Dreamslinger, page 24
My awestruck gratitude to Zareen Johnson for your design genius, and to Jessica Fong for your artistic magic. They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but I hope people do judge Dreamslinger by its stunning face☺. A huge thank-you also to our cartographer, Virginia Allyn, for the incredible maps.
A humongous, monumental, gigantuous thank-you to my US Disney team, including managing editors Sara Liebling and Iris Chen; Meredith Jones, Guy Cunningham, David Jaffe, Jill Amack, Lisa Geller, and Mark Long in copyediting; Andrea Rosen, Vicki Korlishin, Michael Freeman, and LeBria Casher in sales; Holly Nagel and Danielle DiMartino in marketing; and Crystal McCoy and Daniela Escobar in publicity. To Ash, as well as Dina Sherman, Bekka Mills, and Maddie Hughes from the school & library marketing team, can we go back to the San Antonio River Walk and have another chilled margarita, pretty please?
Over in the UK, my warmest thanks to Ruth Bennett, Talya Baker, Aimee White, and the rest of the team at Piccadilly Press. A cheerful g’day to my Aussie team at Allen & Unwin; and to all my other foreign publishing teams that I have yet to be connected with—thank you for helping Dreamslinger reach readers all over the globe. A special kia ora to Catherine O’Loughlin and Olivia Win-Ricketts in the editorial team, Becky Innes, Sacha Baillie, and Summer Pritchard in the marketing and publicity team, and the rest of the Penguin Random House whānau in my very own Aotearoa New Zealand. I can’t wait to meet you all in due course!
A melodic shout-out to Rachel Hamilton (also known as the talented musician Bridges) for adding the literal music to Dreamslinger (and to our wedding!). Aria’s lullaby is everything I’d hoped it would be and more, and your music is a gift to this world.
My warmest hugs to the wonderful kaiako in the Tuakana room—Glenda, Gretchen, Naseem, Stacey, William, Kay, Nicky, Mel, and everyone else at HPELC for being a home away from home. To Roimata Kurariki, for helping us make our home feel like a home. And to the lovely staff at Café 719 and Catalina Café, as well as the librarians at Whangaparāoa Library, for providing an office away from home. (How many times can I use the word home in one paragraph?)
A special thank-you to the real-life Mason Hewett, sunshine personified, and my first young reader for Dreamslinger. Thank you for Land, who now resides on my bookshelf and tells me off when I procrastinate.
They say writing is all about rewriting, and it’s true. I am so grateful for the critiquing brain power of Karah Sutton, Sarah Suk, and Jenna Lee-Yun, whose insightful feedback took this story to the next level. Particular thanks also to J. Elle and Rachael King for your publishing advice and friendship. And of course, an evergreen group hug to my constants, my dear kimchingoos—Sarah Suk, Jessica Kim, Grace Shim, and Susan Lee. BTW, every person I’ve mentioned in this paragraph is an uber-talented author—go get their books!
This book would never have been written if not for my generous and caring family. I send endless gratitude in particular to my parents and my sister Ally, who, despite their own busy schedules, health, and life priorities, have always been on hand to be our village. As my mum says, I must’ve saved a nation in a past life to deserve such good fortune in this one.
To my spudman hippocampus, my best friend and the love of my life, for whom no amount of gratitude could ever be enough. How did I get so lucky to be your wife? (Probably that nation I saved.) Also, cough cough, you should probably start charging me at this point for your in-house editorial services… Mates rates, though, right?
To my dear little mandu—watching you grow into your own unique person is the biggest joy of my life. The other day, I watched your eyes sparkle as you clutched your new library books to your chest, and my heart almost exploded. You also reminded me that you have written way more books than me already when you’re only a kid and I’m “sooo old.” Geez. Who taught you to have so much spunk, anyway?
Finally, to all the real-life members of the Dreamslinger League—welcome to the gajok!! We are going to have so much fun☺. I wrote this book for those of us who have felt at times like exceptions to the rule. I hope Aria can inspire us to remember that we do, in fact, have a choice in the matter. May we all rise to be exceptional. And to everyone who has reached out via email, social media, snail mail, or in person to share a moment with me—thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope you enjoyed Dreamslinger. Now, get comfy and buckle yourselves in.
Because the adventure is just beginning.
Always,
Graci xx
GRACI KIM is the New York Times best-selling author of The Last Fallen Star, The Last Fallen Moon, and The Last Fallen Realm, otherwise known as the Gifted Clans trilogy. A Korean Kiwi diplomat turned author, Graci writes about the magic she wants to see in the world. In a previous life she was a cooking-show host, and she once ran a business that turned children’s drawings into cuddly toys. When she’s not lost in her imagination, you’ll find Graci drinking flat whites, eating ramyeon, and most likely hugging a dog (or ideally, many). She lives in New Zealand with her husband and daughter. Follow her on Instagram @GraciKimWrites and find her at GraciKim.com.
ALSO BY GRACI KIM
GIFTED CLANS TRILOGY
The Last Fallen Star
The Last Fallen Moon
The Last Fallen Realm
Graci Kim, Dreamslinger
