The Unnaturalists

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book is a testament to persistence—mine and the many people who’ve shared the journey with me. My agent, Jenn Laughran, persevered tirelessly to make sure my equally tireless editor, Navah Wolfe, found this book the one she couldn’t live without. It was a long journey, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t stumble here and there along the way. I also very much appreciate the dedicated staff of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers: production editor, Katrina Groover; production manager, Michelle Kratz; and the wonderfully talented designer, Chloë Foglia.

Though this book is dedicated to Tricia Scott, I also can’t thank her enough for her abiding enthusiasm and support, sometimes given literally from what we all were sure was her own deathbed. I’m so proud of her for conquering breast cancer and so grateful every day she is still with us. If this story belongs to anyone, it’s hers.

I must also thank other writers for their support, good humor, and friendship—Stephanie Burgis, Ying Lee, Lisa Mantchev, Gwenda Bond, Mark Henry, Richelle Mead, Caitlin Kittredge, Cherie Priest, Kat Richardson, Stacia Kane, and Nicole Peeler, to name quite a few! Early drafts were read by Tessa Gratton, Maggie Stiefvater, and Natalie Parker—I appreciate their excellent comments and suggestions. Thanks to J. Kathleen Cheney for the epigraph. I’m very grateful also to Jeff Mann, Kelly Fineman, Cheryl Ruggiero, and Sue Hagedorn for some damn fine poems and meals, to boot. Big hugs to Synde Korman for the beautiful and inspiring jewelry based on scenes from the novel. Thanks to my dear local friends—you know who you are. And of course for all years of unfailing love, belief, and devotion, endless thanks to my Jewel.

TIFFANY TRENT writes in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. She is the author of the Hallowmere series and also the recipient of a Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Work-in-Progress Grant. Her short stories have appeared in Magic in the Mirrorstone, Corsets and Clockwork, and Subterranean magazine. When not writing or editing, she’s either contemplating pie, out playing with bees, or chasing bears with her wildlife biologist husband. Visit her at tiffanytrent.com.