Breathe, Annie, Breathe (23 page)

I’m a lot like Annie. When I was little, I used every excuse I knew to get out of running in gym class. I’d say I had a cold. A sprained arm. “My asthma is acting up and I forgot my inhaler today.” I just didn’t like running. It made me tired and sweaty and out of breath, and all the other kids were so much faster than me. It felt like it would never end.

Even when I got to high school and started playing varsity soccer, I never wanted to run laps before and after practice. “You mean to tell me after we’ve been kicking a ball around for an hour, you want me to run two miles?!” Again, even in high school, I had excuses. “My ankle hurts.” “My asthma is bothering me.”

It wasn’t until after college that I decided to really get in shape. I started eating right, started exercising several days a week, and I bought some books that taught me how to run. Running is something that humans are designed to do. Like talking, eating, and sleeping, running is a part of the human experience. But as you probably saw from Annie’s story, learning to run long distances is not an easy feat. The book I read gave tips on how to build up my mileage over time, much like Annie does in the book. It took me about a year to train, but I was eventually able to work up to 26.2 miles. I am of the opinion that if you want to run a marathon, you can—you just have to work hard and read magazines and books to learn how to train correctly.

I ran the Marine Corps Marathon in 2005. And it was the toughest thing I have ever done in my entire life. Some people think running is something you do on your own, but it requires a support team—people to keep you hydrated and fed, and to cheer you on.

Writing a book is a lot like training for a marathon. It takes lots of focus and practice. And I couldn’t do it without a lot of help from family and friends.

My husband, Don, helps me through every book I write—with his knack for understanding human character and pointing out my wordiness, I couldn’t do this without him. He’s always great at getting me out of the house when I have writer’s block and need to clear my mind. Thanks for being my biggest fan.

Thank you to the Longstreths, Kenneallys, and Beggans for always supporting me.

A huge thanks to Julie Romeis Sanders, who helped me take this book from a shell of a story to something much bigger and stronger. I am in awe of how you recognize the important threads of a plot and know how to pull them out and enhance them.

To my beta readers, your feedback and insights were, as always, super helpful: Jessica Spotswood, Tiffany Smith, Trish Doller, Sarah Skilton, Natalie Bahm, Lena Thomsen, Kari Olson, Jen Fisher, Andrea Soule, Mickey Reed, Jessica Wallace, and Robin Talley (you finally got your Ping-Pong book).

The personal thoughts and feelings about extreme sports given to me by Hannah Maier and Scott Vetere were invaluable. Darryl Jones, trainer extraordinaire, taught me so much about working out in the gym and the human body in general. All of you helped me to understand Jeremiah Brown’s character.

To Duffy Winters, one of the biggest YA fans I know, thanks for letting me use your last name! And to Bob Nardo, you probably don’t remember them, but a lot of the conversations we had in college about life and death helped me shape this book.

Sara Megibow, you have always been my biggest advocate—I couldn’t ask for a more committed agent. Thank you to Aubrey Poole and Todd Stocke for your thoughtful edits and tireless advocacy on behalf of this book. I continue to be amazed by the team at Sourcebooks: Dominique Raccah, Sean Murray, Derry Wilkens, and Jillian Bergsma. Thank you to Leah Hultenschmidt for launching my career.

Many thanks to my fans—none of this would be possible if not for you. Keep working hard and believing in yourselves and going after what you want.

Photo by Rebekah J. Murray

1. Once while running a half marathon, I was passed by an old woman who claimed to have bronchitis. I still had a respectable time though—2:13.

2. I am obsessed with regency historical romance novels set in London featuring lords, ladies, butlers, and maids.

3. When I met George Lucas, he was wearing white jeans. Yes. White jeans.

4. One time at a Red Sox game, I dropped a foul ball, and then everyone booed me—including my husband and his family.

5. I have, in fact, attempted to learn how to speak Klingon.

6. If I have writer’s block, I immediately go out for Mexican food.

7. I love chatting on Twitter, so come say hi to me!
@MirandaKennealy