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Acknowledgments

To those who make space for music

and those who leave room for silence

Acknowledgments

I owe a debt of gratitude to the music educators who nurtured a lifelong appreciation for the power and influence of music. Lucy’s passion in this story is a reflection of a real-life Lucy, who had such an impact on my life that the songs she taught me—and the emotional connection to the songs—are tucked in my soul’s archives forever. Thank you, Lucy. (And thank you for giving permission to name my characters after you and your Charlie.)

My father—whom I consider among the top music educators of all time—didn’t live long enough to know I would write a story he influenced so strongly. Your legacy lives on in far more lives than just mine, Dad.

I appreciate the riffed teachers who shared their heartache with me. Each state or individual school has procedures and fallout unique to its protocol. Forgive me if your experience didn’t look like what is written in these pages. Please know, though, that your story matters.

A key plot point owes its drama to a woman who walked the painful path and found at least a measure of redemption in its inclusion here. Thank you for your insights, Jennifer Zarifeh Major. I’m grateful your song returned. Thank you, too, for showing me details about some forms of silence I wouldn’t have known without your family’s experience.

Thank you, Sara and Richard, for sharing the gift of your son with our church community for those treasured years. He enriched these pages.

I’m sure I’ve said it before, but my gratitude constantly runs at flood stage for my agent, Wendy Lawton; my editor, Ramona Richards; and the Abingdon Press family. Every new project we work on together increases my appreciation for how hard you work and for the heart you put into your roles.

Becky Melby, I’ve told you in person, but say it publicly here, that I don’t know how I would have gotten this book written without your encouragement, your critiques, your prayers, and your relentless cheerleading.

The connect group with which my husband and I identify has invested much in every book I write. This one is no exception. They pray and rally, not knowing what the story is about until they hold it in their hands and pray over it again.

My family’s sense of humor and devotion to one another—and to the important things in life—show up within these pages. Reader, it’s a joy to share them with you in this way.

Giver of Song, please accept my gratitude for what both song and silence have meant to me.