Defy the Dark (36 page)

Authors: Saundra Mitchell

More than
most, this volume owes its existence to the hard work, dedication, and talents of many.

I have to sing the praises of my authors. Each answered a random email asking if she or he would write a story, if, theoretically, I could sell an anthology. Everyone who said yes is published in these pages, and I couldn't be more thrilled about their stories. These authors have been here since the beginning; their work is the heart, soul, and purpose of
Defy the Dark.

I didn't tell my agent, Jim McCarthy, that I was writing an anthology proposal. I surprised him with it, and I'm grateful that he was excited, not gobsmacked. It made a lot of extra work for him, and it means a lot to me that he undertook it so enthusiastically. He found a perfect champion for
Defy the Dark
in my editor, Anne Hoppe.

By turns funny, insightful, and absolutely assured, Anne is exactly what she needs to be when she needs to be it: an anchor, a rock, a bulldozer. What's more, I don't think another editor would have allowed me so much input, latitude, and autonomy. It's been an exciting, eye-opening process with Anne at the helm; I'm so glad she's the captain of this ship.

I'm also wildly grateful to Estlin Feigley and Dreaming Tree Films. Estlin gave me a start when I was an aspiring screenwriter with nothing on my CV but cobwebs. In the fifteen years we worked together, Estlin never forgot his mission: bringing the art of filmmaking to teens who might not otherwise get the chance. Without Fresh Films, Girls in the Director's Chair, On the Road, Book of Stories, and Estlin Feigley, there would be no
Defy the Dark.

There would be no brand-new author in
Defy the Dark
if it weren't for the incredible team at HarperCollins and the talents of a wonderful crew at Figment Fiction. It's not easy mounting a search for a new author on short notice, but they did it beautifully. Special thanks to Nina Rastogi, Lindsey Stanberry, Colleen O'Connell, Lauren Flower, Megan Sugrue, and Casey McIntyre. They worked incredibly hard behind the scenes to make this look easy.

For everyone named, and anyone I should have: thank you, thank you, thank you.

About the Editor

SAUNDRA MITCHELL
has been a phone psychic, a car salesperson, a denture deliverer, and a layout waxer. She's dodged trains, endured basic training, and hitchhiked from Montana to California. She is also the author of
Shadowed Summer
and the Elementals series. She always picks truth; dare is too easy. You can visit her online at www.saundramitchell.com.

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www.AuthorTracker.com
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Credits

HarperTeen is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Defy the Dark

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Defy the dark / edited by Saundra Mitchell. â 1st ed.

Â Â v.Â cm.

ISBN 978-0-06-212354-1 (hardcover bdgs)

ISBN 978-0-06-212353-4 (pbk bdgs)

Epub Edition Â© MAY 2013 ISBN 9780062123558

1. Shades and shadowsâJuvenile fiction. 2. LightâJuvenile fiction. [1. ShadowsâFiction. 2. LightâFiction.] I. Mitchell, Saundra.

PZ5.D35Â 2013

2012029993

[Fic]âdc23

CIP