Tapped (Totaled Book 2) (38 page)

39.
 
Wounded Animal – Mary Lambert

40.
 
It Must Have Been Love – Kathleen Edwards

41.
 
Like Real People Do – Hozier

42.
 
Make You Feel My Love – Adele

43.
 
Lay Me Down – Sam Smith, John Legend

44.
 
Intro – The xx

45.
 
Reason To Believe – Dashboard Confessional

46.
 
I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – Sleeping At Last

47.
 
Walk Unafraid – First Aid Kit

48.
 
No One’s Gonna Love You – Band of Horses

49.
 
Marry Me - Train

Acknowledgments

Once I hit the button to publish
Totaled
, it became real. I had no idea how this story would be received and it’s quite a vulnerable position to be put in. The variety of responses was overwhelming to say the least. From positive and encouraging to cursing outrage at the cliffhanger ending, I definitely got it all. It has certainly been a wild ride and it isn’t one that I intend on getting off of any time soon. I’m incredibly grateful for everyone’s support, reassurance, and constructive criticism along the way. There is nothing better than getting a private message sent to you from someone across the country (or even the world) that you don’t personally know saying how much your story and the characters that you created, moved them. For a complete stranger to thank
you
for creating an escape that helped them in their life somehow is reason enough to continue to do this forever.

There are a few individual people that are deserving of a special shout out of gratitude and while these words aren’t nearly enough, I hope that you all know just how much I appreciate all of the help.

Above and beyond no other worthy of my appreciation is my best friend and husband, Stacy. It’s no secret that I’m not the easiest person to live with but especially not when I’m lost in my head, writing. Not only have you willingly picked up the slack for our family but your constant support for this newfound world has been incredible. I love how much you encourage me and listen to idea after idea as I’m working out a new scene. I love how you get excited for me every single time I come to you to read you my latest review. I love how flexible you are with our crazy schedules and constantly enable me to spend whatever time I need on finishing the book. I just love you so much—more than anything! Thank you for tolerating my ridiculous level of ignorance of all things dealing with technology and graciously helping whenever I needed. Thank you for designing another beautiful book cover for
Tapped
and formatting it eleventy billion different ways. You are simply the best hubby on the planet and Leah and I are blessed to have you.

Leah, thank you for being so understanding of Mommy needing peace and quiet to write. It means the world that you were so wonderful about coloring next to me at my desk while I typed away furiously. Thank you for letting me listen to “my” music to get in the right zone and never complaining. You are truly the best thing I have ever done in my life.

Annette MacDowell, my mother and number one fan, I cannot thank you enough. There are no words that can even come close to adequately conveying how much I value and appreciate you. From the little things to the grand gestures, you are truly the most supportive person throughout this journey. I love you and I am grateful that I have you in my corner.

Erin Roth of Wise Owl Editing, you are amazing. Once again, it was an absolute pleasure to work with you and I couldn’t possibly be more pleased with the final product. You are an extremely talented editor but an even more impressive person outside of professional constraints. Thank you for being patient, flexible, and understanding of me when my normal life and my book world didn’t quite coincide. I’m honored to be able to call you a friend and look forward to many more future projects together.

To all of my Master Betas, without whom this book would truly be a hot mess. You are a fantastic collection of very different people with very different opinions and every single one of them matters. Every single one of them helped shaped this novel into being the best that it could be. I applaud you all and am grateful for the part you all individually played in this process.

To my Ellen D girls, Rhonda Stickney, Angela Kuehl, Kiri Cooper, Charrell Thomas, and Melinda McRae…you have been there from the very beginning and I couldn’t imagine not having you all by my side as this came to fruition. I know that beta reading is a time consuming and often frustrating process but you all have been incredibly encouraging, helpful, and giving. Even though we’re not all on the same shift anymore, you have all been loyal to making Drew and Bree a priority. I’m indebted and so lucky to be able to call each of you friends. 

Debi Barnes, you have to know just how much you mean to me. I thank God every day that we found each other and value your critique and suggestions more than you know. You are a brilliant beta and a remarkable friend and I’m so proud to see you dive into this world as an indie author too. Thank you for letting me return the favor as one of your beta readers. It is an honor to share a release day with you. I vow to never use the word moist unless describing a cake, brownies, or maybe even chicken, in any of my books if you will agree to the same. Everyone needs to follow Mean Girls Luv Books immediately!

Chelle Northcutt, I adore you. It is incredible to me that through our mutual love of another author, a great friendship was forged and I can’t imagine you not being on my team. I trust your opinion and critique and I’m grateful that I can always count on complete honesty from you. You are a beautiful person and it feels awesome to know that you will always have my back. Readers, please check out and support Author Stalker Chelle's Diamonds in the Rough!

Kaci Buckley, I love your crazy ass! I appreciate you being a part of this and while I know that I can never compete with Will Cooper, it makes me happy that you have love for Drew Dougherty too. Your comments were hysterical and real and I love that you keep me in check and challenge me. I’m sorry that my original wording during a schmexy scene made you think of
Krispy Kreme
. Never again will anything but a donut be glazed! ß Explanation point!

Kristin Delcambre, thank you for your enthusiasm for this story and for signing on late in the game to offer your input. Your attention to the details and ability to be so tactfully nit-picky was on point.

Chelle, Kaci, and Kristin, I can’t wait for more signings, road trips, concerts, and whatever other shenanigans we can get ourselves into. You girls are tops!

Laura Wilson and Sally Bouley, we also came to know each other through our love and mutual beta reading for other authors. I’m grateful that through Andrea Randall, CSM, and Michelle Pace, we have developed a friendship. You both are phenomenal beta readers and great people in general and I can’t express my gratitude enough for you both taking the time and for all that you did. I cannot even wait to one day hug you both in person!

Sarah Griffin, thank you for your honesty when you loved something and especially for when you hated something. While your opinion of a scene or character trait wasn’t always the popular one, it was often the one I agreed with or had while writing it and I applaud you sticking to your guns. I love that you love Sue so much, too. You are the synopsis queen and I feel fortunate to have you on my side. People, check out and support Books to Breathe. Sarah writes great reviews and has impeccable taste!

Allison East, you really came through for me on
Tapped
, even more so than
Totaled,
which I didn’t think was possible. It is so helpful for betas to not only point out a potential issue but to also suggest a solution which you did time and time again. Your constant praise and cheering for these characters and their story was uplifting and I hope you know how much it meant to me. The support you show to so many great authors on Love Affair with a Good Book is awesome and it’s an honor to be included. I love you and I’m excited to return the favor for your WIP and can’t wait for the world to discover you.

Amber Clark, thank you for loving this story and sticking with me for the second book. You always provide great feedback. Also, one of these days I will break the habit of writing alright instead of all right. I promise, “all right?”

Dimitra Fleisser, you are such a sweetheart for taking the time out of your busy schedule to beta a second time. I think it is astonishing that I have a beta that lives in Germany who is able to give such great insight and advice when English isn’t even your first language. I love it and I’m so glad Charles Sheehan-Miles brought us together. 

Dawn Billings, I don’t even know what to say about you. First off, you are my favorite Canadian. Much like many of my other betas, we found each other through this wonderful book loving community and the powers of the internet. You loved
Totaled
from the start and your enthusiasm for the story and commitment to spreading the word made me know I just had to have you on board for
Tapped
. You proved yourself to be one of my best beta readers ten times over and I am never letting you go! Thank you so much for everything, from your critique and fact checking to making me graphics and even creating a Facebook fan group (Join Totaled Nutz now!). I hope that one day I’m able to repay how much you have done for me.

Megan Kapusta, you have quite the reputation in the author community as a kick ass beta reader and I got to see it first hand when we worked together on
Change of Hart
by M.E. Carter. I’m so glad that I had the courage to ask you to join my team and so pleased that you accepted. You catch everything. Every little detail. Your rep is true and you are a huge asset for any author to have. I hope you will be on board for any and every future project that I work on. And I’m fully prepared to aggressively stalk and force you if you try to resist. Love you, girl!

Tera Schumacher, to say that you have a lot on your plate is a huge understatement. Full time job…check. A husband and rambunctious toddler…check. Creating and growing two twin humans inside of your body…check. And yet you still agreed to assist. It was indeed a huge help and your grammar skills are crazy! You could totally be an editor if you wanted to, as if you needed one more job to do. I appreciate every single minute you devoted to
Tapped
and it is certainly better because of your efforts.

To all of my magnificent proofreaders, Brandy Palmer, Elaine Mosgofian, Terri Marcum, Susie Grice, and Holly Grigoli, you are superb! And the betas that after all of the many hours you already devoted, still were willing to take an extra look and read through it all again (Dawn Billings, Kristin Delcambre, Megan Kapusta). It is very difficult to catch all of the little errors that inevitably occur when you’ve written and re-read the manuscript eight thousand and one times, which is where you all come into play. You have been great supporters of me personally and for this story and your keen eyes are exactly what I needed in the final hour. I’m beyond appreciative of the messages and time you all put in. Sloppy wet kisses to all of you!

Mary Lagoski, I’m grateful for the insight you provided specifically related to some of Drew’s therapy and EMDR in this novel. It is always good to have someone official in the business to fact check and confirm that your research is accurate. You definitely have skills and a pretty cool daughter as well. I can’t wait to read your children’s book.

Daniel Holmes, my go-to MMA knowledge authority, thank you for always taking my calls. Watching you fight is surreal but being your friend is super cool. I’m glad we are still able to lift and encourage each other in our dreams after all of these years. Get ‘em, Hooligan!

Michelle Pace, thank you for reading my work and for providing no-shit real talk criticism. I have learned so much from you and look forward to many more years of friendship.

Murphy Rae Hopkins, you are one of the top ten coolest people I have ever known. Many thanks for everything you have done for me both personally and professionally. You are an incredible person and friend and I love your stinkin’ guts. I can’t wait until our next rendezvous and plan on cashing in on that eyeliner lesson, for sure. #catsofinstagram

Pamela Carrion, Pammy, P-La, the Pamster… I could not possibly love you any more. You do so much for this indie community and devote a ridiculous amount of time to helping us. I can’t express how appreciative I’m. I depend on your daily early morning posts and look forward to every single review that you write. But the way that you thanklessly promote and spread our work is uncanny. T-H-A-N-K Y-O-U just doesn’t cut it. For hosting my blog tour, for your advice, for your encouragement, for just being you! If I lived in your same town, I would drive over to hug your neck every single day.

Deb Palmer, my dear friend and personal notary. I know you are an early riser but to wake up before the butt-crack of dawn when I needed you and sit there for hours waiting patiently with little to no complaint was pretty cool. Can I come unload your dishwasher a few times to even up the score?

Marvin Short, thank you for being so damn good looking. I will forever be indebted to Mau Jackson for bringing you into my life and appreciate your willingness to pose for the cover and teasers. I could not have selected a more perfect physical muse for Drew. For someone who is not even a professional model, you sure rocked it.