Hammer of Witches (39 page)
Authors: Shana Mlawski
Uqba
: AHK-bah
Vicente Pinzón
: bee-SEHN-teh peen-SOHN
Yucahu
: yoo-kah-OO
For more information about these pronunciations, please visit
There are many, many
people I’d to thank. First, Jessica Regel, the best literary agent who ever lived, and Stacy Whitman, my wise and eagle-eyed editor: you both are brilliant. Thank you for everything. My deepest gratitude to all the wonderful people at the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency, Tu Books/Lee & Low, and Audible for bringing this book to life and putting it out into the world. A hearty thank you to everyone who read and gave me notes on my mediocre early drafts, including Jordan Stokes, Adriana Vallejo Kreger, Leslie Root, Carlos Hann Commander, Daniel Hayes Kahn, Selena Liao, Wes L. Miller, Laura Biagi, Kiffin Steurer, and Julia Johnson. Special thanks to Jorge Estevez at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian for his kind words and helpful insights into Taíno culture. Andrew Mar and Isaac Stewart: you are amazing. I can’t imagine a more beautiful cover than the one you created for this book. Much love and thanks to all of my former English and writing teachers, especially Barbara Aronowitz and John Crowley, and to my friends and family for their unflagging moral support. I am humbled and honored to have you all in my corner.