When my first book, The Word Eater, was published back in 2000 with Holiday House, I received a hot-off-the-press copy with a handwritten note from John Briggs, the publisher. John has retired, and Holiday House–the first publisher in the U.S. dedicated to only publishing books for children–is growing and changing in many ways. But in one crucial way, Holiday House has remained the same. This past week, Holiday House published my 22nd book, and when my first hot-off-the-press copy came with a handwritten note from my editor, Mary Cash, I cried. I cried because her note symbolized that the production was a human act. It may seem ridiculously obvious. But too often, technology can dehumanize interactions and processes. People who take the time to write and send a handwritten note send a message: our efforts and our partnerships as human beings have value.