Mr. 8

Acknowledgments

Writing is a solitary activity. We sit in a dark room, mumbling stories to ourselves, trying to translate thoughts and feelings into language. But writing a novel is never accomplished alone.

I would like to thank my wife Jennifer for all of her loving support and encouragement. I love you more than words can ever express.

I would like to thank my family for creating a loving, nurturing environment to grow up in. Thanks to my mother, Chris, for always encouraging my artistic nature. Thanks to my sister, Gail, for exposing me to non-age appropriate material that probably warped me—but in a good way. Thanks to my sister, Karen, for fostering a love for books in me and for teaching me how to read long before I went off to school. Thanks to my brother, Mark, for reading me bedtime stories and telling me all those ghost stories. And a very special thanks to my father, Phil. The sorrow of his passing is still fresh and deep. All the many things he did to shape me into the man I am will not be forgotten.

I would like to thank my oldest and dearest friends, Jeffrey and Michael. The two have you have been reading my stories since I first began writing them. Nearly everything was awful, but you read anyway. And that's just one of the reasons why I love you both. I would like to thank Wattpad. Your organization freed me. Until I stumbled upon your forum, my writing really was just mumbles to myself. You gave me the opportunity to share it with the world and grow in the process. Thank you Gavin Wilson, Nazia Khan, and Danielle Thé for your support while I was writing this book.

And thanks to all the people, who work hard to make this wonderful site possible.

And thanks to all my wonderful Wattpad friends and supporters. While writing Mr. 8 you were my sounding board, my shoulder to cry on, and my mentors. Whether you knew it or not, this book would not have been possible without you. Thank you Alys Arden, Rebecca K. O'Connor, Anastasia Weil, R.D. Hale, Caasi Wendeh, Robert Daniel Brooks, Kate Hauxwell, Lily, Kuronoshio, LouAnn Rice, Godhand, J.S. Bennett, Lindsey Clarke, and R.S. Kovach. But that is only the very smallest tip of the iceberg, if I had the space I could go on for pages naming all the wonderful people, who helped and supported me. I know after this is published, I will deeply regret many of the omissions I have made, but truly from the bottom of my heart, thank you all.

I would like to thank my amazing publishing team: Gerald Braude (editor), Lydia Johnson (proofreader), and Donald Cronkhite (cover designer).

And finally, a very special thanks to the crazy LARD club. Thank you Lucy Laird—one day when you have a writing empire, I hope you'll remember the fun we all had in the fall of 2013. Thank you Ashutosh Moru—I wish I had one tenth of your enthusiasm and energy. And thank you so much Cathy LeMay—not just for your friendship that has meant so much to me, but for also leading the way and helping get this little book published.