Read The Skylighter (The Keepers' Chronicles Book 2) Online
Authors: Becky Wallace
The Skylighter (The Keepers' Chronicles Book 2) (41 page)
“And keep the rest of it appropriate.” Rafi raised his eyebrows at his brother. “You never know whose hands it will fall into.”
“You take the fun out of everything,” Dom said, and retreated toward the stairs.
Once the footsteps had disappeared, Rafi turned Johanna to face him. “I suppose this is a new beginning for Santarem. Councils of dukes and underlords, representatives from every township and Performers’ Camp.”
She nodded. “Someday it will an incredible tale about how a duke and a princess changed Santarem.”
He nuzzled the soft skin below her ear. “And how will it end?”
“Exactly how we want it to,” she said, shivering at his touch. “Happily.”
There’s a reason authors thank their editors first: editors’ names aren’t on book covers, but their hearts and souls are on every page. If you love a book, remember a great editor was behind it. They pick at the flaws, the logic, the very word choice, and encourage and inspire authors to find better, smarter, cleaner ways to craft a story. Thank you, Annie Nybo, for picking up this orphaned manuscript and loving it enough to make it shine.
That gratitude extends to the entire team at Margaret K. McElderry Books and Simon & Schuster for all their work on this book and on
The Storyspinner
. Thank you Justin Chanda, Bridget Madsen, Erica Stahler, and Michael McCartney. Treats and smoosh hugs for all of you!
My Super Agent, Jennifer Laughran, is quite literally made of magic. I love her supportive snark and sharp mind. I owe her a dozen dinners, and maybe a cape that she can swoosh every time a deal gets done.
When I met my publicist, Audrey Gibbons, for the first time, I said, “With a name like Audrey, you have to be super classy.” She is. And savvy. And persistent. And incredibly kind. Thanks for all your hard work on my behalf!
By the time this book prints, I’ll have known Nicole Castroman for nearly five years, talked to her on the phone almost every day, hashed out dozens of plot and character problems, laughed over millions of stupid things, and never met in person. I hope we can fix that very, very soon. Expect a hug.
To my other fantastic critique partners and the people I’m grateful to call friends—Jess Lawson, Lynne Matson, Diana Wariner, Katie Marie Stout, Kristin Rae, Trisha Leaver, Lindsay Currie, and Mary Waibel—thank you, thank you for the supportive, helpful, insightful emails and phone calls. I really couldn’t do this without you. Like really. For reals. You ladies make my writing and my life so much better.
Stacy Sorensen and Kara McCoy are the kind of real-life friends that can never be replaced. We all live in different states now, but still manage to exchange hundreds of slightly inappropriate text messages every week and get together a couple of times every year. I can’t even think about you ladies without getting teary. I would be a lot less sane (and stylish) without you two. Love you forever.
And then there’s Jen Wegner (aka Perfect Friend), who is the most optimistic, positive, thoughtful person I know. You live up to your nickname every day.
Authors wouldn’t stay authors for very long without an army of booksellers and book bloggers who support and recommend their novels. Thanks particularly to: Blue Willow Books (Houston), Brilliant Books (Traverse City), The King’s English (Salt Lake City), Mundie Moms, My Friends Are Fiction, Icey Books, There Were Books Involved, Fiction Freak, and Reader of Fictions. You make the world a better place!
Librarians and teachers who work so tirelessly to give the right stories to the right readers deserve my undying gratitude. Thank you, thank you!
Without my parents, Dave and Ardy Vallett, this book would never have gotten finished. They give my children so much love and attention while I write that it almost eliminates my mommy guilt. Thank you for a clear conscience, a place to stay every summer, and home that was always full of laughter and books. Love you guys.
The rest of my family is pretty darn amazing too. Thank you Grandma Edie, Lizzy, Joel, MeMe, Travis, Amanda, Brandt, Brandon, Looli, Jarod, Brianne, and of course, Warden (Olivia) and Ricketts (Rick) for supporting this crazy dream, telling your friends about my book, and bailing me out from time to time. Families are forever, and I’m so glad you’re mine.
Then there’s my own little quadsquad: Gavin, Laynie, Audrey, and Adelynn. Knowing that you are proud of me is the most rewarding part of this entire process. I love hearing you tell friends and strangers all about my book. It makes my heart melt. I believe cupcakes, snuggles, and a movie are in order.
And to my husband, Jamie: you have been incredible this year. Thanks for picking up the slack, sitting up with me on so many late nights, and for helping me figure out fight scenes. I couldn’t have done it all without you.
Last but not least, thank you reader! Thanks for going on this crazy adventure with me, letting me pull at your heart strings, and blow up so much stuff. You’ve given me the greatest job in the world!
In second grade,
BECKY WALLACE
had to sit in the corner because she refused to write anything besides princess stories and fairy tales (and because she talked too much). Her time in isolation gave her plenty of opportunities to dream up the fantasy worlds she’s been dabbling with ever since. She was lucky enough to find her own real-life Prince Charming. They have four munchkins and live in a happy little village in Texas. She is the author of
The Storyspinner
and its sequel,
The Skylighter
. Visit her at
beckywallacebooks.com
and on Twitter at
@BeckyWallace1
.
Margaret K. McElderry Books
Simon & Schuster • New York
Also by Becky Wallace
The Storyspinner
Thank you for reading this eBook.
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MARGARET K. McELDERRY BOOKS
An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Text copyright © 2016 by Becky Wallace
Jacket photograph copyright © 2016 by Jill Wachter
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
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ARGARET
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C
E
LDERRY
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OOKS
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The text for this book is set in Kepler Std.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Wallace, Becky.
The skylighter / Becky Wallace.—First edition.
p. cm.—(The Keepers’ chronicles)
Summary: Joanna and Rafi are on the run, trying to protect the kingdom of Santarem from rogue Keepers.
ISBN 978-1-4814-0568-3 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-4814-0570-6 (eBook)
[1. Fantasy. 2. Magic—Fiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.W15472Sk 2016
[Fic]—dc23
2015007088
