Pieces of Why (15 page)

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Dear Reader,

As an author, one of the questions I get asked most often is whether my books are based on real events. Are the characters similar to people I know? Did the idea for the plot come from something that happened in my own life? Are my main character and I alike?

Every book is different, but the answer is always the same. All of my writing is infused with real life. While no character, place, or event is ever an exact replication, the heart of a story comes from things that have meaning to me.

Like Tia, I once sang in a gospel choir. I also lived in New Orleans for a time and fell in love with that beautiful city and all its color, flavor, and music. But most important, like Tia, I struggle with the question of why bad things happen. Even as a young girl, I wanted answers. My parents tried hard to protect me from the tough parts of life, but I still heard about what was happening on the news. I still lost a friend in the fourth grade who passed away too
young. And years later, like Tia, I still heard the gunshots that killed a child.

Now I'm a mother, and even though I sometimes wish my son could grow up in a great big bubble where nothing bad ever happens, I also know that as he grows older, he'll have to face his own struggles, heartaches, fears, and challenges. So, what I
truly
wish is that he'll feel love surrounding him even when life is hardest. I hope he'll know that it's okay to question why and even if the answers aren't as simple as he'd like, he'll know he's not alone in asking tough questions. I hope that, like Tia, struggling with the hard stuff will help him find strength, give him empathy, and help him feel more connected to the people around him who might be struggling too.

I wish these same things for you, my wonderful reader. No matter what's happening in your life, remember that connecting to people you trust can make you stronger. Whether it's a parent, sibling, friend, teacher, or guidance counselor, there are others who can help you through difficult times. And like Tia, I hope you'll find lots of love, hope, and joy in the end.

Peace,

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

T
here is so much to be said about the process of writing this novel, which was an emotional journey from start to finish. I have depended greatly on the patience and grace of my editor, Kathy Dawson, as well as her incredible skill. I'm also indebted to my amazing agent, Ginger Knowlton, who buoyed me up each time I thought I couldn't go any farther. You both have my infinite gratitude for not giving up on this book.

A story that takes four years to write doesn't happen without the tremendous sacrifice of one's family. Thank you to the two loves of my life, Dustin Adams and Ashton Adams. I adore you.

To Brenda Zook Friesen, Suzanne Southard, and Julie Litwiller-Shank: our time in New Orleans infused every page of this book. I can't imagine my life's journey without you. Thank you as well to my parents, William and Linda Going. My father's involvement with prison ministry was an inspiration to create a balanced portrayal of Tia's father.
I hope I've succeeded. Thanks to my grandmother Jillian Bedard, who provided her expertise in speech therapy, and to Donna Jones, who (way back in college!) asked me to join
Th
e Angels of Harmony
and encouraged me to share my voice. Thanks to Marileta Robinson, Clara Gillow Clark, Claire Evans, Regina Castillo, and so many others who read drafts of this novel and gave me their valuable feedback. I'd also like to thank The Port Jervis Free Library and The Highlights Foundation, who provided me with quiet space to write.

Finally, I'm so grateful to the parents, grandparents, teachers, librarians, and mentors who share my books with kids. It's not easy to help children deal with the tough parts of life, but it's essential, because in the end, there aren't any answers to why, only the circle of love and support we create as we ask the
question.

K. L. GOING
is the award-winning author of several books for children and teens—everything from picture books to young adult novels. She received a Printz Honor for
Fat Kid Rules the World
, which was subsequently made into a feature film directed by Matthew Lillard. Her beloved middle-grade novel,
The Liberation of Gabriel King
, was an IRA Notable Book for a Global Society, a CBC Children's Choice, was nominated for eleven state awards, and is taught in classrooms across the country. K .L. continues to write books for children of all ages, and lives in Glen Spey, New York, with her family.

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