by Erica Kiefer
“Rumors” is the first story I’ve written with two very young kids at home, and it was more taxing than I anticipated. To my husband, Dan: Thank you for walking me through the entire storyline and letting me borrow your creative juices when mine were all dried up! The plot belongs to you, and I would still be staring at a blank screen without your advice and insight. Thanks for being my “Nordell!” Publishing would not be half as fun without you, including your self-proclaimed “shameless promoting” that is both embarrassing and tremendously endearing.
To my sister, Jen: Thank you for playing by my side during our years of sports together, and thus inspiring “The Collins Trio” relationship, and for nudging the conclusion to “Rumors” in the right direction.
I am grateful for my mother, my mother-in-law, Sandra, and my babysitter, Maicee, for giving me a break from diapers and tantrums, and allowing me time to write!
To my CTP team, Rebecca Gober, Marya Heiman, Courtney Nuckels, and Dyan Brown: Your ability to provide individual attention (with your distinct talents) to all of your authors impresses me to no end. Thank you for the challenge to write “Rumors”. We’ll see where we go from here.
Cynthia Shepp, I obviously haven’t learned from my previous grammar lessons from you! I’m appreciative for your knowledge and time—and whether I subconsciously meant to or not, thanks for letting me borrow your name for a character!
To my family, friends, and readers: Thanks for taking a chance on a new author! Your support and positive energy gives me confidence to continue writing.