Thin Space (27 page)

Authors: Jody Casella

Tags: #Fiction

My awesome editor Gretchen Stelter, who nudged me along through an intense summer of rewrites. I bow down to you, Gretchen, for your editing skills but also because you are the only person I know who does aerial yoga.

All of the cool people at Beyond Words Publishing, especially Lindsay Brown and Emmalisa Sparrow, who read Marsh’s story and loved it as much as I do. And a special shout out to my copy editor Linda Meyer, who was kind enough to point out my over-reliance on several particular words . . . “Jeez,” as Marsh would say.

My first agent Mary Grey James, who plucked my manuscript out of the slush pile, and then when she retired, her partner, Deborah Warren, who picked up where MG left off. Deborah Vetter and Cicada Magazine for giving me my first shot. Sally Oddi at Cover to Cover Bookstore for passing along ARCs, talking books, and helping me plan a launch. Kim Griswell and Judy Burke and everyone at Highlights for making me believe I am a writer.

My mentors Marcia Thornton Jones and Tracy Barrett. All of my first readers, especially Jill Bixel, Sandra and Courtney Berger, Ella Koscher, Robin Gibson, Linda Eskildsen, Janet Buchas (love you, Auntie Jan!), and Pat Papagna (love you, Mom!). Anisha Andrews for sharing her identical twin experiences. Lisa Politz for being brutally honest and absurdly optimistic (so far you have always been right!). Jason Gobble, who has stuck his neck out for me on more than one occasion, and Tom Lamb, who has the distinction of having read EVERY SINGLE THING I’ve ever written since I was 18. I owe you guys. Big time. My chosen sister Deb Rogers for telling me two billion times: “This one is going to be the one.” THE best writing friend and partner ever: Donna Koppelman. Your turn next, lady. (Also, you owe me a hair dryer.)

And last, but so not least, my ridiculously supportive husband and children. Rick, I don’t deserve you. Ben, you are the smartest person I know. Brilliant Jane, who changed the course of this book with a simple question. Your name, sweetie, will be on a book one day too.

Photo by Richard Eskildsen

Ohio-based
JODY CASELLA
has been writing stories since the age of seven. She majored in creative writing at Rhodes College and started an MFA at the University of Memphis. A moment of fear at the sheer impracticality of being a poet caused her to quit writing, earn an MA, and start teaching. After a stint of working and raising children, she’s grateful to be back to writing full-time.
Thin Space
is her first novel.

Simon Pulse