20
“No,”
he shakes his head, his tone warm.
“I was just thinking it’s perfect.”
I’d be willing to bet that, at some point in your life, someone asked you the question, “if you could go back in time and talk to your younger self, what would you say?”
It’s a good question; one that helps you evaluate where you were, where you are now, and how far you’ve come.
But, you can never actually talk to your past self.
In a way, however, I was able to do just that through Stephanie’s conversation with Lucy.
That’s because Lucy is a lot like how I used to be.
When I first started this story, I thought I was writing it for other people my age.
So many of my friends (and even strangers my age on the internet) continually express feelings I’m familiar with, feelings I struggled through.
It seems like most of my generation feels behind.
They’re worried about their future, with no clue what direction they want to go or what they want to do.
They feel stuck in place, constantly comparing themselves to others who seem to be further ahead in life, who seem to have everything worked out and put together.
And that fear, that worry of being left behind, of not having it all figured out, paralyzes them.
That’s why I started writing this book.
However, the more I wrote, the more I realized this book wasn’t just written for them.
I wrote it for me, too.
I struggled with everything Lucy struggled with.
But, things started to shift in my life when I ran into Nick, who I was friends with, but hadn’t seen in quite awhile, at a mutual friend’s wedding.
Being with Nick changed everything for me, in the best ways possible.
Scott is entirely based on him.
Obviously, Dear Patience, Sincerely Lucy is a story.
But Lucy’s emotions, mistakes, and inner struggles are all very real to me.
My adult teen/early twenties years were messy, mainly due to my own faults.
I’ve grown, and learned, and changed (I hope) for the better.
I doubt this is the best book I’ll ever write.
But, for me personally, I think it might be the most important one I’ll ever write.
I hope Lucy’s story encouraged you, too.
All that being said, there are several wonderful people I need to thank!
First of all, to my friend Taylor: Thank you so much for designing such a gorgeous book cover (and for the bookmark design!).
It’s absolutely perfect, and I am so grateful to have a friend as fantastic as you! I don’t know how anyone as thoughtful and generous as you exists, but somehow you do, and I’m so happy you’re my friend!
To my friend Janae: Thank you for the chapter heading illustrations! I’m so excited to have your artwork in this book.
I knew what you illustrated would be beautiful, but somehow you still you blew my expectations out of the water with the final result! Your artwork adds so much to the book.
Thank you for going along with my crazy, scattered ideas!
To my friend and editor Catalina: Thank you once again for your thorough, thoughtful, and encouraging editing work on another book of mine.
It’s such a relief to know I have you helping me out and catching my mistakes.
From eighth grade band class to now, you’ve always been such a kind, reliable friend, and I am so blessed to know you! Thank you!
To my parents: Thank you for fostering a love of reading and writing in me from the beginning.
Thank you for the countless hours you spent reading to me every night before bed, thank you for all the trips to bookstores, thank you for listening to me gush each time I had a new book obsession, and thank you for reading every short story I scribbled down or typed up (and for always telling me how great my stories were, whether that was true or not).
Most of all, thank you for encouraging me, believing in me, supporting me, for always looking out for and taking care of me, and for giving me a wonderful home and family to grow up in where I had room to grow and practice creative pursuits.
I love you both so much!
To my Grandma and Papa: Thank you to you both for coming up with the best stories off the tops of your heads, for reading and buying me books, for showing me all the best classic movies and introducing me to some of the best stories, and for being some of the most encouraging people I’ve ever known.
No matter what I say I plan to do, you two immediately begin to support me and talk as though I’m going to be the world’s next leading authority in whatever I put my mind to.
You’ve never made me feel incapable, you’ve always made me feel as though I can do anything.
That has meant so much more to me than I can even express, and I can never thank you enough.
I love you guys so much!
To Nick, who this book is dedicated to: I’ve been staring at this page as I try to think of what to say, not because there’s not enough to say, but too much.
When you came into my life, you changed it for the better in every way, something you continue to do to this day.
Thank you for believing in me when I don’t believe in myself, for encouraging me when I’m down, for never failing to make me laugh when I need it most, and most of all, for loving me selflessly and sacrificially.
I always know I can trust you to lead our family well as you put Jesus Christ first and pursue Him above all.
It’s your reliability, hard work, and trustworthiness that allows me the space and freedom to spend time doing what I enjoy most: coming up with fictional worlds and writing stories.
I cannot imagine my life without you.
Love you :)
To the wonderful parents I gained through Nick: Thank you for making me feel like part of the family from the start and for supporting everything Nick and I have done with so much encouragement.
You guys have backed us every step of the way, and we always know you’re in our corner.
Thank you for bragging about me and my books even before you knew if I was capable of writing anything good, and for always asking when my next book will be out.
I love you guys!