Читать книгу Rebecca & Heart - Deanna K. Klingel - Страница 5

From the beginning of this book’s ten-year journey to publication, I’ve learned so much from so many. This was the first manuscript I ever wrote intentionally for publication. In 2007, I had no idea what to do with it after I wrote it. One day at the dog park I told my friend Carley Starr I’d written it, and now I didn’t know what to do with it. Our late friend Larry Butler sat on the picnic table with his dogs and said, “Send it to my sister. It’s what she does. She reads stuff people write.” Larry badgered me about it for a few months, and finally, reluctantly, I sent it to his sister. If Larry were here he’d be celebrating with me. It was Larry who pushed that little manuscript into my career as a children’s author.

Robbie Butler White, his sister, is an outstanding editor who at that time worked with Brubaker and Ford Book Bundlers in London. As a PhD in English, she taught me everything about writing and editing and the desire to know more! Rebecca and Heart’s story was loved by Brent Brubaker and David Ford who took the manuscript to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Before leaving they called me and said, “We know you know we like this little story. But, we wanted to tell you how much we love it!” Rebecca & Heart did well in Bologna, they told me, and has had an interesting shelf life ever since, on and off with publishers, traveling here and there, long waits in between. And at every turn, an opportunity to grow and become a better story. I could never put it away; I could never stop tweaking, adding, moving things around, editing, rewriting. Ten years later, with fifteen books published, I’m finally ready to let go of Rebecca & Heart, believing it’s as good as I can make it. I hope it will make a difference in someone’s life.

Robbie, Brent and David, thank you. Robbie patiently gave me the editing skills I needed to become an author, and Brent and David gave me the confidence to continue to write. I will always be appreciative, and I think of you with every book I write.

Thank you to my beta readers Dawn Witzke, Carolyn Fraiser, and Lisa Fowler who helped me rework the ending with their valuable and sensitive input and tender hearts.

Thanks to my daughter Sally who never let me forget Rebecca & Heart was simmering on the back burner. And thanks to my husband Dave whose tireless encouragement made sure Rebecca & Heart would eventually be “finished.”

Thank you to the volunteers whose passion for research for autism enhances the lives of those on the spectrum. In 2007, when I wrote my first story about Rebecca, one child in 150 was diagnosed. Today, ten years later, it is one in 68. I hope loving Rebecca will help young readers develop the compassion they need for classmates or siblings with autism.

And finally, thank you to Progressive Rising Phoenix Press, the publisher, and to Rebecca Willen for editing my finally-finished story. Thank you all, who embraced the story, put the cover on it, and sent it on its way. No one can write, edit, and publish alone. Thanks to everyone who helped me get Rebecca & Heart over the finish line.