Acknowledgements
There are many people who
have made me the author I am today. Without their help, input,
advice, and edits I would never have grown. I can definitely see
the difference between now and when I first started to write. Every
new story is a step forward for me. Every edit I get, is a lesson
learned.
My personal friend and usual
editor, Kathy Ree, can tell you I can be a bit stubborn or
forgetful about certain things. When she read my first book, I was
astonished at all my errors, but I felt deep within she’d be good
for me. This time, since I’ve sent her a book there were probably
only as many errors or suggestions as there were on page one of my
first book. I definitely think I’ve progressed.
So Kathy Ree, I wish to
thank you for all the times you stepped in and saved the day. You
are a beautiful woman, full of compassion and honesty, and I love
your sense of humor. You are one of the most special women I’ve
found in my journey in becoming a published author. I hope that
this journey we are on, finds both of us infamous and on the
beaches of Maui together, sipping Daiquiris. I can totally see us
comparing notes while being on vacation! So literary sister, I bow
to your genius!
Also I’d like to thank my
good friend, J.L Cooper, for his tremendous work on my plethora of
covers. Not once has he abandoned me! You can find him on my
Facebook scaring the crap out of me with his pictures of spiders.
Keep up all the good work my friend!
There are just a few more
that I’d like to thank for their support and willingness to stand
by me through the last few years. My idol, my role model, and
literary genius Nathan Squiers, who has taught me many things,
stood with me in dark times, gave me the courage to be myself. To
Deidre Frost, who always takes the time to read my manuscripts and
point out my mistakes, encourage me to be me, and loves me as much
as I do her. To H’deel Batnij who gave me the chance to work with
her as she began her literary career. She is one of my closest
friends even though we met online. These three people were
monumental in my rise in my literary world. They gave me the things
I needed to continue when I thought I was done. You guys are
wonderful.
Dedications
Many of my books were
proofread and edited by a dear friend of mine. Unfortunately, she
could not do so with this book. Crissy Rearley, I know you are
looking down on us from heaven and shaking your head. Did you ever
know you were loved this much? Did you think your life had made
this big of an impact on some people, strangers, or people you knew
but never met? Your name will live on in the hearts of many people.
You made so many of us happy.
There were so many days I
woke up, ate, and got straight on the Xbox to play one of our
games. That was what made gaming so epic for me, not the game, it
was the people with whom I played. I never got along with female
gamers, until you. We went from one game to the next, having the
time of our lives as we had many adventures, mining away until one
of us fell into a lava pit or was attacked by a monster. We’d all
panic and run for our lives, laughing as we did.
Shooting each other or the
other team was a total chaos, but the most fun I’d had in years.
When you accepted me onto your team, We Suck Don’t Shoot, I felt so
happy. I fit in it perfectly. I totally sucked at that game and you
guys never once said anything. So many times we planned, tried
different strategies, and your voice got us working
together.
It won’t be the same gaming
without you. It won’t be the same going over my books and having
you right there pointing out ways to make it read better. You got
inside my head and knew exactly what I was trying to
say.
Wherever you are, heaven or
standing by each of us, please know that I truly enjoyed having you
in my life. Your humor, kindness, honesty, and character will be
forever in our hearts and minds. RIP Crissy Rearley. With wings,
you now have the winning
Victoria Christopher Murray