The Accidental Keyhand Page 27

  The reason I didn’t lose my mind while finishing the book is because of the loving cheerleading and often gut-splitting diversion provided by my friends and writing cottage–mates Kate Bennis, Denise Stewart, Patty Culbertson, Lisa Wood, and Whitney Morrill, and my virtual partner in snack-shacking and writing crime—Bethany Myers.

  The reason my beloved children Finn, Lil, and Georgia survived the endeavor (wait—let me count them. Okay, all there) is because they are 1. Very patient and resourceful; 2. Good at dressing their own wounds; 3. Lucky nieces and nephew of John Potter, Brynne Potter, Nell Downey, Christina Downey, and Jim Downey, who all stepped in and offered entertainment and food when writing deadlines loomed.

  The reason I wanted to write this book in the first place is because there are heroes in the world. People like Oscar Romero, Giordano Bruno, Sophie Scholl, and Bayard Rustin. Thanks to all those who gather their courage and speak. And thanks to all the librarians of the world who help us hear their voices.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Jen Swann Downey lives (with her family) in a cluttered house in Charlottesville, Virginia. This is her first work of fiction since age nine when she penned a play about a nearsighted St. Nick who kept leaving very strange but interesting presents for children, including a live alligator and a set of false teeth.

  Her professional aspirations and adventures have included circus dog trainer, lawyer, actor, electrician, populist economist, investigative journalist, midwife, lampshade maker, and donut mogul, but believes she has finally figured out what she wants to do with the rest of her grownup life. Write more books for children! Over the last five years, she has achieved a state of near-fantastic nearsightedness.