When I'm Gone: A Novel (31 page)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

First, I have to thank everyone from the Sarcoma Alliance. So many of you were willing and eager to share your battles with me. You know what it is to face an unknown future—you are fierce warriors, and you are my heroes.

A special thank you to these sarcoma warriors who have passed on and to their family members who continue to support others battling this disease: Beth H. Levy Feigenblatt, Ellen McCaffrey, Kate Caruso, Christopher Hecknauer, Mark A. Cohen, Doug Haro, Peter Tomaras, Glenys Perry, Jenny Miller, Jim Markey, Vanessa Sandré, and Amy Heiter.

Thanks to my wonderful “real-life” writers’ group: Joanne Osmond, Paulette Swan, Kelli Swofford Nielsen, Mary Rose Lila, and Deb Brooks. I look forward to our meetings all month. You give me such a safe, comfortable place to share and grow as a writer. I love working with each of you and enjoy sharing our passion for writing.

And my virtual support system—Dennis Maley, J. S. Hughes, Natasha Raulerson, Jimmy Cearlock, and Kalinda Knight—you keep me going on those days when I think I can’t write another word. Between word sprints, word goals, critique sessions, and brainstorming, you remind me that writing doesn’t have to be solitary.

To Natalie Selbe, you are the reason I started this story. Thanks for brainstorming crazy story lines with me, always being up for a read, and giving excellent feedback. What would I do without you?

To my author friend Lauri Fairbanks, you are a wonderful writer and an even better person. We are on this journey together. Thanks for always keeping me on your to-do list. You are one strong woman.

Authoress Mallory Crowe, you are such a good example of hard work and dedication. Thank you for knowing the right words to say and for putting up with my late-night texts and early-morning panics. You deserve all the joy and success that comes to you.

My agent-mate and friend, Charlie Donlea, how the heck did I get so lucky to find another StringerLit author so close to home? You have talked me off a ledge more than once. Thanks for reaching out and being so accessible. Here is to many more releases, launch parties, and panic-induced e-mails in our futures.

And to J. S. Hazzard—you keep me honest, you keep me real, and I love that about you. Thank you for being you.

Thank you to my lovely and talented critique partner, Maura Jortner—you go above and beyond. How you do so many wonderful things all at the same time makes me believe you must be superhuman . . . or have perfected cloning.

Thank you to the author team at Lake Union, including Gabriella Van den Heuvel and Thom Kephart. I treasure all the behind-the-scenes work you do. Seriously, you guys are amazing.

To my second set of eyes, developmental editor Nancy Brandwein, you help me take these stories to a whole different level. I’m eternally grateful for your insights and suggestions. And my copy editor, Cheri Madison, thanks for having some seriously awesome eyes and catching all those details that
my
eyes blur over.

Danielle Marshall, my editor and cheerleader, you can’t know how much your drive and skill inspire me. I am so very lucky to have you as a partner in this process.

My wonderfully talented agent, Marlene Stringer, you teach me so much. I can honestly say I am living my dream because of you. Thank you for your hard work and dedication. Your passion for my stories keeps me going.

Thank you to everyone who read and loved
Wreckage
. All of you that took the time to leave me a message on my Facebook page or contact me on Twitter, or send me a nice e-mail—you’ve been the fuel in my tank. Knowing there are readers out there who want to read more is humbling and invigorating.

To my friends and family—wow. That’s all I can say. You’ve rallied around me, encouraged me, supported me, and high-fived me. I am
your
biggest fan. Thank you endlessly for not getting tired of me talking about books, publishing, and all the ups and downs of writing.

Thanks to my sister, Elizabeth Renda, for reading, learning how to give me excellent feedback, and attending a writing conference with me even though you pretend not to be a writer. Thanks to my brothers and parents for bragging endlessly and embarrassing me only slightly less. I feel loved.

To my kids—so, you got a mom who makes up stories for a living. Right now you think that is pretty cool, and I love that. I hope you always enjoy being creative and using your imagination. Thanks for your love, hugs, and patience. You are a stellar group of little people, and every day I am grateful for the opportunity to watch you grow up.

And to my husband, Joe. This is a fun ride, and I’m glad you are on it with me. Thanks for cheering me on, providing me with snacks, caffeine, and belly laughs right when I need them. I love you.

AUTHOR BIO

Photo © 2015 Amber Linderman Photography

Emily Bleeker is a former educator who learned to love writing while teaching her students’ writer’s workshop. After surviving a battle with a rare form of cancer, she finally found the courage to share her stories, starting with her debut novel,
Wreckage
. A fully recovered “secret writer,” Emily now spends her days wrangling four kids while planning out plotlines and writing about the people in her head. She currently lives with her family in suburban Chicago. Connect with her or request a Skype visit with your book club at
www.emilybleeker.com
.