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Thank you to Ian Strickland, who showed me Ashfall through a teen’s eyes and boosted my confidence, and to Dorothy Menosky, who showed me Ashfall through a teacher’s eyes and boosted my humility. It is a better novel for their input.
To everyone at Critique Circle who gave feedback on pieces of this novel (Angela Ackerman, Ardyth, Vicky Bates, Darla Davis, Liam Deihr, Karla Gomez, Gorse_wine, Greenguy, Molly Hart, Katy, Helen Kitson, Audrey Koudelka, Andrea Mack, Martha 2150, Memyselfi, Sha
I’m grateful to Pete Matthews and Erin Stoesz, who volunteered their geology expertise to ferret out scientific errors in Ashfall. Any errors that remain are mine alone.
I owe my publisher and editor, Peggy Tierney, an unpayable debt for her steadfast belief in Ashfall and patience with me as we worked to make it the best book it could be. I came to dread her emails that read, “Could you rewrite the ending, just one more time?” But she knew exactly what the novel needed, and the blame falls on me for taking six tries to get it right.
Lisa Rojani Buccieri did a masterful job editing Ashfall . . . twice! I’ve placed the only exclamation point in these acknowledgments in her honor. She made my writing better than I believed it could be. Thanks to Dorothy Chambers for saving me from unspeakable embarrassment. To Ana Correal, who brought the emotional subtext of Ashfall to life through her cover art, thank you. I also appreciated the help Gabe Tierney offered in regard to the first chapter and cover.
Mrs. Parker and Mr. Wesson at Indianapolis ATA Black Belt Academy showed nearly superhuman patience and per severance in teaching me the taekwondo that became such an important part of Ashfall. Thank you both.
Thank you to my brother, Paul Mullin, for his help with Darla’s Macgyver moments. Also thank you to Paul, Caroline, Max and A
A huge thank you to Larry Endicott, who is such a brilliant photographer that even I look good in his camera lens. Thanks also to Mab Graves, who provided cheerleading and much needed help with artistic questions.
I’ve been thrilled and humbled by the support of the authors, booksellers, librarians, and teachers who read Ashfall and offered advance praise: Charles Benoit, Cinda Williams Chima, Carol Chittenden, Robert Michael Evans, Michael Grant, Carl Harvey, Kathy Hicks-Brooks, Christine Johnson, Saundra Mitchell, David Patneaude, Richard Peck, and Dave Richardson.
And most of all, thank you Margaret: my wife, first reader, best friend, and true love.
About the Author
Photo by Larry Endircott
Mike Mullin’s first job was scraping the gum off the undersides of desks at his high school. From there, things went steadily downhill. He almost got fired by the owner of a bookstore due to his poor taste in earrings. He worked at a place that showed slides of poopy diapers during lunch (it did cut down on the cafeteria budget). The hazing process at the next company included eating live termites raised by the resident entomologist, so that didn’t last long either. For a while Mike juggled bottles at a wine shop, sometimes to disastrous effect. Oh, and then there was the job where swarms of wasps occasionally tried to chase him off ladders. So he’s really hoping this writing thing works out.
Mike holds a black belt in Songahm Taekwondo. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife and her three cats. Ashfall is his first novel.
COMING IN
OCTOBER 2012
sequel to Ashfall
Visit www.mikemullinauthor.com
to read an excerpt.
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Author’s Note
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Author’s Note
Acknowledgments
About the Author