The Contradiction of Solitude (49 page)

Read The Contradiction of Solitude Online

Authors: A. Meredith Walters

I chewed the last of my seasoned fries and opened my book. My father’s writing catching my eye.

I turned the page and started…all over again.

The end was my new beginning.

“Time passes, and little by little everything that we have spoken in falsehood becomes true.”

-Swann’s Way-Marcel Proust

This book is something I’ve wanted to write for a very long time. It was me breaking out of the box. Going with my gut. And most importantly writing what I wanted to.

So first and foremost, thank you to the readers who gave this book a chance. You may hate it. You may love it. But most importantly I hope you
felt
it. Because at the end of the day, that’s all I really wanted.

Ian, super husband, brain storming partner, taker of all the bullshit. This idea was your brainchild. You sat with me and hammered out the details. And most importantly you told me to write it how I thought it should be written. No holding back. Taking this story by the proverbial balls. And that’s what I did. Thank you for supporting this and every story.

To my super, awesome sparkly daughter. You kept me company many days while I wrote. And you created your own amazing stories. These are all for you. And one day you can actually read them (not for many, many years yet though).

To my Bad Ass CPs-Amy, Tonya, Brittainy, Claire, Kelsie, and Stacey. You told me to write what I wanted. And when I said, “I want to kill them all” you said, “Hell yeah!” You are the best critique partners, friends, overall fabulous women, that I have ever had the privilege to know. Thank you for always being a sounding board.

Kristy-you fantastic lady you- not only are you my PA (my right hand, the person I seriously couldn’t function without) but you are an amazing friend. You read this book and said “Holy F**K!” and that gave me all the warm fuzzies I needed to continue on.

Danielle-thanks for your patience and not screaming at me when I said, “you know what, I don’t want to market this book at all.” (Though I think I may have seen an Exorcist head spin from across the pond). Your support is awesome!

And to the bloggers, readers, and super awesome author friends, I wouldn’t be here without you. You make IT ALL worth it!

Finally, don’t be scared to go against the grain. Even though Layna and Elian’s story was messed up, it’s a journey I wanted to take. Thank you for taking it with me.

A.Meredith Walters is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of the Bad Rep, Find You in the Dark, and Reclaiming the Sand series. She has also written Lead Me Not and the upcoming Follow Me Back in the Twisted Love series for Gallery Books to be released in June, 2015. Her upcoming book, Butterfly Dreams, will be published with Loveswept and will be released in November, 2015.

Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked as a counselor for troubled and abused children and teens. The Virginia native currently lives in England with her husband and daughter.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without express permission from the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarities to persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Trademarks: This book identifies product names and services known to be trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of their respective holders. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of all products referenced in this work of fiction.

Cover design © Sarah Hansen, Okay Creations

Photography © Regina Wamba, Mae I Designs

Editing services by Tanya Keetch/The Word Maid

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