Call the Shots (43 page)

Mostly, though, I am excited to have been able to tell a story from Matt’s, Coop’s, and now Sean’s point of view. And I am extremely proud to have my name on the cover of these books.

But to pretend that I was singularly responsible for these novels would be a crime.
So
many people have been involved with these stories along the way — from the very first scribble that launched this series all the way through to the final chapter of this book.

And so, on that note, I would like to offer my deepest gratitude to:

Kaylan Adair — my very own Miracle Worker — for working her editorial magic (once again) on my manuscript. Kaylan has such an incredible sense of story and character, and I am eternally grateful that I’ve gotten to work with her. Simply put, she makes me a better writer, and you can’t ask for much more than that.

Everyone at Candlewick Press. I feel so very fortunate to be published by such a wonderful house and so thankful that they employ such amazing people.

Jodi Reamer, agent extraordinaire, for her guidance and advice.

Ken Freeman and James Fant, whose assistance with these books has been epic.

Kelly Miller and her amazing students at Platte City Middle School for all their enthusiastic support.

To all the teachers, librarians, and booksellers on a mission to get boys to read more and who have taken my books into their hearts.

The Surrey International Writers Conference for introducing me to Kaylan and for their encouragement of writers all over the world.

My mom and dad for their love and for buying up all my books in their neighborhood.

Emily, David, and Will for their encouragement and inspiration.

And of course, my wife, without whom none of these books would have ever seen the light of day. I love you.

T
HREE BOYS
. O
NE SERIES: HILARIOUS HIJINKS AND ENDLESS LAUGHTER!

S
WIM THE
F
LY
DON CALAME

Hardcover ISBN 978-0-7636-4157-3
Paperback ISBN 978-0-7636-4776-6
Also available as an e-book and in audio

B
EAT THE
B
AND
DON CALAME

Hardcover ISBN 978-0-7636-4633-2
Paperback ISBN 978-0-7636-5663-8
Also available as an e-book and in audio

www.candlewick.com

Don Calame
is the author of the young adult novels
Swim the Fly
and
Beat the Band
. He is also an accomplished screenwriter who has worked with Marvel Studios, the Disney Channel, Lionsgate, Universal Studios, and Paramount Pictures.

About
Call the Shots,
he says, “After having written a story from both Matt’s and Coop’s perspectives, there was no way I could leave poor, gullible, clueless Sean out of the fun. The challenge was, of course, coming up with a story that was uniquely his. I wracked my brain for months until the low-budget movie idea came to me. When I was in college, I worked on one of my professor’s independent films, and it was such a nightmare experience — filled with so many pitfalls and problems — that I knew it was the perfect setting to thrust an unsuspecting Sean into. I’m really excited about this book and I think it’s the perfect cap to the series.”

Don Calame was born in New York and now lives in Ontario with his wife and their dog, Scooter.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or, if real, are used fictitiously.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in an information retrieval system in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, taping, and recording, without prior written permission from the publisher.

First electronic edition 2012

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 2012938812

ISBN 978-0-7636-5556-3 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-0-7636-6185-4 (electronic)

Candlewick Press
99 Dover Street
Somerville, Massachusetts 02144

visit us at
www.candlewick.com