Forged (23 page)
Authors: Erin Bowman
Finishing a trilogy is a bittersweet thing. I've spent the last five years in Gray's world, and a small army of people have supported me along the way.
First and foremost, my agent, Sara Crowe. Thank you for believing in this story when it was one of many in your slush pile, and for helping me navigate all the twists and turns in the publication journey that followed. Knowing that you have my back makes all the uncertainties of this industry less intimidating.
I owe an endless chorus of thank-you's to the folks at HarperTeen/HarperCollins Children's Books. My editor, Erica Sussman, has helped me shape this series into the story I wanted to tellâthe story I always envisioned but only managed to capture on paper because of her wise suggestions and astute queries. Many thanks also to Susan Katz, Christina Colangelo, Kara Brammer, Alison Lisnow, Stephanie Stein, Kathryn Silsand, the Epic Reads gals for their
constant enthusiasm and support of young adult literature (*book shimmy*), and of course, Erin Fitzsimmons, who continues to give my books the most stunning covers and interior pages imaginable.
I've relied on a few trusted readers and critique partners these past years. Susan Dennard, Jenny Martin, April Tucholke: Thank you for all your time and feedback. I owe you guys big-time. To Sarah Maas, Alex Bracken, Jodi Meadows, Kat Zhang, Friday the Thirteeners, the Lucky Thirteens, and the lovely guys and gals of Pub(lishing) Crawl: Writing buddies like you are priceless. I'm so grateful to have been on this journey with you.
I've wanted to be a writer since I could hold a pencil, and I'm only here today because of the support and encouragement of my parents. Mom and Dad, thanks for everything.
My sister, Kelsy, was the very first reader of this series; perhaps its very first fan. Anyone who's enjoyed Gray's story owes her a thank-you as well, because I wouldn't have gotten beyond a few chapters if it wasn't for her constantly asking, “What happens next?” So thanks for all the nagging, Kels. Truly.
Additional gratitude to my husband, Rob, who continues to be supportive of all my creative endeavors. (Also, thanks for putting up with me during that one car ride when I spent three straight hours learning how to make loon calls with
my hands. For research purposes.) I love you to the moon and back.
Librarians, educators, booksellers: Gold stars all around. Thank you for getting books into the hands of young readers and for championing my series these past few years.
And perhaps most importantly, a showering of gratitude to
you
, dear reader. Thanks for letting me tell you this story about a boy and a Wall and his quest for answers. I hope this is just the beginning for us. Better yet, I hope to one day be reading something by you. Go forth and dream big. Go forth and write!
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Photo by Tamara Namaste
(www.tnamastephotography.com)
ERIN BOWMAN
used to tell stories visually as a web designer. Now a full-time writer, she relies solely on words. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband, and when not writing she can often be found hiking, commenting on good typography, and obsessing over all things Harry Potter. She is also the author of
Taken
and
Frozen
. You can visit her online at
www.embowman.com
.
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.
Cover art © 2015 by ALISDAIR MILLER
Photo of boy and girl © 2015 by HOWARD HUANG
Cover design by ERIN FITZSIMMONS
HarperTeen is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
FORGED.
Copyright © 2015 by Erin Bowman. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
www.epicreads.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Bowman, Erin.
  Forged / Erin Bowman. â First edition.
   pages cm. â (Taken ; 3)
 Summary: “After learning the truth about the Laicos Project and surviving betrayal by a Forgery in their midst, Gray Weathersby and his group of rebels plan their final attack on the Franconian Order”â Provided by publisher.
  ISBN 978-0-06-211732-8 (hardback)
  EPub Edition © March 2015 ISBN 9780062117342
  [1. Science fiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.B68347Fo 2015
2014026696
[Fic]âdc23
CIP
AC
15 16 17 18 19Â Â Â
CC
/
RRDH
    10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
FIRST EDITION