A Note from the Author
When you’ve written forty-plus books, you’d think that you might run out of ideas. But the universe has been kind to me, by giving me an infinite amount of creativity. (Okay, and some drama-filled family and friends that keep me swathed in story ideas.) I am just thankful that I am able to continue to create books that people want to read.
I wake up every day thanking God for that blessing.
I’ve lost count of which book number this actually is. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. But I’ve been blessed to have a long and somewhat successful career doing what I love. I wouldn’t be able to do what I love were it not for all the people in my corner.
Thank you to my amazing family. Though you long ago stopped being impressed with my new books, your support has never wavered. To my children—I love you to the moon and beyond. Special shout-out to my little sissy, Tanisha Tate. Y’all, I love this chick. The end.
My business partner, writing partner, therapist, voice of reason, and friend-till-the-end, Victoria Christopher Murray, thank you for always helping me talk through my stories, for picking up the slack when I’m slacking, for providing motivation and encouragement, and for getting me off the couch . . . I am eternally grateful.
My core . . . my forever ride-or-die friends who stopped reading at book number two but never stopped supporting—Jaimi Canady, Raquelle Lewis, Kim Wright, and Clemelia Humphrey Richardson—love you ladies for life!
Pat Tucker, I am forever grateful for your support and friendship. Nina Foxx, I’m blessed to call you a friend.
To my soror, my friend, my publicist, Norma Warren, who will never admit it, but I’m sure has called me some very unsisterly names , thank you for your love and patience. I’m still working to #DoBetter.
To my BGB admin family: Jason, Cherritta, Kimyatta, Raine . . . thank you so much for all that you do. To our amazing partners . . . I’m thrilled to have you on our team.
As usual, thanks to my agent since day one, Sara Camilli; my editor from the beginning, Brigitte Smith, and my new editor, Marla Daniels; my wonderful publicist, Melissa Gramstad; and the rest of my family at Gallery. Thank you for continuously believing in me!
Editor extraordinaire John Paine, once again you worked your magic. My books soar because of you.
Thank you to some very special friends who helped my muse be her best on this book: Jay, Dishan, Eddie, James, Jihad, and my cousin, Moses.
A thousand thanks to my literary colleagues: Da Bad Authoresses, Tiffany Warren, Renee Flagler (you guys make this literary journey bearable ), Eric Jerome Dickey, Stacey Evans Morgan, Brian Smith, Victor McGlothin, Kwame Alexander, Karla Bady, and Kimberla Lawson Roby. Special shout-outs to: Monique S. Hall, Sharon Lucas, Yolanda Gore, Cecie Reed, Sophie Sealy, Nakecia Bowers, Eric Jamal, Sheretta Edwards, Lisa Paige Jones, Tres Dunmore, April Moore Gipson, Bridget Crawford, King Brooks, Tiffany Tyler, Lisa Meade Hawkins, Gina Torres, Michelle Chavis, Michelle Harden, Shawn Rushing, Pam Gaskin, Radiah Hubert, Lynn Clouser, Orsayor Simmons, and my sister-cousin, Shay Smith.
I could list book clubs for days. But I want to give a special acknowledgment to A Novel Idea, Brownstone Book Club, Sistahs in Conversation and Sistahs in Harmony, Black Butterfly, Cover 2 Cover, Savvy, Nubian Pageturners, Cush City, Black Pearls Keepin It Real, Mahogany, Women of Substance, My Sisters & Me, Pages Between Sistahs, Shared Thoughts, Brag About Books, Mocha Readers, Characters, Christian Fiction Café, Sisters Who Like to Read, Readers of Delight, Tabahani Book Circle, FB Page Turners, African-American Women’s Book Club, Women of Color, Zion M.B.C. Women’s Book Club, Jus’Us, Go On Girl Texas 1, Book Club Etc., Pearls of Wisdom, Renaissance, Lady Lotus, and Soulful Readers of Detroit, Brownstone (please know that if you’re not here, it doesn’t diminish my gratitude).
Thank you to all the wonderful libraries that have also supported my books, introduced me to readers, and fought to get my books on the shelves.
People often ask why I take time to thank my Facebook friends. But I’ve gotten so much love, encouragement, and support from my social media family. While I’m sure I’m missing someone, thank you to: Bernice, Allison, J’son, Natalie, Davina, Kiera, Rachel, Bettye, Ronnesha, Karen, Natalie, Sonja, Lisa, Lateefah, Gail, Juda, Ingrid, Vicki, Shelly, Charlene, Michelle, Karla, Tracey, Karyn, Crystal, Eddgra, Tonia, Kimberlee, Cindy, Annette, Nicole, Chenoa, Brenda, JE, Tanisha, Beverly, Noelle, Kim, Princis, Joe, Charlenette, Yasmin, Terri, Cheryl, Kelley, Katharyn, Bridget, Alicia, Arnesha, Tamou, Sharmel, Antoinette, Cynthia, Jackie, Ernest, Wanda, Ralph, Patrick, Lissha, Tameka, Laura, Marsha, Wanda, Kym, Allison, Jacole, Stephanie, Dawn, Paula, Nakia, Jodi, Cecily, Leslie, Gary, Cryssy, KP, Tomaiya, Gwen, Nik, Martha, Joyce, Yolanda, Lasheera. (Y’all know I could go on and on . . .)
Lots of love and gratitude to my sorors of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (including my own chapter, Mu Kappa Omega); our illustrious president, Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson; my sisters in Greekdom, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., who constantly show me love . . . and my fellow mothers in Jack and Jill of America, Inc., especially the Missouri City–Sugar Land and Durham Chapters.
And finally, thanks to YOU . . . my beloved reader. If it’s your first time picking up one of my books, I truly hope you enjoy. If you’re coming back, words cannot even begin to express how eternally grateful I am for your support. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!
Much Love,
ReShonda