None of the Regular Rules (21 page)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I owe thanks to many people for helping me bring this book to life. First, thanks to my agent, Michael Bourret, who handles my career with patience and smarts. Second, thanks to Yassine Belkacemi and Eileen Cook, who helped me through the e-book maze. Most importantly, my family—charming husband, amazing kids, parents, parents-in-law—who give me the time and beautiful spaces in which to write.

I am grateful to many friends who helped me craft Suzy’s list by sharing some of the things on their own high school bucket lists: Carey Lyle, Sarah Dockter, Jennifer Gels, Christy Lukasewycz, Carrie Downing, Angela Challey, Janna Fraboni, Katharine Kelly, Josef Skoldeberg, Maria Barbo, Dave Gels, Carin Skoog, Charlie Brackney. I know there are other people I’m forgetting…I love you, too (and thanks for the ideas).

Cheers to my critique partners—Jennifer Echols and Robin Wasserman—who ripped this book apart and made me re-do it. Love to Greg, who reads everything a dozen times. To Sarah Mlynowski, who offered to read it (but then a beautiful baby got in the way). If I could, I’d give a cupboard full of cutesy sweater mugs to Catherine Clark for keeping me company (and keeping me entertained) while I write.

Finally, thanks to Vania Stoyanova (VLC Productions), whose photo graces the cover of this book and absolutely blows me away.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Erin Downing has written more than a dozen
novels
for young adults
and kids. Her guilty pleasures include an unhealthy obsession with
reality TV and
cheesy romantic dramas, an addiction to
US Weekly
magazine, and
cupcakes
.

Before turning to writing full time, Erin worked as a book editor, spent a few months as a cookie inventor, and also worked for
Nickelodeon. She has lived in England, Sweden, and New York City, and now resides in Minneapolis with her husband and young children.
More information about Erin and her books can be found at:
www.erindowning.com
.

You’ll find Erin’s Goodreads page here:
www.goodreads.com/ErinDowning
. Or
follow her on Twitter @
erindowning
and
at
www.facebook.com/ErinDowni
n
gBooks
.