Carving for Miss Coventry by Deborah M. Hathaway
Acknowledgments
I feel like each new book gets harder and harder to write. Shouldn’t that be the opposite?? Oh well. I’m just extremely grateful for all those who have helped me—and continue to help me even when I’m crazy.
First, my author friends. Ladies, what would I do without you?
Martha Keyes, I gotta give you props, you Whitney-Award-Winner, you. Months ago, you gave me permission for my story to have a morning and a night coachman’s route so I wouldn’t have any plot holes. You also gave me permission for something else…but now I can’t remember what it was. Oh, well. Thanks a bunch. You’re the best.
Kasey Stockton, you read the worst draft of this story known to man. I’m seriously so sorry. I can’t even imagine the patience you had to have to read through it. Thanks for not telling me it totally sucked, even though it totally did. You’re also the best.
Joanna Barker, I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—I love that we have the same sense of humor. Your edits are my favorite because you laugh at all my dumb jokes. I mean, my hilariously hilarious jokes. And you’re the best, too.
Arlem Hawks, you have taught me from the beginning that details matter to a story—and I’ll be forever grateful for it! I’m so blessed to have you in my life, my friend. You’re the best, as well.
Jess Heileman. When I was freaking out about this story, thinking it was the worst thing I had ever written and that it had zero romance in it, you volunteered to read the story ON YOUR FLIPPING VACATION. Who does that? The most selfless person on earth, that’s who. Thank you so much. You’re the best also.
Jenny Proctor. It gives me so much comfort to know that I have you backing me up and supporting my story, helping it to shine so I don’t have to whine. That didn’t even make sense. Maybe I should have you edit my acknowledgements, too.
A quick shout out needs to go to every single one of my ARC readers and to my Bookstagram friends. Tasha (@the_clean_read_book_club), Mandy (@probablybookinit), Ashlee (@bookswithnopictures), Madi & Meg (@apageofpeace), Marilee (@marilee.loves.to.read), and so many more of you. Thank you for the laughs, the shares, and the support. You make my life unbelievably easier. Thank you for loving my books!
Next, I need to thank my family.
Mom and Dad, your trust and confidence in me, your support of me, and your love for me mean everything to me! I don’t know what I would do without you both.
My sister, Joanna. I am so grateful for your friendship. I always looked up to you when I was a little girl—and I do so even more now. Thank you for your continued support in everything I do. I’m so glad we live close to each other. You have always been such a blessing in my life. Love you!
Finally, Christian. Thank you for your unending patience with me as I finished this book. I’m sure you never get tired of me saying how each book I write is the worst book I’ve ever written. Or how I’m never going to write again. (Sorry about that.) You may not carve wood, but you are still my working class man. *kissy face emoji*