Savage Drift

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

First and foremost, I would like to thank Holly West, my editor at Feiwel and Friends. During the four years that I have been working on the Monument 14 series, Holly has risen through the ranks at Feiwel and Friends to become an Associate Editor. Holly is the one who fell in love with Monument 14 when it was in proposal form and insisted Jean Feiwel take a good, long look. After collaborating with me on both Monument 14 and Sky on Fire, Holly was given the reins to edit Savage Drift. I feel fortunate to work with you, Holly, and I look forward to many more years together.

Jean Feiwel, I love being one of your friends. Thank you for getting out in front of this series and clearing the way for it.

Hearty thanks to my excellent agent, Susanna Einstein, for her forward thinking (and for always having my back) and to Sandy Hodgman, for helping to bring the Monument 14 series to the world.

This series wouldn’t be the success it is if not for the efforts of the Macmillan Children’s publicity department. It also wouldn’t be such a success if the Macmillan Children’s art department wasn’t so nail-bitingly awesome. And if the sales team hadn’t gotten behind the series like a 40-ton 18-wheeler. Then there’s the marketing department, which I just want to kiss on the mouth for everything they’ve done.

Are you sensing a theme? It takes a bunch of departments—scores of people—to make a book a hit. Here is my list of shout-outs at Macmillan. Thank you to: Publicist superstar Molly Brouillette! Cover artist extraordinaire KB! Lauren “Brings It” Burniac! Delightful Angus Killick! Elizabeth Fithian, who I’d follow anywhere! Allison “Vrrrrroooom” Verost! Big-thinking Kathryn Little! Brilliant Rich Deas! The GonzBargRuCronTaylWards Hit Squad! Patient, patient Dave Barrett! Ksenia “Kickass Blog Tour” Winnicki! Courtney “Go! Go!” Griffin!

Anne Heausler, I’m honored to share you, the finest copy editor on the eastern seaboard, with countless YA superstar authors. We’re all lucky to have you.

I enlisted a large crew of beta readers to help me with Savage Drift. Sincere thanks to: Kristin Bair, Jonathan Blake, Shyam Dewan, Greg Harrison, Lukas Lopez-Jensen, Zack Martin, Donna Miele, Ken Herndon, Tiffany Zehnal, my dad, Kit Laybourne, and my uncle, Colonel Tim Ryley.

I’m terrifically excited about the film company Strange Weather and their development of a Monument 14 movie. Jeff Fierson, thanks for loving the book so much and for believing in it, and in me. I’m looking forward to collaborating with Andrew Adamson and Aron Werner. And thanks to my film agent, Stephen Moore, for putting the deal together and to Kim Stenton, for making sure it all lined up.

Adam Cushman and Red 14 films did a phenomenal job with the trailer for Savage Drift. Thank you to the Deka Brothers, Ben and Julien, for their vision and direction. You can see the trailer at emmylayborne.com or on the Red 14 site, Red14films.com.

(Do you think it’s weird and wonderful that the film company I’m working with is called Strange Weather and the cinematic book trailer company we chose to do the trailer for Savage Drift is called Red 14 films? I do.)

I dedicated this book to my sisters, Herran and Renee, because they each showed some serious bravery this year. You each gave me a great gift in 2013 and I want to thank you both.

My kids love to read their names in my books, so I will write them here: Ellie and Rex, hello! I am a very lucky woman to get to be your mama. The last person I thank is the first in my heart, my husband, Gregory Robert Podunovich. Your faith in me was my constant companion as I worked on this series. Thank you.