Storm of the Seven Sins, page 32
Special thanks to Neil and Lucas Horne, for putting up with me as I disappear into the cave of my mind for hours on end. Neil, thank you in particular for designing my beautiful website, making sure my newsletter reaches actual humans, and always being willing to act out fight scenes with me. I’m so grateful for your support!
This journey would have been far more arduous—and lonely!—without the Fellowship of the Five and my indomitable Sprinters group, who keep me sane. Lisa Amowitz, Ángela Álvarez Vélez, Christy Swift, Marie LeStrange, Sarah Anderson Vivien, Heidi Ayarbe, Madeline Dyer Statham, and John Klekamp, I’m looking at you! Thank you for talking me off the ledge, reading my drafts, and kicking me in the butt when I need it.
Lisa Amowitz, your incredible graphics make me smile every time I see them. You’ve truly brought the series to life. Those covers! That map! Those images! You’re not just the Plot Fairy, you’re the Design Diva. I hereby bestow upon you your new title, and bow down to you in awe. Without you, my covers would resemble a bunch of stick figures with little notes that read, “Make this pretty!” “Sword here!” “Like this but better!” May you squirrel away in infamy forever, and may I be so fortunate as to meerkat by your side.
Sarah Anderson Vivien, thank you a thousand times over for helping me create the gorgeous book trailer, designing that incomparable sticker—to love is to die!—spreading the word on Bookstagram, and everything else you’ve done to help this series shine. Lisa may call you the Design Puppy, but I think of you as the Magnificent Media Maestra of Mayhem. I worship at the feet of your creative genius!
Ángela Álvarez Vélez, where do I even begin? Your insight into human nature, acerbic wit, bottomless creativity, unparalleled compassion, and eerie ability to pierce the heart of the matter (I swear, it’s like you have emotional Xray vision) blows me away on a regular basis. I’m supremely lucky to consider you a writing partner and friend.
A special shoutout to Angela’s remarkable mother, Olga Lucía Vélez Sierra, my most unexpected Seven Sins fangirl extraordinaire. Thank you for reading—but more importantly, thank you for co-creating one of my favorite people on the planet. Sending you hugs and love.
Everyone needs a Christy Swift, y’all…and when her debut novel hits the shelves in early 2025, you’ll all get to find out just how awesome she is! Christy, thank you for making me laugh, sharing my work far and wide, welcoming me into your beautiful home (omg the manatees!) and, of course, reading and sharing Ari and Eva’s story. Special thanks to you and your mini-mes, Kira & Ocean Swift, for helping me brainstorm the series’ taglines. Christy—when the apocalypse hits, I want you on my side!
Marie LeStrange, thank you for your polymathematical miracle of a mind, for your wickedly creative promo ideas, and for inspiring me! Heidi Ayarbe, Madeline Dyer Statham, and John Klekamp, writer friends extraordinaire…thank you for being there for me, reading my stories, and, in John’s case, always being up for delectable mochas. Without my writing community, I would be bereft and probably huddled under a blanket in a corner somewhere. On behalf of blankets and corners everywhere, my deepest appreciation.
Speaking of deepest appreciation, all hail the Seven Sins ARC Team, who have been instrumental in reading and reviewing the series. A thousand halos and garlands of glory go out to the Sin Slingers, my kickass Street Team: Ángela Álvarez Vélez, Lisa Amowitz, Jessica Barton, Raegan Billingsley, Devon Conaway, Amy Condra, Audrey Costruba, Amanda Curry, Tiffany Ewald, Kara French, Krista Hall, Samantha Halpern, Shannon Heck, Whitney Hester, Beverly Hughes, Amelia King, Kristina Marquardt, Jayne Murray, LeeRenee Musgjerd, Pearl Precious, Hunter Sachs, Katie Schiela, Sammy Standing, Christy Swift, Courtney Anne Tarara, and Sarah Anderson Vivien. You entered the circle at night and survived the fire. Love to all of you!
Amanda Curry, Lead Bellator of the Sin Slingers…where do I even begin? Some people come into your life at the perfect time, and turn out to be the greatest gift you ever could have imagined. I don’t know what the heck I did to deserve you, but I’m more grateful than I can say. Here’s to your generosity of spirit, ridiculous organizational skills, patience with my wild ideas, and willingness to leap right into the fray, dagur in hand. As long as the sun burns in the sky and the oceans lap the land, I will give thanks for you!
I’m also grateful to MTMC Tours and Books Forward, for stellar awareness-raising, as well as The Wandering Bibliofiles. It doesn’t get much better than a Seven Sins-themed dinner on a houseboat, y’all!
The worst part of acknowledgments is the terror of leaving someone important out…and over the course of this series, there have been so many people who have made a difference. If I’ve forgotten someone, I’m truly sorry. Consider this my blanket statement of gratitude!
And, of course, my deepest, undying, eternal flame of appreciation for my readers, without whom Ari and Eva’s story would’ve gone untold. With fire and iron, my friends. I am honored to write by your side.
Emily Colin, Storm of the Seven Sins
