So today was the end of the local “genre” (aka sf/f CON)FogCON, wherein our heroine finally admitted to real people, in person and outside of her day job, that she is publishing a book and it’s not all just something happening in the confines of her skull, or between her and the glowing screen.
I’ve never really publicly thanked all the people who helped me to get to this point – and let’s face it, it takes a village to nurture a book until its ready to spread its fledgling wings and leave the nest, pages flapping happily in the breeze.
So in no particular order I’d like to thank:
- My first Beta reader, Bryan-Kirk Reinhardt
- My second Beta reader and long-time intellectual inspiration, Kathy Whilden, who read the book aloud to her grandkids
- The unnamed grandchildren, especially K who wrote me a wonderful letter about the book. You know who you are and thank you for encouraging me.
- The wonderful writer Ginny Rorby who ‘doesn’t like fantasy’ but liked what I gave her to critique anyway and then generously agreed to blurb it while trying to meet her own deadline for the Mendocino Coast Writers Conference
- My stalwart copy-editor, Laura Blackwell (I added a comma there just for you)
- Every cool writer who took the time to talk to me at writing conferences – Terry Bisson, Jo Walton, Catherine Ryan Hyde, John Lescroart, (I know I’ll forget someone)
- The workshop participants in Barbara Rogan’s online writing workshops, and Barbara herself for her support and critiques
- U.K. Le Guin for inspiring me in so many ways, and for talking to me about dragons
- Kelley McMorris for making my dream of a cover come true
- The generous authors who have critiqued part of my book, especially Christine Fletcher during the Oregon Children’s Book Writing Workshop
- The kind strangers who read my book and then wrote reviews on Amazon, giving me invaluable feedback
- And last but not least, Jude at Borderlands Books for letting me put out my print copies during the Con!
- The wonderful person who bought the first copy, making me a real author (and publisher). You know who you are. Thank you!
I’m grateful to you all.