The Meeting Point by Olivia Lara
Acknowledgments
I’ve truly loved writing Maya’s story. I started it at a time when the world seemed to be at a standstill, and everything felt dark (during the first weeks of lockdown in the Bay Area in early 2020). I knew I wanted to tell the kind of story that recharges your batteries, helps you feel hopeful and dream again. An uplifting, heartwarming love story set in a dreamy location, with characters I would love to spend time with…in real life and become friends with. I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve lived vicariously through Maya and her adventures in California.
First and foremost, I want to thank you, the reader. Thank you for picking it up online, in a bookstore or library (I know you have many choices for your next read, and I bet your TBR pile is ever-growing, just like mine). Thank you for reading. Thank you for telling your friends and family about my book(s), posting reviews, sharing photos and all your support. Thank you for coming along for the ride, whether this is the first of my books you’ve read or you’ve also read Someday in Paris, my debut.
I hope you enjoyed The Meeting Point, and it made you smile, believe in love (be it, at first sight, text…in any shape or form), and it helped you discover (or re-discover) the magical small town of Carmel by the Sea. Hopefully, you will also get to see it in person. Don’t forget to take your copy of the book/or your reading device with you so you can retrace Maya’s steps. If you do, I’ll be on the lookout on social media for the #TheMeetingPoint and your lovely photos. I will definitely do the same. Returning to Carmel—my absolute favorite place on the West Coast—, after missing it dearly for a year, is my birthday gift to myself in 2021.
As always, a big thank you to Hannah Sheppard, my talented, patient, lovely literary agent who’s been my biggest supporter from day one! I’m lucky to have found you. And thank you to everyone at DHH Literary Agency.
My editor, Hannah Todd, and the Aria Fiction/Head of Zeus team, who brought The Meeting Point to all of you and who worked me with at every step of this incredible journey…from the first draft to the beautiful, happy cover, to publishing day (and everything in between and beyond). Thank you for everything!
And last but certainly not least, thank you and limitless love to my family for your unconditional love, support, extra cups of coffee on late writing nights, giving me space and time to be creative and keep doing what I do, knowing that it makes me happy. Thank you for all the small things (and big) you do every day. I am blessed.