Grace Grows (45 page)

“And you’re like both of them.”

“So it seems. Anything else?”

“I liked the sex.”

“Oh, you did?”

“You’re a good writer, babe. You should think about writing a real story next, instead of just a bunch of stuff that happened to us.”

“Yeah, I’m already thinking about that.”

“Awesome. Meanwhile, you may thank me.”

“For?”

“Wrecking your life.”

I looked at him, horrified. “Ty! I was
joking
. That was a joke!”

“I don’t know,” he said. “I think it might be true.”

“Then it needed wrecking.”

“Come here,” he said.

I sat next to him on the piano bench.

“Breathe,” he said.

I kissed him. And breathed.

He smiled. “Yes, Gracie.
Yes.
”

author’s note

The ridiculous publishing scenarios in this story are all based on real situations I either heard of from my editor friends or read about in Diane Ravitch’s fascinating, infuriating book about the textbook industry,
The Language Police: How Pressure Groups Restrict What Students Learn.

Ty’s songs for Grace

“This Sign”

“Calling”

“Her”

“Something Sacred”

“Tonight”

“A Breath Away”

“Believe”

“The Finest Moment”

To learn more about the
Grace Grows
sound track of original songs written and recorded by Lee Morgan, including a bonus track from Ty, “The Bottom Line,” go to
www.shellesumners.com/grace-grows-book/original-songs
.

Grace and Ty’s playlist

acknowledgments

Many people have helped me reach this place of wonderful fruition. I am deeply grateful to:

Tracey Post and Emily Townsend, who met me for breakfast twice a month and listened to the entire first draft of this story as I wrote it. They were wise and helpful and it meant so much that they were with me, caring about my girl Grace as she tried, and stumbled, and eventually got it right.

Jill Kearney, my beautifully gifted writer friend, who read one of my screenplays and suggested that I try writing a novel. Some years later, she read my
Grace Grows
manuscript and opened a life-changing door for me.

Ruth Pomerance, who has been steadfast in her belief in this book and its possibilities. I don’t know what I would have done without her creativity, guidance, and extraordinary efforts on my behalf.

Laurie Liss, my phenomenal agent. She was willing to take a chance on a new author, guided me thoughtfully and patiently in preparing the manuscript for sale, and then sold it to my dream publisher in very tough bookselling times. Also, she has the most soothing telephone voice ever.

Brenda Copeland, my funny, dynamic editor, who brilliantly and gently eliminated everything unnecessary, rearranged scenes in clever ways, and inspired me to write additional material that made this book so much richer.

and

Laura Chasen, Brenda’s shining assistant, who patiently answered my many questions and helped edit the manuscript with tremendous sensitivity and insight.

I must also thank my indispensible, expert research helpers and sources of wisdom about textbook publishing, pharmaceutical patents, natural childbirth, and shaky Spanish: Tobey Antao, Jewel Moulthrop, Kevin Townsend, Lynn Whitney, Anne Hohenberger, and Jorge Garcia Salas.

For their thoughtful reading and encouragement, I am grateful to Meg Cox, Brad Garton, Teresa Stevens, Sara Oderwald, Stephanie Cohen, Christina Chang, Karen Updike, Kearney McDonnell, Nora McDonnell, Mary Hull, Cindy Morgan, Leslie Morgan, Dr. Lee Morgan, Rachel Morgan, Florence Morgan, Julie Konigsmark, Carrie Sumners, Stacey Lynch, and my mom, Rose Hohenberger.

And finally,

Thank you to Lucy Rose Morgan, the most wonderful girl in the world, who is my inspiration in everything,

and

Lee Morgan, for sharing his life and his profound musical gifts, and for lending Ty his beautiful voice.