can’t imagine a single person who would make me feel like more of a boat person.
Phillip grins. “Your good friend, A.J., actually.”
“What?”
“Oh, and a young lady around your age.” Phillip says, his smile broadening. “She’s quite an accomplished sailor, from what I’ve heard.”
I have a sick feeling in my stomach.
“I believe she used to live in your house. I think her name is … Piper?”
My sick feeling was right. “Piper … fine,” I say grimly. “Count me in.”
Copyright © Melody Fitzpatrick, 2016
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise (except for brief passages for purposes of review) without the prior permission of Dundurn Press. Permission to photocopy should be requested from Access Copyright.
All characters in this work are fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Editor: Shannon Whibbs Design: Laura Boyle
Cover Design: Courtney Horner
Cover Illustration © Evan Munday
Epub Design: Carmen Giraudy
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Fitzpatrick, Melody, author
On a slippery slope / Melody Fitzpatrick.
(Hannah Smart)
Issued in print and electronic formats. ISBN 978-1-4597-3157-8 (paperback).--ISBN 978-1-4597-3158-5 (pdf).-- ISBN 978-1-4597-3159-2 (epub)
I. Title.
PS8611.I8925O53 2016 jC813'.6 C2015-905333-1
C2015-905334-X
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council for our publishing program. We also acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund and Livres Canada Books, and the Government of Ontario through the Ontario Book Publishing Tax Credit and the Ontario Media Development Corporation.
Care has been taken to trace the ownership of copyright material used in this book. The author and the publisher welcome any information enabling them to rectify any references or credits in subsequent editions.
J. Kirk Howard, President
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