First and foremost, a HUGE thank you to my agent, the incomparable
Holly Root, the first person not related to me to fall in love with Sophie &
Co. Your enthusiasm and killer sense of humor make you the definition of a dream agent! Also, to Jennifer Besser, Emily Schultz, and everyone at
Disney-Hyperion Books, all of whom are freaking geniuses and made this book so much better than I thought it could be.
Big neuroses-laden hugs to all my writer friends in The Tenners, namely Kay Cassidy, Becca Fitzpatrick, and Lindsey Leavitt. Writing can be a lonely business, and you always gave me a shoulder to cry on (or an inbox to fill).
Thanks, too, to Sally Kalkofen and Tiffany Wenzler, who were my first readers, and whose questions, comments, and encouragement helped shape Hex Hall into something actually resembling a book. And to Felicia
LaFrance, whose cupcakes helped me write the last hundred pages. You rock, friend!
Few people are lucky enough to have had the same best friend for more than twenty years, so I am very grateful for Katie Rudder Mattli, who's been reading my stories since 1987, and is probably even now plotting to sell them on eBay. Thank you for your unwavering faith, and for always "validating" me!
Because I always promised I'd do this if I got published: Hi, Dallas!
Thanks to Crys Hodgens, Alison Madison, Debbie McMickin, and
Amber Williams. Y'all are phenomenal teachers, and even better friends.
I was lucky enough to have some pretty phenomenal teachers of my own. Alicia Carroll, Alexander Dunlop, James Hammersmith, Louis Garrett, Jim Ryan, Judy Troy, and Jake York were all mentors and friends, and their guidance is much appreciated.
A special thanks to Nancy Wingo, who made me enter writing contests, and compete in English tournaments, and go to Southern Literature conferences. . . . You're the best, and this book truly would not exist without you.
So much of Hex Hall is about the power of women, and I know few women more powerful than the formidable WOS--Tammi Holman, Kara
Johnson, Nancy Wingo, and my mom, Kathie Moore. You ladies are an inspiration in more ways than one!
For my parents, William and Kathie Moore. I would have to write a whole other book just to express a fraction of how thankful I am to you. You have supported me even when my path took some crazy turns, and I love you more than I can say.
John and Will, you are the brightest part of every day. Without the two of you, none of this would've been possible. I love you both "infinity"!
And last but not least, thank you to every student who sat in my classroom from 2004-2007. You guys were the reason I came to work every day, and I'm so thankful that I got to be a part of your lives. This book is for all of you.