Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun

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As Finlay Donovan’s circle of support continues to grow, so does my own. I am immeasurably grateful for the following people, who remind me every day why I love my job.

For my agent, Steph Rostan, words are insufficient to express my gratitude. I was orphaned when I began writing this book, the ink still drying on my contract. I was angry, angsty, and grieving, but mostly I was terrified that I might not find an agent who would welcome the workload Finlay and I carried with us—two yet unwritten books meant two full years of representation that wouldn’t yield much of a payoff. But after we spoke, that fear gave way to hope. You have been my tireless champion since, and I am the luckiest author in the world to have you in my corner. Michael Nardullo, Cristela Henriquez, Courtney Paganelli, Miek Coccia, and Melissa Rowland round out my dream team at LGR—what an incredible home I’ve found with you all!

For my editor, Catherine Richards, who loves Finlay as deeply as I do and continues to come up with the very best titles—working with you has been an honor and a joy. Kelley Ragland, Jennifer Enderlin, Nettie Finn, Sarah Melnyk, and Allison Ziegler, your enthusiasm for Finlay is contagious and your confidence in me is unwavering. I can’t tell you how much your support means to me or how grateful I am for each of you. Katy Robitzki, Claire Beyette, Amber Cortes, Asharee Peters, Amanda Crimarco, Samantha Slavin, David Rotstein, David Lott, Paul Hochman, John Morrone, Janna Dokos, Laura Dragonette, and proofreader Jeremy Pink, thank you for all you do in support of my books. And can we talk about these incredible audiobooks? I am so lucky to have the extraordinary and talented Angela Dawe narrating the voice of Finlay!

For Sanjana Seelam and everyone on Team Finlay at WME, the indomitable Marlene King and Lauren Wagner, and everyone at 20th Television Studios. I’m so lucky for the opportunity to have shared this journey with you.

For my writing besties, Megan and Ashley, thanks for letting me lean on you so hard this last year. For absorbing my tantrums and my tears and for reminding me how to laugh through it all. I’m so damn proud of us and how far we’ve come. We’re definitely going to need a bigger shelf.

For Kara Thomas, Bethany Crandell, and Andrea Contos, thank you for reading the earliest draft of this story. Your notes made me think, made me laugh, and challenged me to write a better book. I’m so lucky to be part of this community of supportive, talented, badass mom-writers.

For Heather Gudenkauf, Gwenda Bond, Sophie Cousens, Liv Constantine, Chantel Guertin, Rachel Lynn Solomon, Kaira Rouda, and Hank Phillippi Ryan, thank you for reading Finlay Donovan Knocks ’Em Dead and offering such lovely endorsements about my book. I’m honored by them.

Many thanks to the following experts who offered professional feedback and resources during the drafting of this story. To Amy Impellizzeri, for her courtroom advice. To my husband, Tony, for answering all my IT and networking questions. To Lee Lofland, for creating the Writers’ Police Academy, which has provided me with endless resources and years of inspiration. I am a better novelist because of it. And many thanks to instructors Mark and Reese at Colonial Shooting Academy in Richmond, Virginia, for an outstanding beginner handgun class. Any mistakes I’ve made in this book are my own and sometimes intentional, in the spirit of creating more engaging fiction.

For my family, thank you for the endless patience and support during the nights when I didn’t make dinner and never made it out of my pajamas because I was chasing deadlines. Every word I write is for you.

For Bookstagram, all the buddy readers and book club groups, and for my readers far and wide, thank you for your passion, from the bottom of my heart!

For my friend and bookseller extraordinaire, Flannery Buchanan, thank you and Bluebird Bookstop for lifting me up, sharing coffee, and welcoming me to the neighborhood with so much warmth. I’m inspired by you and all you’ve accomplished!

And, finally, for the friends who’ve stayed—the ones who held my hand when I was at my worst and kept cheering for me through my best. Nicole, thanks for always, always being there for all of it—for celebrating the best parts, supporting me through the worst parts, and even putting up with my ugly parts. Your unconditional friendship means the world to me. I hope fifty years from now we’re still laughing, holding on to each other, and sharing stolen umbrellas when it rains.