Eliza, Melody, Ryan, Brook, Jeff, Emily, Kristine, Erin, and the rest of the No Excuses crew, thank you for reading those early drafts despite my terrible first pitch, especially Lyla Lawless for dissecting all those synopses. Margie Fuston, you’re a lifesaver and the only reason this book has a sequel. Thanks for being the angel （devil? devilish angel?） on my shoulder.
Despite detours, disappointments, and discarded manuscripts, my path to publication glittered with magic thanks to the fairy godmothers of mentorship, Brenda Drake and Alexa Donne, and the Pitch Wars and Author Mentor Match communities, especially my mentors, Molly E. Lee and Jamie Krakover. Pitch Wars Class of 2017, you have my heart forever. Kylie Schachte, Jade Loren, Ipuna Black, Julie Christensen, and so many more, thank you for picking me up when I thought I’d never get here, and for celebrating the loudest when I did. Special shout-out to Shelby Mahurin, for a pep talk when I needed it most and for inspiring me to write the book I wanted to read.
My dear friends Rajani LaRocca and Andrea Contos, I’m so grateful that writing led me to you. Anna Rae Mercier, my writerly soulmate, podcast partner, and the most patient critique partner on the planet, thank you, thank you, thank you. For everything.
Ayana Gray, Lauren Blackwood, and Natalie Crown, I never thought I’d make new friends during lockdown, but I’m so glad we found one another. Lyssa Mia Smith and Sophie Clark, it was a joy being your mentor and even better becoming friends.
Tamora Pierce, Elle Cosimano, Sarah Glenn Marsh, Hannah Whitten, Lyndall Clipstone, Lauren Blackwood, Ayana Gray, and Allison Saft, thank you for taking the time to read and for the generous praise I will cherish forever. And every writer, reader, and bookseller who has shared their enthusiasm, thank you from the bottom of my heart for loving Alessa and Dante.
Grazie mille to Monica, Emma, and Diletta, for inspiring me, lending me your names, correcting my Italian when I butchered it accidentally, and forgiving me when I did so on purpose. This book absolutely would not exist without you. Dante is lucky to call you family, and so am I.
None of this would have been possible without my amazing family. My mother, who gave me her love for words and the determination to try to make them perfect, and who still tries valiantly to teach me Italian grammar and comma usage. And my father, who taught me to love rom-coms, speculative fiction, and disaster movies. I am who I am, and this book is what it is, because of you.
To my husband, Brian, the most pragmatic person I know, you choose to have unwavering faith in me and my impossible dream anyway, and that means everything. Being married to an author should come with really nice benefits, but alas, all you get is your name in the acknowledgments, a messy house, a lifetime of people asking which character is based on you, and my love. And finally, my children. Thank you for all the hugs and brainstorming ideas, for being my biggest cheerleaders, and most of all, for being your wonderful selves. You are my light.
About the Author
EMILY THIEDE spent her childhood daydreaming and reading in trees. A former public school teacher, she teaches creative writing; serves on the board for Writer House, a local nonprofit; and mentors aspiring writers through the Pitch Wars program. Emily enjoys fostering rescue kittens and getting lost in the woods of central Virginia, where she lives with her family. This Vicious Grace is her first novel. Find her on social media at @ektwrites and visit her website, ekthiede.com, or sign up for email updates here.