My Heart be Damned (35 page)

Damned had not overrun the world, because of me. I was responsible for saving the planet. Too bad, he could never know. They left my room and then I held the plate away from me, letting the smell fill the air.

“We got fresh cookies.”

Marshall stepped out from behind the wardrobe and jumped on me, pushing me down onto my back. He took the plate of cookies and set them on my bedside table.

“Those come later. Now, where were we?” His fingers stroked lines down my neck and the top of my chest.

I shivered beneath him and grinned. “You were trying to make me forget my name?”

“Ah yes.” And then he dipped his head and captured my lips in a battle I never wanted to end.

About the Author

Chanelle
Gray

Twenty-something graduate with a degree in psychology and counseling. She lives, writes and works in London, where she also enjoys shopping and eating out. She is a huge animal lover with two dogs that are practically her babies. When
Chanelle
isn't working, writing or socializing, she's with
her baby nephew who she looks after whenever she begins to feel broody.

Visit

chanellegray.com

twitter.com/
chanellegray

Acknowledgements

I can’t believe I’m writing an acknowledgements page! It’s been a dream of mine to be able to one day write my own page to thank the many people who helped me reach my dream of publication. And now look. Dream come true.

Firstly, I have to thank my amazing agent Victoria Marini. Not only did she take a chance on me, picked me out of the slush and saw merit in my work, but she has constantly talked me down from the ledge, taken interest in my personal life as well as writing career, and made me a better writer. Not to mention just how much she got this book and exactly what I was trying to achieve.

Then there’s my fantastic editor Cori
Debnam
Cole who seemed to rise out of the ashes like a phoenix and whip this book into shape (and me along with it!). Who knew the lyrics to ‘Juicy’ and agreed that early
Dre
was the best
Dre
. Who asked insightful questions and encouraged me to be the best author I can be.

I’d also like to thank my family for putting up with me on my quest for publication. For spreading the news about my book to everyone they knew. For not judging me (too much!) when I sat at birthday parties or BBQs and worked on my edits.

My friends – the family I chose – have been fantastic to me throughout this. Namely,
Roisin
Kelly, Erica Matthews, Jodi
Marzetti
and Harry
Azariah
. I love you guys.

I can’t forget everyone in my office who cheered with me when THE email came through and gave me helpful opinions and suggestions when I needed it. Especially Gary Felix who – as a great film buff – helped me brainstorm plot ideas and motivations behind some of the characters.

Now, although I’ve never actually met any of the following people, their help and my appreciation to them has no bounds. To Michele Reyes who designed my website. To my beta readers: Jenny Russell, Kaitlin Ward, Hannah Wylie, Tracey Buchanan, Loren
Manns
, Rachel
Mercaldo
and Raven Moore. To my
YAtopians
: Kelley York, Kelley
Vitollo
, Sharon Johnston, Wendy Higgins, DJ
Symeter
, Sarah Nicolas, Leigh Fallon. To every
Apocalypsie
author – you guys taught me a lot! And, last but definitely not least, my
LBs.
You girls absolutely, undeniably and completely RULE.

I would also like to thank each and every person reading this. I wrote this story for you and I really hope you enjoy it. I would love to know your opinions, and I can be reached on the following mediums:

Dissecting My Heart
b
e
Damned’s

English language

As you’ve most likely seen, this book was set in London. The characters are English and so is their language. So in case you didn’t know what I meant by a few choice words, here’s a helpful (hopefully!) guide of word definitions.

Conservatory – a glass house often known in the US as a Sun Room. An addition to a house usually backing onto the garden.

Chicken Burger – it’s not minced chicken formed into a patty. It’s a breaded breast of chicken in a burger bun. Like a
McChicken
Sandwich. We just call them Chicken Burgers over here.

The Tube – The English version of the subway system. Most of it runs underground but part of it runs above ground too.

Jumper – Like a sweater. An outer piece of clothing you wear on top of a t-shirt if it’s cold.

Trousers – Pants!

Town – In the UK, we class a town as a place outside of the city because this province does not have a cathedral or university (college). These towns can be suburban, but can also be built up too.

UK School Systems – Over here, you start school when you’re four year olds and turning five if your birthday falls after September of that year. You stay in ‘Primary School’ until the age of eleven when you then move to ‘High School’. A few years ago, there was a change in the school system stating that unless you leave High School to go to ‘College’, you now have to stay in school until the age of eighteen. Before, you could leave at sixteen. College isn’t the same as it is in the US. It only lasts a few years (usually two or three) and students can learn skills to use in certain trades (plumbing, building, farming
etc
). College can also be a stop gap before ‘University’. Our University is like US College which you can attend from the age of eighteen until you graduate! If you stayed at school until eighteen and didn’t go to college to learn a trade, you can go straight to University after you pass your exams. Usually courses are three years, but you can take longer courses, or do a course part time.

Look for more YA books

from

Visit

www.mitchellmorrispublishinginc.com