Near Dark: A Thriller (31 page)

I want to begin by thanking the most important people in the entire process— you, the magnificent
readers
.

This is my twentieth thriller and, whether you’ve read them all, or are just getting started, I want you to know how much I appreciate and value you.

Every year, I strive to set the bar higher for myself as a writer and to improve at my craft. I do it not only because it
keeps my job interesting and challenging, but also because I owe it to
you
. I want to be the author you can always depend on for a thrilling escape.

If I meet that goal, then I have honored the faith you put in me. As I tell anyone who will listen, the readers are the people I work for—and you are the best bosses anyone could ever hope to have. When you recommend my books to friends, family,
and coworkers, as well as when you leave great reviews online, I am humbled and filled with pride that my hard work all year has paid off. Thank you.

Here’s to all of the fabulous
booksellers
who have introduced so many of their customers to my novels. Thank you for stocking, selling, and talking up my books over the (almost) past two decades. Booksellers are the on-ramp to adventure. You play
a vital role in our society. Thank you for ALL that you do.

The very kind and generous
Holidae H. Hayes
made a lovely donation to a special charitable organization near and dear to my heart. I thank you for your generosity and hope you enjoy the character named in your honor.

With each thriller I write, I lean heavily upon the expertise of some incredible
military
,
intelligence
, and
law enforcement
personnel
.
This space is always reserved to thank them together, because for their own security, I cannot thank them individually. To you ladies and gentlemen, please know how grateful I am. Thank you for what you have done for me, but more important, what you do every day for our country.

My three amigos—
Sean Fontaine
,
James Ryan
, and
Sidney Blair
—could not have been more helpful during the
writing of
Near Dark
. There are times when I feel that they must be getting tired of questions from me, but they are always gracious and always encourage me to “Keep those questions coming, Thor!”—You gentlemen are the best. Thank you for everything.

My longtime friend
Steve Tuttle
–Principal, TASER CEWs & Founding Team Member of Axon, is absolutely fearless when it comes to taking my TASER questions.
He doesn’t just say “Yeah, I think that will work,” he actually goes out and experiments until we get an answer. Thanks for helping me light things on fire!

One of the achievements I am most proud of is that all twenty of my novels have been with my wonderful family at
Simon & Schuster
. I cannot imagine working with a more talented, brilliant, kind, and professional team. It is an absolute joy
to have brought to life so many books together. My deepest, heartfelt thanks to all of you.

With that heartfelt thanks, I have to admit that my heart is also broken, as this year we lost the amazing
Carolyn Reidy
, Simon & Schuster’s President and CEO. Carolyn was an outstanding leader but an even more outstanding human being. I will miss her laughter, her fierce determination, and most of all,
her friendship. Thank you, Carolyn, for every single thing you did for me.

While it is hard to lose someone who is so much a part of your career, it only makes you realize how fantastic and valuable all of the other pros are whom you work with.

Right at the top of that list, is my phenomenal publisher and editor,
Emily Bestler
. Emily and I have been together since the very beginning. After reading
my first thriller, it was she who invited me to join the S&S family. One of the smartest things I ever did was saying yes. Since then, Emily has not only helped expertly guide me through the writing of twenty books, she has also become one of my dearest friends. Thank
you for all of it, Emily, and for sprinkling in so much laughter and good humor along the way.

Along with Emily, the sensational
Lara Jones
and the rest of the
Emily Bestler Books team
are the absolute best of the best! Thank you, all.

Simon & Schuster’s extraordinary President and Publisher,
Jon Karp
, is one of the nicest people I have ever met. He has had a monumental career, because he not only understands the publishing industry inside and out, but (as one himself) he also understands writers. Thank you for always
being such a powerful advocate for me at S&S. I look forward to working together for many more years to come.

Remarkable people with superb ideas are the wellspring of success. I couldn’t be happier than to have Atria publisher
Libby McGuire
and associate publisher
Suzanne Donahue
in my life. You two continue to be amazing, and I appreciate all that you have done for me. Thank you.

I also have
to add the incomparable
Kristin Fassler
and
Dana Trocker
to the list of people I am so grateful for. You know you are working with confident, accomplished professionals when they refuse to rest on their laurels, are always looking for new ways to do things, and always want to go farther than last time. Thank you, both.

I don’t get to thank the spectacular
Gary Urda
and
John Hardy
often enough.
Having them on my side is like having my own Special Forces team inside Simon & Schuster. Every single day they are figuring out bold, new ways to advance, take ground, and achieve success. I am incredibly fortunate to know and to be working with them. Thank you, gentlemen.

While I’m doling out the praise, I want to give a big thank-you to the marvelous
Jen Long
and the outstanding team at
Pocket
Books
. We have been putting some fantastic initiatives into play this year, and it is because of their creative genius. I really appreciate all of you. Thank you.

My awesome publicist,
David Brown
, continues to crush it, year in and year out. Always thinking, always adapting, and always coming up with new strategies, he is tireless in all that he does on my behalf. David, I’m the luckiest author
on the planet. Thank you.

And, speaking of crushing it, I want to extend a huge thanks and my
deepest appreciation to the superb
Atria
,
Emily Bestler Books
, and
Pocket Books sales teams
. If you’re reading this, it’s because they helped get it to the right bookseller. They are absolute pros, and I am so blessed to be working with them. Thank you, all.

Behind the scenes, the impressive
Colin Shields
,
Paula Amendolara
,
Janice Fryer
,
Adene Corns
,
Liz Perl
, and
Lisa Keim
continue to leap tall buildings on my behalf! You, along with the terrific
Gregory Hruska
,
Mark Speer
, and
Stuart Smith
, are an out-of-this-world team. Thank you!

Knocking it out of the park, the
Simon & Schuster audio division
continues to put unbelievable points on the board. The job they do not only producing the audio versions
of my books but also selling and marketing them is amazing. I want to thank every brilliant person under their banner, including
Chris Lynch
,
Tom Spain
,
Sarah Lieberman
,
Desiree Vecchio
, and
Armand Schultz
. Thank you.

Like Scot Harvath, when you choose someone to watch your back, you want that person to be off-the-charts talented. That’s what I have in my sharpshooter,
Al Madocs
of the Atria/Emily
Bestler Books Production Department. No matter what the mission requires, Al is always there with a smile and a can-do attitude. Al, a million thank-yous would never be enough. You’re the best. Thanks for everything.

This year, we wanted to enhance our “look,” and that job fell to the peerless
Jimmy Iacobelli
of the Atria/Emily Bestler Books and Pocket Books Art Departments. The
Near Dark
artwork—especially
when you see it on the hardcover edition—is nothing short of stunning. Jimmy, I tip my creative hat to you. Extremely well done, sir. Thank you.

My unbelievable copyeditor,
Fred Chase
, did such a terrific job keeping me on the straight and narrow. Thank you so much for your professionalism and hard work.

Twenty novels—and every one of them lovingly overseen by my formidable agent and dear friend,
Heide Lange
of
Sanford J. Greenburger Associates
. Heide is the representative every author dreams of having. She is brilliant, an absolute savant when it comes to publishing, gives great counsel, and is a highly respected negotiator. No matter where you encounter her in the process, she will always treat you fairly. Simply
put, they don’t make them better than Heide Lange. Thank you for such an
incredible journey.

Heide is backed up by a tremendous team that I am thankful for every day, including the fabulous
Samantha Isman
,
Iwalani Kim
, and everyone else at
Sanford J. Greenburger Associates
. Thank you, all, for everything. I really appreciate all of you.

Even closer to home,
Yvonne Ralsky
is one of the most brilliant people I have ever known. And that brilliance is exceeded only by
her sense of humor and wonderful outlook on life. I consider it an incredible privilege to know you, work with you, and call you my friend. Thank you for all that you have done for me.

One day, I am going to write a nonfiction book about all of the twists and turns in Hollywood. At the center of it, will be the dashing
Scott Schwimer
—my wonderful friend and absolutely dynamite entertainment attorney.
Scottie, I love you tons and tons. Thank you for everything—especially your love, laughter, and infectious optimism.

Now I get to thank
my incredibly accommodating
,
unbelievably understanding
,
and absolutely beautiful family
. Thank you for your unconditional love and unwavering support. It means the world to me. I love you more than you will ever know.