Petals by Laurisa White Reyes

Author:Laurisa White Reyes [Reyes, Laurisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Moose Island Books via Indie Author Project
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

THIS BOOK HAS BEEN REWRITTEN SO MANY TIMES, I’ve lost track. I think I wrote the first draft back in

2005 or thereabouts. It was the first full-length book I ever wrote, and it was awful. Over the years and

countless revisions, thankfully Petals developed into something entirely different than what I

originally envisioned. There were many people who helped along the way, but quite frankly, I can’t

recall who most of them were. So, if you read an early draft of this book and are not mentioned here,

please accept my sincerest apologies.

I do know that my daughter, Carissa, has played a huge role in shaping this book in more ways

than one. Not only is she an amazing developmental editor with a keen eye for characterization and

pacing, but she is also the inspiration for the protagonist, Carly. Like Carly, Carissa is of mixed

heritage, half white (my side) and half Hispanic (her father’s side). When she was eight years old, she

accompanied her father on a trip to Guatemala, the same adventure I had undertaken a decade earlier.

The country and culture made an astounding impression on us both.

Carissa has never had an issue with straddling two cultures. But in creating Carly, I wondered

what might happen if she did? How would a teenage girl feel about being part of two worlds so vastly

different from each other? These questions were fundamental in laying the foundation for Petals.

So, above all, I have to thank Carissa for letting me extract part of her to create a fictional

character. (It’s certainly not the only time I’ve taken such liberties.) The process is kind of like how

God took a rib from Adam to form Eve. Carly was constructed of a small segment of my daughter. I

hope the result is satisfactory.

I also have to thank my husband, Gonzalo Reyes, who was born and raised in Guatemala and

who toted me along on a three-week journey there when we were engaged to be married, exposing me

to one of the most beautiful places on earth. When I first began writing Petals, I wanted so much to

preserve my impressions of his homeland, and a novel seemed the perfect vehicle. Also, he is a terrific

editor.

I also borrowed parts of my husband’s family members to construct other characters in the

book, in particular, Gina and Chalo Reyes (my in-laws) and Patty & Juan Ramon Ramirez (my

husband’s aunt and uncle).

My parents, Ray and Cyndi White, were just as important in the creation of this book. Though

they do not make an appearance in the story, they are always a source of inspiration for everything I

write, as are my children: Carissa, Marcum, Stuart, Brennah, and Jarett.

I also need to mention Emma Michaels, Hayley Guertin, Gloria Treviño, Laura L. Hunter,

Dorine White, and my amazing Street Team (Go Team!). And finally, thanks to all of you, my fans and

readers. Without you, there would be no point to writing any story. You keep me motivated and

inspired.

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