She's Too Pretty to Burn

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This book would not exist in any form without the combined efforts of Jessica Anderson and Lauren Spieller. I owe these two a great debt of gratitude for their work on this project. They provided invaluable guidance and inspiration, and working alongside them has been an actual dream come true. Thank you, Jessica, for providing me the opportunity to tell this story and let it take its strange and winding course. I appreciate the creative freedom and the incisive direction; you’re a master of words. Lauren, thank you for your infallible steadiness and wisdom. You are a rock, and these years of working with you have been better than I could have imagined.

My dear friend Kit Rosewater was my artistic coconspirator, planning Nico’s antics alongside me. Without Kit, there would be no forest party, no Fishing for People. My critique partner, Layne Fargo, was, as always, an incredible sounding board for ideas and editorial eye on drafts of this book. Erica Waters, thank you for reading a broken early piece of this book and kindly helping to guide it. Of course, my mother was brought in to consult on art crime locations around San Diego; a mother’s job is never done.

So many writer friends have provided a sounding board, a sympathetic ear, and a sense of community: Diana Urban; Mike Chen; Aiden Thomas; Hannah Mary McKinnon; Halley Sutton; Kristen Lepionka; Laura Weymouth; and all the writing colleagues who have encouraged me, providing a willing ear, and inspired me to do better, be better. JT Ellison, Kimberly Belle, Emily Carpenter, Jenny Hillier, Wendy Walker, Riley Sager—you’ve given encouragement and guidance freely and without reserve. How can I thank you for your mentorship and openness?

This book is dedicated to the memory of my grandmother, Veta Denton. She was the namesake of my only daughter, and she loved books more than anyone.

Above all, this book is for those who see themselves in its difficult moments. You’re never a waste; you’re so much more than pretty little things. Go forth in power and kindness.