Николас Спаркс - The Longest Ride

Michael Nyman, Catherine Olim, Jill Fritzo, and Michael Geiserat PMK-BNC, my publicists, are all terrific at what they do. I want to thank them for all the extraordinary work they do on my behalf.

Laquishe Wright– also known simply as Q – who runs my social media pages, and Mollie Smith, who handles my website, also deserve my gratitude. Both of them are incredible at what they do, and it’s because of them that I’m able to let people know what’s going on in my world.

For further helping to keep me up to speed on the latest in technology, I’d like to take a moment to thank David Herrinand Eric Kuhnat UTA, who are always there to answer my questions.

Thanks, also, to both David Youngand Michael Pietschat Hachette Book Group. I’ll miss working with you, David, and I look forward to working with you, Michael.

I’d like to extend a special thanks to Sean Gleason, COO of Professional Bull Riders, Inc., for his painstaking review of the manuscript and all of his and the PBR’s enthusiastic support for this book. Bull riding is a thrilling sport, and you run an amazing organization, Sean.

Larry Vincentand Sara Fernstromat UTA also deserve my thanks for the fantastic work they do in branding and corporate partnerships; it’s been an amazing experience so far, and I look forward to all that will happen in the future.

My thanks also go to Mitch Stollerfor all of his early contributions to the Nicholas Sparks Foundation, and to Jenna Dueck, the most recent addition to the foundation team, who I know will bring invaluable expertise and energy to our efforts in support of education.

I also want to thank Saul Benjamin, the Headmaster at The Epiphany School of Global Studies, a school that my wife and I founded in 2006. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll take the school to new heights as it moves toward the future. Of course, he couldn’t do that without the help of David Wang, the Assistant Headmaster, and I’d like to take a moment to thank David as well.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank Jason Richmanand Pete Knapp, neither of whom work directly for me but nonetheless find themselves working on my behalf anyway. Thank you both for all you do.

Rachel Bresslerand Alex Greenealso deserve my thanks for helping to keep the wheels turning smoothly when it comes to the Novel Learning Series and all things contract related, which can be a never-ending task.

Micah Sparks, my brother, also deserves my heartfelt thanks not only for being the best brother a guy can have, but for all the effort, hard work, and vision he has brought to the Novel Learning Series.

Emily Griffin, Sara Weiss, and Sonya Cheuseat Grand Central also deserve my thanks for all they do. Emily helps to guide a project near and dear to my heart, Sara handles an amazing workload at GCP on my behalf, while Sonya is a fantastic publicist in charge of my book tours.

Thanks also to Tracey Lorentzen, the Director of the New Bern office of my foundation, and to Tia Scottfor all things assistant related. She keeps my life running smoothly, which is no easy matter. Finally, many thanks to Jeannie Armentroutfor all she does at the house.

I must also thank Andrew Sommers, who does so much for me in yet another complex and critically important area of my life.

Pam Popeand Oscara Stevick, my accountants, are wonderful at what they do, and I’m thankful to consider them part of my team.

Courtenay Valentiand Greg Silvermanat Warner Bros. feel like family to me after all these years, and I hope to work with both of you again.

Ryan Kavanaugh, Tucker Tooley, Robbie Brenner, and Terry Curtinat Relativity deserve my thanks for the terrific work they did on Safe Haven , and I’m looking forward to working with all of you very soon! We make a wonderful team.

Many thanks to Elizabeth Gablerand Erin Siminoffat Fox 2000 for agreeing to make the film version of The Longest Ride . I’m excited to be working with both of you.

David Buchalter, who helps to arrange all my speeches, also deserves my thanks. I appreciate all you do.

Toddand Kari Wagneralso deserve my thanks for what they did – I trust they know what I’m talking about.

And finally, thanks to friends new and old who’ve added much joy and laughter to my life, including Drewand Brittany Brees, Jennifer Romanello, Chelsea Kane, Gretchen Rossi, Slade Smiley, Josh Duhamel, and Julianne Hough.

The Longest Ride

Table of Contents

About the Author

Also by Nicholas Sparks

COPYRIGHT

Dedication

Acknowledgments

1: Early February 2011

2: Four Months Earlier

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Epilogue

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