Nil Unlocked (47 page)
Authors: Lynne Matson
All the amazing people at Macmillan and Henry Holt, who have so much love for books that I think the Flatiron Building must radiate literary magic. Thank you for your endless enthusiasm and your dedication to the world of Nil. I’m so very grateful!
Every copy editor who struggled with the day count (again), thank you for your sharp eyes, and I’m sorry.
☺
April Ward, who designs the most captivating covers ever. I love them both and am so honored to have your talent touch the world of Nil.
Ksenia Winnicki, my publicist extraordinaire, and all the marketing lovelies at Macmillan—including the amazing Fierce Reads team!—who have worked tirelessly to share Nil’s secrets with the world. I am so grateful for y’all’s unwavering support and excitement. Y’all have helped me touch readers’ hearts, and I thank each of you for that gift.
All my writer friends and book cheerleaders, especially the YA Valentines (Sara Raasch, Bethany Hagen, Lindsay Cummings, Bethany Crandell, Phil Siegel, Sara B. Larson, Amy Rolland, Anne Blankman, Paula Stokes, Kristi Helvig, Jen McConnel, Jaye Robin Brown, Kristen Lippert-Martin), who make up the best writers’ support group EVER. There are not enough words; I love you all and your books. Hugs for life.
Kristen Lippert-Martin, Kristi Helvig, and Becky Wallace, extra thanks for your brains, support, and enthusiasm for
Nil Unlocked
as it all came together; Tonya Kuper, Sara B. Larson, and Lindsay Currie, for always being there with an ear and a kind word; Lindsay Cummings, Paula Stokes, Phil Siegel, Bethany Crandell, Amy Rolland, and Vivi Barnes, who made touring a blast; Mary E. Pearson and Kasie West, who embraced the Nil world from book one; and Laura Stanford, Eliza Tilton, Jay C. Spencer, Natalie Whipple, Charles Martin, and Jessie Harrell, who supported my writing from word one. Y’all are THE BEST.
The All the Write Notes crew, for musical musings and writing support. You rock.
☺
Artists Pendulum, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Snow Patrol, Rise Against, and Lana Del Rey, for providing inspiration rich enough to fuel an entire crazy island world.
All my wonderful Twitter friends, booksellers, librarians, and book bloggers—especially super bloggers Nikki Wang and Eli Madison—whom I’ve chatted with (both online and IRL!) since the launch of
Nil
. I’m deeply grateful for your support. Books are sold one book at a time, and you’ve made the #NILtribe real!
The #NILtribe, for embracing all things Nil and being so amazing. Extra special thanks to Lauren Goff for her creative #WinNIL answers, which worked their way into this story—you helped give Zane life.
☺
My friends who have supported me and the Nil world with such love it makes me cry. Sims Wachholz, Gina Donahoo, Christy Gillam, Kelly Anderson, Phaedra Avret, Amy Grant, Mary Claire Miller, and Leigh Smith, thank you for letting me bounce all my wild ideas for
Nil Unlocked
off y’all and jumping into my crazy; Kelley, Natalie, Kat, Allison, Meg, Avery, Lindsey, Julie, Erin, Heather, Margaret, Isabelle, Susanna, Mary, Susannah, Nicole, Annie, Darden, Kasie, Laddy, Virginia, Debbie, thank you for picking up my boys or encouraging my writing (or both!
☺
). And thank you to all my dear college and high school friends for Nil love from afar: Rebecca, Michele, Stacy, Lani, Shannon, Angela, Devon, Susan, and Jennifer … and all my other sweet friends I forgot to mention in my writing haze. I love you all and am so grateful to have you in my life.
My family, who make my world go round: Ki (best sister ever), Penny, Mom, Ryan, Baz, Max, Mark, Jill, Blake, Kerri, Grandma, Bev, Beepsy, Jim, Johnny, and Aymi. I love you all! So, so much!
My boys, Caden, Christian, Davis, and Cooper, who have my heart. You inspire me and fill me with hope. Thank you for sharing me with Rives and Skye this year, and for being the wonderful individuals you are. I love each of you more than all the words in the universe.
My best friend and my true love, Stephen, who makes life
more
. Thank you for your support, for your belief in me, and for being by my side each step of the way. You are my everything, my love!
And to my readers, thank you! My gratitude, forever. Nil belongs to you now, and so does this book. Island cookies for life, on me.
Lynne Matson
grew up in Georgia in a house full of books and a backyard full of gnarly pines. She attended the University of Florida, where she met and married her husband, the cutest boy she’s ever seen. Now Lynne is mother to four amazing boys. A former attorney, she is thrilled to be making a new career in YA fiction.
lynnematson.blogspot.com
. You can sign up for email updates
here
.
Thank you for buying this
Henry Holt and Company ebook.
To receive special offers, bonus content,
and info on new releases and other great reads,
sign up for our newsletters.
Or visit us online at
us.macmillan.com/newslettersignup
For email updates on the author, click
here
.
CONTENTS
Copyright © 2015 by Lynne Matson
Henry Holt and Company, LLC
Publishers since 1866
Henry Holt® is a registered trademark of Henry Holt and Company, LLC.
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010
All rights reserved.
eBooks may be purchased for business or promotional use. For information on bulk purchases, please contact Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department by writing to [email protected].
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.
First hardcover edition 2015
eBook edition May 2015
eISBN 9781627794848
