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| Dawn Kinzer |
Do you read book dedications?
I do! They’re actually one of my favorite parts of books.
Why?
They tell me a lot about the author’s personality, humor,
and heart. They often provide insight into the writer’s life.
When you create your own dedications, do you give them
time and thought? Remember … as writers, we want to impact lives. What you place
on that blank page could be important to not only your readers, but also the
people included in your dedications.
Sarah’s Smile
To my
husband and best friend, Sonny—
You’ve
always believed in me.
I could
never have shared this story without
your love,
help, and encouragement.
I had no problem deciding what to write for my first
published novel. It was important to me that I dedicate the book to my husband.
It was my way of honoring him. He’d done so much to help me see my dream become reality, and
I wanted my readers to know it.
Hope’s Design
To my
daughters, Brooke and Ana
And my
stepdaughter, Katrina,
May you
always follow your dreams …
My second novel includes the themes of using our God-given
gifts and pursuing our dreams. I’m very close to my two adult daughters, and I
wanted to remind them to never give up on their own dreams. My stepdaughter had
stepped away from her faith. She’s an avid reader, but I didn’t know what
she’d think of my books with a spiritual message. It turned out, she loved
them! Including her in the dedication for Hope’s
Design also touched and made an impact on her.
Rebecca’s Song
In memory
of
My
grandmother, Florence Schlough,
who taught
children in a one-room schoolhouse,
and my
grandmother, Marie Johnson,
who always
filled her yard and home
with
flowers—including zinnias.
My heroine in Rebecca’s
Song is a schoolteacher, and the flower with significance in this story is
the zinnia. (Each book in the series features a specific flower.) Aside from honoring two women who had played important roles in my
life, I wanted readers to understand why I chose a particular career for a
heroine and flower for this story.
Now that I’ve shared my dedications, here are some I’ve
discovered that I think are fun and meaningful …
Dark Places
by
Gillian Flynn
What can I
say about a man who knows how I think
and still
sleeps next to me with the lights off?
Austenland
by
Shannon Hale
For Colin
Firth
You’re
really a great guy, but I’m married,
so I think
we should just be friends.
The Selection
by
Kiera Cass
Hi, Dad!
*waves*
An Introduction To Algebraic
Topology
By
Joseph J. Rotman
To my wife
Marganit
and my
children Ella Rose and Daniel Adam
Without
whom this book would have
Been
completed two years earlier
This Boy’s Life
by
Tobias Wolff
My first
stepfather used to say that what
I
didn’t know would fill a book. Well, here it is.
The Land of Stories
By
Chris Colfer
To
Grandma,
For being
my first editor
And giving
me the best writing advice
I’ve ever
received: “Christopher,
I think
you should wait until you’re done
with
elementary school before worrying
about
being a failed writer.
Ship of Magic
by Robb
Hobb
To
caffeine and sugar, my companions
through
many a long night of writing.
Moorchild
by
Eloise McGraw
To all
children
who have
ever felt different
These dedications are some of my all-time favorites. The
author found a way to honor his father by using humor—and he still managed to
tie in a fun hook that I imagine his fans loved.
Otherland (Books 1-5)
by Tad
Williams
Book
1
This book
is dedicated to my father Joseph Hill Evans with love.
Actually
Dad doesn’t read fiction, so if someone doesn’t
tell him
about this, he’ll never know.
Book
2
This book
is dedicated to my father Joseph Hill Evans with love.
As I said
before, Dad doesn’t read fiction.
He still
hasn’t noticed that this thing is dedicated to him.
This is
Volume Two—let’s see how many more until he catches on.
Book
3
This is
still dedicated to you-know-who, even if he doesn’t.
Maybe we
can keep this a secret all the way to the final volume.
Book
4
My father
still hasn’t actually cracked any of the books—
so, no, he
still hasn’t noticed.
I think
I’m just going to have to tell him.
Maybe I
should break it to him gently.
Book
5
Everyone
here who hasn’t had a book dedicated
to them,
take three steps forward.
Whoops,
Dad, hang on there for a second …
Your turn! What dedications have you found fun
or interesting? Please share what you’ve written for your book dedications and
why.
The Daughters of Riverton, Book 3
Rebecca
Hoyt’s one constant was her dedication to her beloved students. Now, a
rebellious child could cost her the job she loves. Without her teaching
position, what would she do?
Detective
Jesse Rand prides himself in protecting the people who ride the railroads. But,
when his own sister and brother-in-law are killed by train robbers, the
detective blames himself. Yet, another duty calls—he must venture to Riverton
where his niece and nephews were left in the care of their beautiful and
stubborn teacher, Rebecca Hoyt. They need to mourn and heal, but Jesse is
determined to find his sister’s killers. Rebecca is willing to help care for
the children, but she also fears getting too close to them—or their handsome
uncle—knowing the day will come when he’ll take them back to Chicago.
Will Jesse
and Rebecca find a way to open their hearts and work together? Or will they,
along with the children, lose out on love?
Questions included for discussion and
reflection.
Dawn Kinzer is
a freelance editor, and her own work has been published in various devotionals
and magazines. She co-hosts and writes for Seriously Write. Sarah’s
Smile is the first book in her historical romance series The Daughters
of Riverton, Hope’s Design is the second, and Rebecca’s Song completes
the trilogy.
A mother
and grandmother, Dawn lives with her husband in the beautiful Pacific
Northwest. Favorite things include dark chocolate, good wine, strong coffee,
the mountains, family time, and Masterpiece Theatre.
You can
connect and learn more about Dawn and her work by visiting these online
sites: Author Website, Dawn’s Blog, Goodreads, Facebook, Pinterest,
and Instagram.
