Hiding Cracked Glass

Chapter 3

Writing a book is not an achievement an individual person can accomplish on his or her own. There are always people who contribute in a multitude of ways, sometimes unwittingly, throughout the journey from discovering the idea to drafting the last word. Hiding Cracked Glass, the second book in my Perceptions of Glass contemporary fiction / family drama series, has had many supporters since its inception in the fall 2019, but before the concept even sparked in my mind, others nurtured my passion for writing.

First thanks go to my parents, Jim and Pat, for always believing in me as a writer and teaching me how to become the person I am today. Their unconditional love and support have been the primary reason I accomplish my goals. Through the guidance of my extended family and friends, who consistently encourage me to pursue my passions, I found the confidence to take chances in life. With Winston and Baxter by my side, I was granted the opportunity to make my dreams of publishing this novel come true. I"m appreciative to them for inspiring me each day to complete this book.

Hiding Cracked Glass was cultivated through the interaction with and feedback from several talented alpha and beta readers. I"d like to share a special call-out to Shalini for supplying insight and perspective during the development of the story, setting, and character arcs. I am indebted to her for countless conversations helping me to fine-tune every aspect of this tale. Shalini went above and beyond to find as much time as I needed, and I"m humbled at how generous this woman has been. Thank you.

I am also beholden to the talented author, Didi Oviatt, who has become a close friend in the last year. So close that we have recently finished co-writing a book that will release in 2021. While editing Hiding Cracked Glass, I asked Didi if she would read a draft and point out all the areas that needed more emotion and pop. Didi very quickly turned around her thoughts on twelve scenes and provided valuable suggestions—that"s when I knew our partnership as authors on other projects was going to be a phenomenal experience. Thank you so very much.

There were also several amazing members of the team who volunteered to read an early draft of the book. These amazing nine readers and friends found most of my proofreading misses, grammar mistakes, and awkward phrases. I couldn"t have completed this wonderful story without Misty, Nicole, Anne, Laura, Lisa, Anne, Mary, Valerie, and Nina. A major thanks to them for encouraging me to be stronger in my word choice and providing several pages of suggestions to convert good language into fantastic language. I"m grateful for their kindness and big-heartedness to play such an integral role in catching the things my eyes and mind completely overlook.

Thank you to Next Chapter for publishing Hiding Cracked Glass and paving the road for additional books to come. Their support and focus on my novels in the past three years has been a key reason I"m able to keep on writing more. I look forward to our continued partnership.