Dear Heart, I Hate You

It was hard.

The most difficult story I’ve written to date- if for no reason other than…. life is sometimes really challenging and really, really, hurts.

I hope that you felt something while you read it. I hope it resonated in some deep part of you and helped you feel less alone. You’re never alone. To hurt is human. To love is human. To want to heal is also human.

Thank you to my incredible cover designer, Michelle Warren, who continues to blow my mind, cover after cover. She creates so much beauty from a simple image that I find myself constantly impressed by her raw talent. Thank you again for not only being the best in the business, but for being a true friend.

To my editor, Pam Berehulke, who takes my emotional word vomit and makes it decipherable. You would think that I’d be better at this by now, but clearly I’m not. LOL Thanks for always trying to get me to tone down the F-words; one of these days it might stick, but don’t hold your breath.

Thank you to the girls who helped me work through this experience (yes, this book was an experience), read an early draft of the story, called to see how I was doing, sent me text messages, checked in on me, or basically made my day by being a part of it: Tray, Becky, CatJacks, Krista Arnold, Brittainy McCane, Jessica McBee, Brina, Jillian Dodd, Tara Sivec, Tarryn Fisher, Claire Contreras, Kyla Linde, Colleen Hoover, and Corinne Michaels.

Thank you to all of the girls in my Perfect Game Changer group for your general awesomeness. I’m always awed by how good you all are to one another—supportive, helpful, encouraging, and most of all, loving. I am so thankful and proud to be a part of you.

Last, but never least, The Boy. Blake always gets a thank-you, not only because he threatens me if I don’t (honestly, what’s he going to do to me?!), but because he is my most favorite human on this whole entire planet. Thank you, Blake, for not always understanding what I’m doing, but understanding why I do it.