Authors: Lara Deloza
Winning (23 page)
First and foremost, I want need to thank my editor, Kristen Pettit, who never stopped believing that my words were worthy of being read. Working with you again has been an amazing experience. In fact, it never quite feels like workâmore like fun. Always.
I'm grateful to the wonderful staff at HarperCollins, including Elizabeth Lynch, Veronica Ambrose (who, quite literally, is my favorite copy editor ever), Sarah Creech, Alexandra Rakaczki, Elizabeth Ward, and Gina Rizzo. Thank you all so much for the care you put into this book.
To my patient husband, who encouraged me to take on this project, and who cheered me on every step of the way, I say this: you are made of awesome.
And for Wendy Kinna, who's not only the best friend a girl could have but also the best beta reader everâthank you for helping me find my ending. Again. And for loving even the most unlovable of characters every bit as much as I did. You deserve a tiara of your own.
Finally, I need to give shout-outs to my favorite writing partner, Carolee Kunz; my friend and mentor, Cruce Stark; and my lovely and talented Aunt Barbara, from whom I got the writing gene in the first place. I adore you all.
By day,
LARA DELOZA
works for the International Literacy Association, a global advocacy and membership organization dedicated to advancing literacy for all. By night, she writes books for tweens
and teens. In her spare time (what's that?), she likes to cook tasty things, watch too
much television, and read until she can't
keep her eyes open. Lara lives in Delaware,
where she grew up, but you can find her online at
www.rhymeswithmascara.com
.
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.
Cover art and design © 2016 by Sarah Creech
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WINNING
. Copyright © 2016 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2015952520
ISBN 978-0-06-239669-3 (trade bdg.)
EPub Edition © June 2016 ISBN 9780062396716
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FIRST EDITION
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