Acknowledgements by Bre

I have many, many people to thank here. Can this section have an even longer word count than the book itself? No? Okay. I’ll do my best to be concise (wishful thinking). First, I’d like to thank my creator for this opportunity and the absolute blessing to work with truly inspired and talented people. For the strength to push this thing through to completion (whilst resisting the temptation to Netflix binge), for the continual inspiration to keep adding research and insight, and finally, thank you Jesus Christ for the grace and strength to not throw in the towel. Without God, this project would not have been possible for me to begin or complete.

I owe this opportunity to Mike, who blindly agreed to work with me, a first-time author with a predisposition to overthink and attempt to perfect absolutely everything. Mike, for your patience, your willingness to go along for the ride with a high-intensity (even occasionally to the point of annoying) rookie, and most of all, being generous enough to offer your remarkable expertise, perspective and credibility to this book, I don’t know how I can reasonably repay you. So, from now on, I owe you and Jan all the omelets you can eat at Wild Goats Café.

Thank you also for teaching me how to be a stronger writer without ever planting a single seed of doubt or too harsh of criticism in my brain. Thank you also for being the reason why I ever dared to dream wildly enough to find myself on the phone with artists I grew up idolizing. I would not have had the gumption to even attempt this line of work without your encouragement and advice. Every time I worried about not sticking the landing on this, I knew I had to keep trying because you believed in me. You’re my mentor, my friend and now, my writing partner. I don’t know how I got so lucky.

Stephanie Smith and Jacquie Marino, you both immediately agreed to be on my master’s committee for this project without a single sense of hesitation. Let’s be honest, I nearly bit off way more than I could chew, but neither of you suggested I chop it up or put it down. In fact, both of you were insistent that I see this thing through.

Stephanie, your life’s work and advocacy continues to inspire me. Students come to your office for the pop tarts, but they stay for your comfort and wisdom. Every encounter with you leaves me motivated to become a more authoritative version of myself. I knew very early in the grad program that I needed you on my committee. It was day one of your “Rolling Stone @ 50 class” — a class you created for no reason other than believing Kent State students should have the opportunity to learn about the iconic publication that chronicled a generation of rebels and hippies. Like the nerd I am, I eagerly sat front row. You opened the class with “I want you to know that this not a class about drugs, sex and rock and roll…oh wait, yes, it is.”

Can I be you when I grow up?

Jacquie, you were so busy when I asked you to be my committee director. You could have said no but you didn’t have the heart to let down an overzealous fan of yours who asked you about 5 months too early. I had a conversation a while ago with your former graduate assistant Steven Kubitza. He gushed over working for you and I raved about working with you on my committee. He said, “What’s so cool about Jacquie is that she’s not a robot professor, she’s a wonderful human being.” Thank you for the humanity you offer your students and the humanity you see in the world. Your effortless writing abilities often intimidated me when I emailed you some very sloppy drafts for your revisions. Thank you for smiling through the typos.

Ron Dear (that’s his actual name) is either a tech guru or a guardian angel, he’ll never tell. I almost lost all of my life’s work on an ancient flash dive within one month of graduation. Ron had the kindness and patience to perform open heart surgery on that thing until it came back to life. I told him I would repay him by mentioning him in my books. I had about three started books on that drive, so I still owe him two more mentions. Thank you, Ron. (I now keep my files backed up. Growth is possible, friends.)

Mom and Dad, Melissa and Pat Mona, my biggest fans and the pillars of my life, I am blessed to be your daughter. To quote Canada’s sweetheart, Celine Dion, “I’m everything I am because you loved me.” Mom, you gave birth to a dramatic little diva, but you raised her to become a resilient, hard working woman — who is now only occasionally a dramatic little diva. My only aim in life is to make you unmeasurably proud and mirror to you the love you’ve blessed me with my entire life. Thank you for giving me freedom of expression from an early age, even when it meant wincing as I piled on the glitter and frosted pink lipstick. Letting me be my own person is the second-best gift you’ve given me. The first being your endless love, time and devotion. I love you. This is for you.

Grandma, Margaret Horvath, thank you for your love, support and incredible generosity. One day while I was working on this project, Gram snuck up quietly and dropped a little box on my desk. The note said, “You work so hard. Here’s a little something.” It was a gold bracelet. Lucky for me, Grandma’s primary love language is shopping. Thank you and I love you, Gram. Finally, my sweet younger brother Patrick. I want you to know that you are so talented and so loved. One day, if you work really hard and put in the hours, maybe you can almost be as cool as me. Maybe.