The Gateway Through Which They Came (39 page)

Thank you to Alisa Gus for plucking Gateway from the slush and believing in it from the beginning. It would be nothing without you. Thank you to my editor, Cait Spivey, for helping me see what I couldn’t before, and bringing Gateway to life. To my amazing team at Curiosity Quills Press: Clare, Holly, Courtney, Andrew, Nikki, Helga, and Eugene. Thank you to Ricky Gunawan for turning my crazy cover idea into something spectacular. You are so very talented, sir.

Thank you to my husband for encouraging me to keep writing, even when I was sure I’d give up. To my parents, my brother, Jennifer, and the munchkins, for all their support. You are the most incredible family anyone could ask for.

Thank you to Andrea Hannah for being there through all the tears, happy and sad. Your friendship is a blessing. Thank you to my amazing friends, Jessica and Joanna, for breaking me out of my box and inspiring me. (We made it, you guys!) Thank you to my incredible critique partner, Farrah Penn, for reading Gateway at the drop of a hat over and over. Your love for these characters means the world.

Thank you to everyone who read Gateway in the early stages, whether it was a chapter or the manuscript in its entirety. Jenny P., Stephanie, Alexis, Jenny K., and Angie; this means you. Thank you to my amazing Secret Life of Writers family: Alex, Stefanie, Leah (and Kelsey, too). Thank you to Shannon and Jenny for all the wonderful insight into the industry and guiding me along the way.

Thank you to all my friends and family for spreading the word about Gateway. And thank you to you, the reader, for giving Gateway a chance. Thank you so much to everyone on Twitter for your words of encouragement, and for creating a community I’ve come to love and rely on.

And once again, thank you to my grandmother Virginia who sacrificed so much for me. You are my heart. I miss you every day. This is for you.

Heather Marie
lives in Northern California with her husband, and spends the majority of her time at home reading.

Before she followed her dreams of becoming a writer, Heather worked as a hairstylist and makeup artist for several years. Although she enjoyed the artistic aspect of it all, nothing quite quenched her creative side like the telling of a good story.

When the day had come for her to make a choice, she left behind her promising career to start another, and never looked back.

Photo Credit: Elisabeth Arin Photography (
http://ElisabethArin.com
)

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