Destined (47 page)

The crit partners who loved Psyche (originally Sadie) and encouraged me to tell her story – even when the early versions were less-than-stellar.
 
Nikki Katz, Lynne Matson, Georgia McBride (also my awesome editor), Kimberly Sabatini, Professor Hinkley, and Heather Howland – you have all been instrumental in making me a better writer.
 
I thank you for each and every read through and revision you’ve taken the time to give me.

The support I received from #yalitchat has been unmatched. I never would have had the knowledge or the guts to attempt self-publishing without the team over there.
 
For all of you on the MOD squad – LM Preston and Lauren Hammond, in particular – you have my unending thanks.

My young beta readers were also an early source of encouragement.
 
The Richburg girls – Abby, Morgan and Caroline – who told their dad my story wasn’t quite Harry Potter, but just as good as
Twilight
, will probably never have any idea how much that meant to me.
 
I thank you for your comments and detailed feedback. And Skye Martin, who liked the book so much she got her teacher to approve a draft of
Destined
for reading credit, you are awesome!

Along the way, so many other people have taken the time to read
Destined
and give me their thoughts and suggestions for making the story even better. While there are too many of you to list, I know who you are, and I thank you.

Readers – this book would be for nothing if you weren’t reading it. Thank you for having the interest and trust in my writing to pick up this title.

I couldn’t conclude without thanking Josh Longiaru, who lent his talents to the book cover, book tour banner, promo materials and so much more.
 
I feel lucky to have found you.
 
And Damaris Cardinali at Good Choice Reading, a huge outpouring of thanks for organizing my blog tour!

Last but not least – thanks to my mom and dad for never thinking there was anything I couldn’t do. Mom, you’ve listened to me ramble, gush, fret and cycle through every other emotion out there and always been just as excited for me as I am.
 
And Dad, I’ll never forget how you read that really early version of
Destined
even though reading, let alone reading literature set in ancient Greece and written for teen girls, couldn’t have been your idea of a good time. I love you!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessie Harrell is an appellate lawyer who lives with her husband and two daughters in Jacksonville, Florida.
Visit her online at
www.jessieharrell.com