I smile. “Did I forget to tell you that we Lehr women only have girls?”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This was a fun but tough book to write. I always knew Marie would be an interesting character once I took the time to explore her. She’s a woman who knows who she is and what she wants, but still grapples with how to get it. I really enjoyed getting to know her, as well as seeing Jonah and Calla from her point of view. This book is much subtler and softer than Calla and Jonah’s story of plane crashes and tragic death, but I felt that subtle and soft is how Marie’s tale should unfold—with competitive siblings and aging parents and real-life worries. I hope you enjoyed this different experience within this world.
As much as I’ve lived in this fictional world since 2017, when I sat down to write, I had to learn a lot about an industry that has proven controversial, especially in recent years. I wanted to recognize the real—fair—concerns while also respecting the sport, the history, and the good people who still embrace dogsledding today. There are a lot of opinions on both sides, and some things, I’m wary to believe. But I did have the opportunity to visit one of these kennels during my trip to Alaska in the fall. The dogs were very happy and seemed eager to run. They also loved to steal gloves and we were warned they might pee on us if we stood long enough （I kept moving.） I knew that had to make it in.
In case you were wondering about timelines, Marie’s “today” starts in January, 2020. I couldn’t bring myself to type out that year though, as it has brought such turmoil to every part of the world, including Alaska and the Iditarod race world. It would have been impossible to incorporate that real-life situation without losing the entire story. Within these pages, COVID does not exist.
I will continue to say an immense thank you to my readers. The Simple Wild released in 2018 and your positive energy for this fictional world has grown exponentially.
Hang Le, for your incomparable cover design talent.
Jenn Sommersby, for your editing prowess, your kind words, and your wisdom.
Chanpreet Singh, for lending your shrewd eyeballs to this manuscript in search of the mistakes I missed.
Nina Grinstead and the team at Valentine PR, for helping to shine a light on this book and for all the behind-the-scenes legwork getting copies of this story into eager hands.
Stacey Donaghy of Donaghy Literary Group, for nine years of support, negotiations, and combing through contracts. But also for the laughs.
My family, who has finally （mostly） embraced the Do Not Disturb sign on my office door, and still care to ask what I’m writing next.