Everything I Have (Everything I Want #3) (26 page)

Acknowledgements

I can’t come up with any words that can truly express how absolutely grateful I am for all of you. My readers. From the first page you flipped through in
Everything I Want
, and all the craziness that you embarked on during Tristan and Sophia’s journey, to now getting to “The Motherfucking End.” THANK YOU!

Your kind words and support for my characters and writing has given me more strength this past year than I have ever received. And for that, I would love to show my appreciation.

Clearly, it’s obvious now that Caleb is up next in line with his own story to tell. A while back, just on my Facebook page, I asked if anyone were to have a book next, who would it be? The winning majority by a landslide was Mr. Caleb himself. So, I took him in and what I found out was that Caleb has definitely got a story to tell, and
Beautifully Chaotic
is it.

It’s a story that really, I wasn’t gonna do because, let’s be honest, I have another couple that has been patiently waiting on me since the beginning writing stages of
Everything I Want
, but I want to do this for all of you. I simply had to tell them to chill just a little longer so I can get Caleb’s story out there. Needless to say, they may have not been pleased, but with how my brain works and all the wonderful faces and stories coming to life inside, they just simply have to wait.

Beautifully Chaotic
is YOURS
!
Another way of saying thank you for giving me a chance.

Bloggers! Oh, how you rock my world with your constant support in my writing and helping me get out there, because, let’s face it, when I first published I knew shit about the literary world and just so happened to stumble across some pretty freaking amazing women that didn’t turn their backs on me or push me to the side because I was “new.”

Instead, these ladies gave me the advice to get out there. Eventually, one thing led to another and all of a sudden, I had my first blog tour last fall. Yep, didn’t know what that was before then, either. It’s so funny how much growth can happen in a year, and I’m even more excited for the next. None of that would be even possible without the bloggers. Thank you so, so very much.

Putting out the vibe… even though we’re small, you ladies do BIG work for me and always have an ear out and heart open, from whenever I have my late night second-guessing, to making some pretty stellar teasers and trailers. I always have a smile on my face when I read through our conversations and I’m so blessed that I have you two, Shannon and Melissa, in my corner.

This leads me to, Shannon. Yeah, girl. You not put out the vibe, you’re the best PA, setting up all the behind the scenes work, making web pages, scheduling, and going back up to the last paragraph, always listening to me and giving me kind words of wisdom.

Right from the very beginning, like chapter one on my iPhone when I was starting to get
Everything I Want
down, you have been there. Kind of funny how it started. I remember telling you that I was writing a book and I wanted you to read it. What you said next had me laughing so hard that I had to pull over on the Fort Street Bridge downtown and laugh.

“Well, make sure you type it out.” LOL, yes, you actually thought I was writing in a notebook. So funny.

But since the very beginning, when I know for a fact that I had some disbelieving in me, you had my back. Thank you.

My husband Jake, who I love to call Butters. Long story ;) This past year has been crazy, but you still showed support and love and helped around the house and with the kids when I had to get cracking on my first series. We had our ups and downs this year with everything, but I love that you would get excited seeing me succeed in something and want nothing more than to see your wife happy. Thank you for picking me up when I feel like I have fallen, and holding my hand the entire way. I love you, Jake.

Kathy Coopmans, you are a saint! This woman is amazing. Like I said in the beginning, I had no clue whatsoever how to go about getting my name out there. I mean,
Everything I Want
was out for a good few months and I was lost. Sorry to say, at the time, I didn’t know better and would just message blogs asking them to read my book or post something. Yeah, I know, but I swear I thought that’s just something you had to do. I didn’t know any of the back end of it. Anyways, I came across Panty Dropping Book Blog and come to find out, that’s Kathy’s blog. All I knew at the time about her was that she’d had the blog for a while and was also becoming an author. Another thing I thought was pretty sweet was that she was also from my home state. Kind of silly, but a glow took over when finding that out.

I remember explaining myself to her and apologizing I’m sure a hundred times because I didn’t know better. She just laughed it off and called me cute. “You need to set up a blog tour,” she said. Then, she hooked a girl up. Set me up with Heather over at the blog and that’s how my first blog tour came.

I went through some roughness with the first company I published through and wanted to break out. Again, she came to the rescue. She got me in touch with her editor, Kim. And that’s when I pulled my first book out and eventually, my editor Kim now ;) will be working her magic on that, too. Thanks again Kathy, I’m forever grateful to you.

Kimberly Capuccio, you are the best! I know sometimes working with me can get kind of Lampoons at times, but you make me feel so comfortable and your work is amazing! My only regret is that I wish I had you before I published my first book, but I have you now, so it’s all good. ;)  Especially with the craziness of this last little bit, thank you for everything, girl.

Jill Stenglein over at Picture This Photography & Design, your work on all the covers was simply beautiful. You helped me out every second of the way with my visions and brought them to life.

Okay, one more. This may seem silly to some, but I just have to get this out there, because if it wasn’t for this individual and her amazing voice,
Everything I Want
would almost cease to exist.

I used to work in a cubicle in accounting, inputting invoices all damn day. The only way I would find comfort at work was to jam out all the time. Yes, I may have pissed off my co-workers with my music, but hey! I had earbuds in. Anyways, I was still feeling the awesome book high you get from reading a certain book that just rocked your world. I was lucky that I had a few swimming around at the time.
Bully
by Penelope Douglas.
Beautiful Bastard
by Christina Lauren, and
The Mighty Storm
by Samantha Towle.

I was in my own little world, thinking about the characters and listening to music while inputting when all of a sudden, this jam comes on and I swear it seemed like everything stopped. Swear to God. The song was
Scarlet
, by In This Moment. This song was so amazing that instantly I had to stop and grab the closest piece of paper near me and start writing down the main notes to EIW. Literally in that moment, for the first time ever listening to that song, did I see the entire story come to life. I was pumped. I was excited! Shit, I’m ADHD so I just had to leave my desk and head out for a break so I could bask in my revelation. That night, on February 22
nd
2014, I started writing the notes on my phone since I didn’t have a working computer at the time. Once that happened, I’ve never stopped since.

Now,
who is this you speak of?
you are probably wondering, and it’s no other than the magnificent Maria Brink. Her band is In This Moment, so of course it’s no surprise to you all that I had to rep the hell out of them in my writing because the music was such an influential part. Even the title, which by the way, didn’t come ‘til I was almost finished with EIW when I was jamming, again, to that certain song and the beginning just hit me.

“That’s it!” I exclaimed, running out of my room into my daughter’s as my husband was putting her to bed. I jumped up and down, literally, so pumped that we now had a name.

Maria, thank you for your talent and also giving me strength. Your music is the light that always leads me out of any darkness.

Everything I Have Soundtrack

Broken ~ In This Moment Pantera Cover

All That She Wants ~ Ace of Base

Naked Eye ~ Luscious Jackson

Bodies ~ Drowning Pool

Out To Get You ~ Bloodsimple

Killpop/Dead Memories ~ Slipknot

Jenny ~ Nothing More

Papa Don’t Preach ~ Madonna

Broken Frames ~ Eyes Set To Kill

Stand Up ~ Hed PE Feat. Lajon Witherspoon

F*ck Yeah ~ Team America World Police Theme Song

Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver ~ Primus

Lightning Crashes ~ Live

Monster’s Ball ~ Butcher Babies

Gone Away ~ The Offspring

Come As You Are ~ Nirvana