FULL acknowledgments for Wildwood
Due to an unfortunate error in the printing process, the vast majority of my acknowledgments for Wildwood were cut. This broke my heart as so many of the people I cherish and helped get Wildwood to where it is were not included. I'm including the full acknowledgments below!
Acknowledgements
First and foremost, thank you to Jade Kavanagh, my literary agent. I can still remember the day I received your reply to my query. I remember blinking at the computer screen, not really comprehending that you had actually replied. It was surreal. Reality playing out just like, no, better than, I’d fantasized. You are my dream agent and it was clear from that first email that you got my book, that you got my writing, and that your enthusiasm would take it as far as it could go. To the entire team at Darley Anderson, I truly cannot tell you how proud I am to be represented by your agency, home to many of my favorite writers. Mind blowing.
Thank you to Sarah Stein. I know it’s no small thing to take a chance on a debut author, so thank you for taking that chance, and for your brilliant editorial eye. Thank you to the entire team at Harper, especially Jackie Q.
Thank you to my team at Embla. What a thrill to know my book will be read in the UK!
To Laura Joyce, the amazing editor I hired from Reedsy, I truly don’t think any of this would have happened, had I not hired you. Your brilliant editorial skills turned my very rough draft into a polished manuscript that I was proud to send to agents.
To Nicole Diamond, the first person to ever read Wildwood, and in the roughest of drafts. You have always been one of my biggest champions and most loyal of friends. To Jocelyn Giso, my real-life Mia, my partner in crime, my “should we do an impromptu lunch in Salem?” girl whose friendship I cherish dearly. To Tessa Nazzaro, thank you for being such an enthusiastic beta reader and devoted friend. To Emma Bates, Danielle Chircop and Sarah Riordan, your friendship means the world. To my aunt Margaret, thank you for championing me and encouraging me from the get go.
To the town of Norwich, I am obsessed with you. It would be ridiculous to try and pretend Newfield was not reminiscent of Norwich. BUT the characters and Elinor’s experiences are entirely fictional, and the historical society is wonderful. Not a day goes by that I do not feel incredibly grateful to live here, among such wonderful, welcoming people, in such a supportive community. To Daphne P, Emma D, and Fiona H, thank you for your friendship.
To Flynn Berry, thank you for your guidance, your generosity, and your friendship.
To my parents, Karen and Edward Woo, I won the lottery when I got you as my parents. You have always, always, always supported me. Always encouraged my dreams, always pushed me to do my best. And were always there for me when I struggled. You are still the first ones I want to tell when there’s news, good or bad. I got a book deal! My car broke down! The fact that I think of you first, now and always, is a testament to your parenting. I love you so, so much. To my sister Courtney, what would I do without you? The best big sister, my biggest cheerleader, my best friend.
To my husband Blake Dunkel,it’s not hyperbole to say that without you, I would not have started writing. You encouraged me to pursue writing even when there was zero evidence to suggest it would ever turn into anything, and supported our family financially, so I could give it a real shot. I love you so very much.
To Minka and River, my babies, this story is for you. May you grow up to love reading, and find endless adventure and mystery within the pages of books.