FOR READERS

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DID YOU KNOW THIS ABOUT CRACKED?

The character Nikole is based almost 100% on my actual sister…named Nikole? Well, she is.

 

While I wrote the book I pictured the actress Rachel McAdams (from The Notebook) as the character Ellie and Michelle Pfeiffer as Victor’s mother.

 

The character Grant was not in any early drafts of Cracked. He wasn’t created until the manuscript was in one of the final stages.

 

The street Bull lives on was based on a particular street in the town I live.

 

The cemetery Bull hides out in is actually based completely on the St. Agnes cemetery in my town.

 

Nurse Joan wasn’t created until many, many drafts later.

 

In my original draft the characters in the psych ward all wore hospital gowns. It was a bit drafty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DID YOU KNOW THIS ABOUT EMPTY?

 

In my original notes, Dell was a seventh grader.

 

In my head, EMPTY takes place at the same fictional high school as CRACKED.

 

My very first brainstorm had the novel titled BEFORE AND AFTER, and it was going to be from Dell's point of view in the "before" half and Cara's point of view in the "after."

 

I call my younger sister Meghan, Meggie-bideggie.

 

The stage and backstage in the book are based 100% on the stage and backstage of E. T. R. Middle School in Springfield, PA, where I taught for ten years (I ran the talent show for two years at ETR and also sang ANGEL by Sarah McLachlan in honor of one of my students who had lost her mom).

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DID YOU KNOW THIS ABOUT ULTIMATUM?

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Vance was named after a Philadelphia Phillies pitcher, Vance Worely.

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Oscar has always been one of my favorite names.

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My sister Nikole makes another appearance in ULTIMATUM. The character Ms. Becker is actually her!

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My husband (who was my boyfriend at the time) and I went to the Reggae Sunsplash at the Mann Music Center.

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Once again I've chosen my hometown, West Chester, PA as the setting. While the town of West Chester is amazing, there is no Reggae bar. Unfortunately.

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The setting for the hospice part of the novel is based on a hospice in West Chester, PA.

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The character Christina is named after my youngest sister.