Zenith (6 page)

Going from a young girl who couldn't read due to the battle of dyslexia and becoming an author is, to me, a miracle, my own type of fairytale.

None of this would be possible without the love and support of my family. To the man who never fails to brighten up my day. Dad, you have inspired me every day to live out my dreams. You are my cheerleader and without you I would be lost. Mom, even though you aren't here, you jump-started my love for reading in a time I didn't believe in myself. Marisa, Jenny, Nicki, Stephanie, and Tracy, you all are awesome sisters. Even if we bicker now and then, you show me undying support. Marina, you are like a second mom to me and have taught me how rewarding life can be even in the most difficult of times. Myles, Oliver, and Kolin you are my little balls of joy, even if you do go to the bathroom all over the house. I love you.

To, of course, my magical co-author Lindsay Cummings for being my friend, telling me insane farm stories, and teaching me the secrets to being a writer. It is surreal that three years ago I was in your acknowledgments and now we are writing ours together in OUR book!

Jo Volpe, you are the best agent a girl could ask for and you also win the award for having the best pair of glasses I’ve ever seen! Thanks for believing in me, it means the world knowing that you do. To Pete Knapp for joining #TeamZenith as Lindsay’s agent and bringing some testosterone to the squad.

To Gabby Gendek, you are my partner in crime and will always be my go-to person if I ever need to bury a body… Jackie Sawicz, going to our favorite Jewish deli and bookstore together always makes my day ten times better. There isn't a person I’d rather drive 9 hours to Kentucky with than you! Francesca Mateo, crazy as you may be, you are my Phillipini and I am your Polak. To Gemma Edwards and Casey Davoren, my favorite British ladies who always have an endless stream of Dylan O’Brien pictures waiting for me in our group chat. To Tasha Polis, for always being there when I needed a friend to talk to. You are a star and every day I am grateful for our friendship. To all my roommates, Kaitlyn Nash, Theresa Miele, Noreen Plabutong, Hannah Sun, Emma Johnson, Abby Creighton, and Connor Wolff for putting up with me, you are all awesome, Avatar-loving folk.

To Danielle Paige and Val Tejeda, I think of you both as my older sisters and without your support I wouldn’t be where I am today. To Sarah J. Maas, Susan Dennard, Victoria Aveyard, Alexandra Bracken, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Renee Ahdieh, and Adam Silvera for being amazing role models to aspiring writers and just wicked cool people.

To all my BookTube friends for creating a community I am proud to call myself a part of. Whoever said not to make friends on the internet, you make me laugh.

To Woodlands Academy for helping shape me into the young woman I am today and my graduating class of 2015 for being there for me through thick and thin. To Emerson College for teaching me vital skills, life lessons, and allowing me to do what I love with my education. Go Lions!

To Scotland, yes the country, because it is the place where I belong. To Sam Heughan, for being devilishly handsome as my phone wallpaper. And of course, thank you to the moon and back to all of my subscribers for being the best support a girl can ask for. Without you, none of this would be a reality, you are my motivation and I love you. <3

You’d think writing these would get easier after 4 years of authordom. But the truth is, it gets harder, because along the way, you pick up lots of supporters, and the list goes on and on. To everyone who’s bought my books and supported me, THANK YOU. But for THIS book, I’m so grateful to these people:

First, and always, to God, for giving me the gift of writing.

Second, to my co-author Sasha Alsberg, because when I texted you about writing a crazy serialized YA, you didn’t even hesitate. You just jumped right in, with your wonderful, creative little brain, and WE MADE A BOOK THING TOGETHER.

To my awesome new agent Pete Knapp at New Leaf—thank you for looking at this weird, wacky little project, and my other secret works, and saying “YES.” And thank you for being willing to take a chance on an author already a few books deep in her career. I was afraid I wouldn’t find you, and here you are, in all your Hermione Granger-ish organized glory.

To Jo Volpe, thank you for introducing me to said awesome new agent :) And thank you for also believing in this project, too! You = Cool. The entire team at New Leaf who jumped in and helped, including Danielle Barthel for dealing with my ridiculous usernames and passwords on all login forms (you poor, poor thing!), THANK YOU for helping this series soar.

To JD Netto—the artistic mastermind—thank you for giving ZENITH a sexy, sexy face. And for all the other artwork and just general friendship and fun behind the scenes along the way. You’re not a faceless android on Google Hangouts, I swear.

To all my new and old fans and subscribers, thanks for liking what I put out there. Thanks for making me better. Thanks for supporting me from one genre to another.

To my family (Lauren, Mom, Dad, Alex), thanks for always telling me it’s going to be okay, for supporting me and loving me to the fullest, even when I’m grumpy and being dramatic. I love you guys so much. To my husband, Josh, thanks for letting me talk about books and publishing even when you don’t like to read (I’ll turn you into a reader, yet, my love. *wicked laughter*). To my extended family, at the Compound—thanks for letting me and Josh live here, where I can keep writing, and hang out with tons of dogs, horses, donkeys, chickens, and relax by the pool when it’s not tornado season and you insist I wear a helmet (I’m not going to wear a helmet).

And, lastly, to my author friends, specifically the YA Valentines, Danielle Paige, Val Tejeda, CJ Redwine, Victoria Scott, Rebekah Faubion, Martina Boone, Kami Garcia, E.S. Wesley, Ryan Graudin, Victoria Schwab, Sarah J. Maas, Susan Dennard, and gahhh, so many more...thank you for it all. You know why <3