Everlost

Acknowledgments

Everlost would have been ever lost, had it not been for the tireless efforts of those who helped me find my way to the light.

First and foremost, my deepest thanks to David Gale and Alexanra Cooper for their insightful editorial work, an everyone else at Simon & Schuster for being so supportive every step of the way.

Many thanks, the Fictionaires: the writing group from heaven, who continue to hold me up and keep me from sinking to the center of the Earth. Thanks to Barbara Rattigan, for her research on ghost ships, razed hotels, demolished piers, and other such oddities. Thanks to my parents for their unending support, and for always being there whenever I need them, as well as Patricia McFall, my "big sis" in every way that matters.

Thanks to Andrea Brown, agent/goddess, as well as Danny Greenberg, Shep Rosenman, Steve Katz, Trevor Engelson, Nick Osborn, and Will Lowery, all of whom have given a career to a guy who just thinks weird stuff and writes it down.

My gratitude, also, to kids in schools across the country, who listened to bits and pieces of the story, and voted on the title. Your enthusiasm gives me the motivation I need to write every book! And finally, a very special thanks to my children—Joelle and Erin, who are my muses, and Brendan and Jarrod, whose thoughtful comments on early drafts of Everlost were crucial to shaping the book.

Everlost has been the labor of love,and without all of you, I would have never have gotten where I was going!