Acknowledgement Page

I think every author has things about their book that they look back on and say- Oh man I really wish I would have...
But this one is going to bug me until the day I get dementia and forget it ever happened. (Insert cringing emoji face here.)
I started writing my acknowledgement page for KA back in November/December-ish time of year. I have so many people to be grateful for and I get really excited to tell them THANK YOU! Anyway... I started it... I first went through those who inspired, those who'd already read, those who helped publish and then family... and then I finished it oh, maybe a couple weeks later. There were a few more things I wanted to say about my sisters and a few friends whose love and support have been amazing that I needed to add! And then I sent in the unfinished version #1. (Again with the cringing emoji, followed by the crying one...)
So, I sent the correct one in to my publisher twice as well as half a dozen emails about it and a plead to allow me to check it before it went to the printer. Well, there is a lot to think about when running a company and getting a book out--and my mistake wasn't a priority. (Super sad emoji face...)
Anyway, here is the correct Acknowledgement page.

Acknowledgements for Knowing Amelia

I started writing this book in the early part of 2009, at the end of that year it was half done. But also at the end of that year my mother passed away. My heart was broken and every time I sat down to write, I couldn’t. I’d force myself to sit in front of the computer and then the only thing that would flow were my tears. Several months later I started up again, but it was difficult, harder than it had ever been before and I didn’t finish until sometime in 2011. It felt different. It felt as if I’d woven a piece of my heart into the pages of this book. So, first I thank my mom who loved me, her little girl so fiercely, my life will be forever blessed.

I need to thank Great Grandma Minnie, whom I never met, but whose own journal sparked the idea for this novel. I don’t know enough about Minnie to know if she and Amelia are anything alike, but I do know she had some passion written in the few journal entries I read. And she’s got a pretty wonderful great grandson whom I happen to be in love with.

Thank you to the readers, who bought, read and loved LIKE HOME. You have made my first experience as an author seriously awesome—with beautiful reviews and so much support. I wish I could thank you all individually.

Big thanks to my friend Marc from our local UPS who helped me to make beautiful posters, business cards and bookmarks. Seriously, you’re the best. Every author needs a Marc.

Thank you to my dear friends and beta readers of this book, Amy Scharf, Samantha, and Heidi. You serve me so much. Your love and help make me want to sit down and pump out another chapter just to hear your reaction. I need to give a special thanks to Heidi who might actually love this book as much as I do. You’ve probably read it as many times as I have too. Thank you for your time and expertise and for shutting down my doubt whenever it tried to take over.

Special thanks to some dear friends. Fara my friend, you keep my cheesiness from spiraling out of control. Thank you for putting up with, supporting and loving me. One day we’ll sip virgin margaritas in our old lady swim suits on the beaches of Hawaii. Kim, you are one of the smartest people I know. You love so kindly and support so strongly. I’m so grateful to call you my friend.

To Denice, my editor. I love you! We are like friends who need to come face to face one day. Thank you for being blunt! Thank you for challenging me and making what I do and what I love that much better. To Jo, my publisher, thank you for making this all possible and for doing it with kindness. To Mary, my proofer, you are kind and yet you do your best to pin point every detail until it’s right—for which I am so grateful! Thank you! Love you! To Amber who created my cover. I had a vision and you made it a hundred times better! Thank you!

Huge, giant, gazillion thanks to my family. To my Dad for being so proud of me and bragging about me every chance you get. To my sisters, Kris and Beck, I am so thankful and blessed to be your baby sister. Kris, I don’t know if you love what I write because you love me so much, or if it’s because we happen to love the same things. Thank you for always being proud of me. Becky, all my life if you could possibly be there to support me you were—you are! Thank you for always taking time for me and for loving me so much. And to my other sisters, Amy, Kristi and Jodi—thank you for your support and love. I am so grateful for you. Thank you to my brother, Greg—you wrote me that fake acceptance letter from some made up publisher back in 1991 and I was too excited to realize it was all a joke. One day I’ll forgive you …but really, you’re the best brother a girl could ask for and I’m so grateful for your example and love. To Ron and Kathy- thank you for loving me and being proud of me, for reading what I’ve written and asking others to do the same. I’m forever grateful we’re family.

To my own precious little family, Jeff—my favorite person on the planet, thank you for loving me, for inspiring me, for supporting me, for being the man you are. Tim, Landon, Seth and Sydney—my other favorite people. You are my precious angels who make my days worthwhile. Tim- you amaze me on a regular basis. You are kind and loving and forgiving and an example to your mom.  Landon- I don’t know anyone like you, my boy. You have such a beautiful, giving soul. You’re someone I could write a book about—you are a star! To Seth, my baby boy- when you took my book, LIKE HOME to your third grade class as your reading material I wanted to cry. You are the sweetest kid I know. Thank you, darling, for being you. To my Sydney- what would I do without you? You keep me smiling and on my toes at all times! You make sure life is always good and always a surprise. I am certain your grandma Kay sent you down to me and that is a gift I will never be able to repay.

Lastly, I would be nothing without my loving Heavenly Father. For all that I am, for all that I expressed gratidtude for in this note and in life He has given me. I am forever thankful to Him.