House of Bastiion (The Haidren Legacy, Book 1)
Page 39
During the months leading up to the release of House of Bastiion, Team Haidren developed into, simply put, a sundry clan of randos. Most vital to this dynamic group were my Betas. The patience these people exhibit is beyond impressive, constantly receiving revision after revision from the author. Their sheer tolerance for my neuroticism is astounding. My beta readers offered House of Bastiion what I could not – perspective. Not only were they pivotal identifiers of underlying issues blind to my eye, they reminded me why I treasure this world so dearly. Through their developmental reading, I was gifted the opportunity to laugh with them, love with them, cry with them. No longer was I alone inside Orynthia, speaking in tongues to myself. I cherished every email and every text. These wonderfully passionate beta readers became the first fans of Luscia and Zaethan’s story and now, are forever etched into its chronicle. Thank you, my friends, a million times over. Thank you for undertaking this adventure by my side.
Prior to my amazing editor, Lauren Smulski, House of Bastiion was a radiant labyrinth of over-used words, missed opportunities, and tedious worldbuilding. The truth of that statement is proven by this very segment, which she did not touch. While this book is my brainchild, Lauren is her cool aunt, courtside at every paragraph. She took my world, too big for my hands alone, and polished it in ways I never thought to implement. House of Bastiion only shines because Lauren brought the elbow grease to the table. When I was tired and spent, she breathed new life into the manuscript. Her talent, taste, and moxie were exactly what this book needed. Thank you, Lauren, for accepting me as a client. For choosing to say “yes” to that overly excited and fairly awkward debut author. Thank you for welcoming her excessive emails and digesting each one with care. I knew from the moment we connected you were the only person I wanted touching House of Bastiion, and the reasons are evident on every page. So buckle up, Buttercup – we’re playing the long game now.
Launching a book entails much more than simply writing it. In a way, that’s the easy part. Because once the manuscript leaves my desk, a pipeline of creatives contribute to the trying voyage toward publication, escorting the book out of my hands and across the ether, into your own. Thank you to Fiona Jayde, my astonishingly talented cover artist, who crafted jaw-droppingly beautiful concept art. Fiona took my ramblings and compressed them into a gem. A book is judged by its cover, and I certainly hope I did this cover justice. Thank you to Joseph Jacobson, who, inspired by that artwork, brought it to life on the screen. Joseph interpreted my vision and animated it, making it both fuller and brighter than my own imaginings. Imaginings that centered around a single melody. A huge thanks to Fleurie and Tommee Profitt for permitting us to use the same song I’d listened to while writing House of Bastiion, making it the very anthem of her release.
Thank you to Mary Toth, our ingenious illustrator, who gave character to each apothic element, accessible for online reference. It is only with Mary’s skill that I was able to offer readers a mobile world outside these pages. Through her artistry and re-illustration of the Orynthian map, she provided me an arsenal to build a digital playground. Thank you to Brent Spears, who compiled my words and formatted them into the edition you read now. With his help to package the manuscript, this book was made ready for the masses, freeing Luscia and Zaethan from their PDF prison. And to the woman who captured my socially presentable side, big thanks to Megan Sanchez, for ensuring I never looked like a dork in any of her images.
Lastly, to everyone cheering from the sidelines, you’ve no clue how crucial you are to this process. My spousal-unit has the dreadful habit of announcing to anyone and everyone that I’ve written a novel. To those of you who never grew tired of his enthusiasm, thank you. For the individuals who took it one step further, encouraging him, by asking questions about said novel, thank you. Those who then pretended to be interested in made-up languages and regional politics, thank you. To the person who after all that nonsense, is genuinely interested in reading my novel… well, you’re walking evidence we’re never alone in nerdom. Between my friends and family, on either side of the marital aisle, you’ve knit a net of support around me for years, and I’ll never forget it.
This is how we accomplish the impossible; how we prove ourselves wrong and climb a mountain of our own making—by leaning on one another. All of you, in various forms, have allowed me to lean on you and in doing so, you’ve held up a dream.
And guess what?
It’s time to wake up and see what we’ve accomplished. Together.
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