The Implosion Of Aggie Winchester Part 26

I am deeply grateful to my editor, Stacey Barney, for her guidance and expertise from start to finish. In her capable hands, this story came to life. Thank you for working so hard to make The Implosion of Aggie Winchester what you knew-and what I hoped-it could be.

Thanks also to my agent, Susanna Einstein, who has the patience of Job when it comes to us writers. Well, okay, when it comes to me. Thanks for getting into the ring when I need you to and always having my back. If I could, I would buy you a pony.

Thanks, too, to the rest of the good folks at LJK Literary Management, especially Larry Kirshbaum. I often wonder why you're not barrel-chested, because how does that huge heart of yours even begin to fit behind your ribs?

I am super-duper thankful for my University of Michigan family, especially my colleagues in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. Thanks for bringing the love when Donut Days came out and for your understanding when I frequent the coffeemaker, bleary eyed, after a long night of editing. I am especially grateful to Peggy Burns for creating a culture of giving not just in the office, but in life. I just looked up awesome in the dictionary and it totally had your name in the definition.

My other Michigan shout-out is to Brad Meltzer, who bleeds maize and blue and oozes kindness from every pore. (Sorry, was that a gross visual?) Thanks for giving my writing career a jump start and for inspiring me to become an author who says thank you more often.

My writing partners in crime are invaluable beyond measure. Dan Tricarico is the bestest friend I never met (in person, anyway), and Rhonda Stapleton is crazy and wonderful and probably has rock fever. Ellen Baker has shared the tears and frustrations and joys related to just about everything I've written, The Implosion of Aggie Winchester included. Thanks, Ellen, for being a friend, writing partner, and fellow chocolate addict.

Thanks to Colleen Newvine and John Tebeau, who still head up my cheering section. You are framily-that is, friends and family both-and I love that you were with me when the deal with The Implosion of Aggie Winchester was finalized. You were also with me when some other stuff happened, but we won't talk about that right now. Suffice it to say, thanks for always . . . well, being there. And for being fabulous.

Thanks to the Turncoat Spinecrackers, the 2009 Debutants, the women of Ypsi Studio, Diana Rose, Lauren Myracle, and anyone who's ever been in a single one of my wacky videos.

Thank you to my parents, Chuck and Susan, and my other parents, Bob and Dianne Hess.

And finally, thanks to my husband, Rob. You're the reason I'm a halfway decent writer, because you inspired me to go there with my stories and because you believed I had enough courage to put it all on paper. You're also the reason I have a packed lunch during the week, that I dream big, and that I buy dresses I might otherwise not. You're my heart, and I love you more than pink kittens. Which, as you know, is an awful lot.

BY THE AUTHOR OF.

Donut Days.

end.