Acknowledgments

I had a crazy year last year. Baptism by fire as I got swept into the world of publishing and put on my professional-writer hat. What did I discover? How much I had to learn about everything! I was no longer just sitting by myself in my chair, writing stories when I wasn’t being a mom. I was writing one story, editing another, and doing a final read-through on a third; having a website built; learning about newsletters and blogs; sending a gazillion emails about everything; and attempting to conquer all things social media.

I thought my brain might explode. Especially as Highland Betrayal took a lot more coaxing to reveal itself to me than either Highland Promise or Highland Conquest.

But I got through the fire—maybe a little burnt but still OK—because I had people who helped me out of the flames. Not just people—teams of people! Team Sourcebooks, Team Home Front, and Team Romance Writers!

Team Sourcebooks: Cat Clyne, Rachel Gilmer, Stefani Sloma. These are my main peeps at Sourcebooks who shepherd me through editing, production, and promotion, and they do it with intelligence, professionalism, hard work, humor, kindness, and understanding. They are my first cheering squad and do whatever they can to help me make and sell the best books possible. Thanks to all three of you! There are also people at Sourcebooks with whom I don’t work directly but who create my gorgeous covers, promote my books to other markets, and so much more! Thank you, Team Sourcebooks!

Team Home Front: I couldn’t do this job without having help with my kids. First and foremost, hugs and kisses to my husband, Ken, who steps up whenever he can, even though he also works long, demanding hours. To my dad, Jim, who will have two five-year-olds down for breakfast so I can sleep in after a late night writing, or will pick them up from school or come upstairs just to watch them color when I’m pushing a deadline. To Courtney, my lifesaver, who put on her flip-flops, grabbed the kids, the puppy, and the car keys, and took all three of my babies on lots of summertime adventures. To Cherie, who will take on my two and never bat an eye when I only have to take on one of hers in return. Thank you, Team Home Front!

Team Romance Writers: Hey You Guys! Big thanks go out to all my fellow romance writers. They are the best group of writers evah! Here at home, I get to chat about all things publishing with the gals at GVWA and with Eileen Cook and Alexia Adams, who are always up for wine, appies, and inappropriate humor. In addition, I chat online almost daily with my fellow Mermaids and members of the Golden Network, who offer so much support, information, and laughter. A few of these women I text with daily (sometimes hourly!) as we each race toward our deadlines, try to figure out promo or how we can possibly manage all the different hats we wear. For the past year, those women have been Layla Reyne, Melonie Faith Johnson, and Kari Cole. Love you, ladies! Lastly, a special thanks to the fellow writers who helped me in all the other aspects of being a writer this year—the brilliant Crystal Stranaghan, who created my gorgeous website and knows everything there is to know about self-publishing, and the amazingly diverse and knowledgeable Monica Burns, who held my hand, got me set up, and taught me everything else I had to know. Thank you, Team Romance Writers!