So Over It (28 page)

I watched Mom and Dad smiling at each other as if their years of miserable marriage hadn’t happened. As if there’d been no affair, no packed suitcases, no squabbles about taking out the trash or who said they’d pay the electric bill but didn’t.

Sometime when I hadn’t been paying attention, they’d achieved that balance, the one I’d strived for since July 14. To not let my past take over my life, but to let it slowly and surely refine me into something new, something beautiful. Something reinvented.

Acknowledgments

I’ve been overwhelmed with encouragement and support since learning the Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series would be published. Many thanks to:

My husband, Ben, who told me I absolutely had to read
The Great Divorce
by C. S. Lewis, a tool that fleshed out Heather’s background and her feelings. Thank you for your patience while I struggled to find the balance of the whole mom/writer thing. Couldn’t have done this without you and your belief in me.

My daughter, McKenna. Thanks for not caring at all what I do for a living. You keep me grounded.

My parents, Steve and Beth Hines. There isn’t room enough to list all the ways you’ve helped with the creation of this series, but here are a few highlights: encouraging my writing obsession from the beginning, free babysitting, randomly bringing over dinners, and promoting the books practically as much as I do.

My in-laws, Ann and Bruce Morrill. Thank you for adopting me into your family long before we shared a last name. And thank you for loving on my little girl while I work.

My one and only brother, Chris. Thanks for hanging around at book signings and being totally worthy of having a character named after you.

Bus, Janna, Leia, and Kylee Tarbox. Your enthusiasm for Skylar Hoyt caught me totally off guard. I’m so fortunate to call you guys family.

Roseanna White. Thank you for two and a half years of rejoicing when I rejoice and mourning when I mourn. And for regularly dispensing your grammar wisdom. God went above and beyond when he answered my prayers for a writing friend.

Debbie McCool, who’s my real-life Heather. I’m so thankful for your wisdom and your belief in me.

Kelli Stouder, for your awesome gift of discernment.

Dr. Amy Knapitsch, who’s stopped saying, “Uh, what’s this for?” when I ask weird medical questions.

Elfie Rosario, my Hawaii expert. Thank you for not only sharing the books with your students but also educating me on Hawaiian customs.

The fabulous girls at Notre Dame de Sion high school here in Kansas City. Your support has been amazing and gives me energy.

My home church, Southwoods, and my “extended church family” at LifeStream. I’m grateful for how you embraced this series and supported me in my journey.

And the whole team at Revell. Thank you for all your hard work and for making me feel comfortable asking my newbie questions. Special thanks to Jennifer Leep for taking a chance on me, and Jessica Miles for your keen editing eye.

Stephanie Morrill
is a twentysomething living in Overland Park, Kansas, with her high school sweetheart-turned-husband and their young daughter. She loves writing for teenagers because her high school years greatly impacted her adult life. That, and it’s an excuse to keep playing her music really, really loud.

Don’t miss the first two books

Getting a fresh start is harder than it looks.

in the
Reinvention of
Skylar Hoyt series

How do you choose favorites among
the people you love most?

Meet the author and get to know Skylar better at
www.stephaniemorrill.com
.

Available wherever books are sold.

Aster Flynn Wants a
Life of Her Own . . .

But will her family get in her way?

Available wherever books are sold.

New from bestselling author
Kristin Billerbeck

Daisy Crispin has a foolproof plan to get a date for the prom.

Available wherever books are sold.

Girls know all about keeping secrets,
but Sophie’s is a really big one.

Visit Melody Carlson at
www.melodycarlson.com
.

Available wherever books are sold.