16 Things I Thought Were True (21 page)

There are so many people who have a hand in the book making process and it's an honor to be able to thank you. Like Brandon Norie and Heather Gurtler who let me pick their brains about doctor ambition and heart “stuff.”

Thanks to Leah Hultenschmidt and Todd Stocke and the Sourcebooks editorial team for coming up with the title for
16 Things
I
Thought
Were
True
and to Leah for her always thoughtful and wise editorial massages. Also thanks to Gretchen Stelter for her keen copyediting eyes that caught so much, including my many Canadianisms. As always, the Sourcebooks team is a dream to work with from owner Dominique Raccah, to Jillian Bergsma and Cat Clyne (best name in publishing, hands down), to Derry Wilkens, publicity guru, to the super sales reps (who have the coolest jobs in the world)! Also the designers and artists and all the Sourcebooks family who get books made and into the hands of readers in one way or another, I bow to you and heartily fast-clap you!

I also love the great folks at Raincoast Books for doing such a smashing job distributing and promoting my books in my home land, Canada!!! Especially Jamie Broadhurst, Jocelyne Leszczynski, Crystal Allan, and the super sales team! Thanks, eh!

Special thanks to Linda Duddridge for her help with the later drafts of
16 Things
and for great listening ears and feedback from start to finish. Thanks again to Jennifer Jabaley and Lauren Bjorkman for their always amazing suggestions and catches and thanks to Denise Jaden who is my favorite first set of eyes that get me on track. Thank you also to Thalia Anderson, YA enthusiast, for reading and making wonderful editorial suggestions. And of course my agent, Jill Corcoran.

I'd also like to say thanks to teen librarians, who are so great at matching books with readers. Thanks for giving my books a chance and putting books into the hands of teenagers seeking realistic stories! It's a wonderful profession and I truly appreciate all that librarians do for authors!

Also to the many passionate YA book bloggers who support authors with such zeal. I've loved meeting so many of you and share your enthusiasm for young adult books! I hope to meet more of you in real life. In the meantime, here, have a gold star!!

Thanks to my Alberta writing pals for the support and friendship over the years as we travel the publishing process together, all of us at different stages but all of us devoted writers. To Leslie Carmichael, a funny and brilliant writer, the epitome of grace and quiet strength as she fights her battle with cancer, Angela Ackerman, Linda Duddridge, Deb Marshall, Gloria Singendonk, Stina Lindenblatt, Trish Loye Elliot, and Jan Markley. Also my new lunch writing friends and the good folks at Writer's Guild of Alberta!!

I also have to thank my husband Larry for making it all possible. LG+JM. And my favorite son, Max, for being you and for all of the future things I will be ripping off from your teen experience. You're a good kid. Keep up the good work.

I always love hearing from readers as well and thank you for reading this book and any of my others!! You can find me on Facebook or Twitter @janetgurtler or at my website
www.janet-gurtler.com
.

Lastly, for all people seeking truth. I hope you find it and that it's everything you want it to be.

Janet

Double Rita finalist Janet Gurtler recently moved to Okotoks, Alberta, with her favorite husband and son and a chubby Chihuahua named Bruce.
16
Things
I
Thought
Were
True
is her fifth Sourcebooks title. There are currently no videos of Janet dancing on YouTube or anywhere else online. This is probably a good thing. Visit Janet at
www.janet-gurtler.com
.

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