by Rona Halsall
Massive thanks have to go to my fantastic editor, Isobel Akenhead, for seeing the story within and showing me how to turn things inside out and upside down until it all fitted together properly. Amazing clarity, as always! And then there’s Noelle Holten and Kim Nash, Bookouture’s publicity magicians, who seem to work wonders with only twenty-four hours in the day. Love you guys, for all your wizardry and motivational kicks up the bum.
Talking about motivation and support, I’d be nowhere without the backup given by my fellow Bookouture authors – thanks for the pep talks, answers to research questions and the laughs. The author’s lounge has got to be my favourite place to procrastinate! And then there’s the Savvy Authors – what a generous, lovely bunch you are – and especially Tracy Buchanan, who set up the Snug, made it the best place to be and taught me so much about the nuts and bolts of being a published author. Quite an education!
And then we come to those closest to me. I have to give a shout out to my friend and first reader of early drafts, Kerry-Ann Mitchell, whose perceptive comments have helped to shape this book. I need to thank my family for understanding that they should not try and talk to me on certain days and at certain times. All I have to say is ‘edits’ and they slink off into a quiet corner, embracing their neglect. And while we’re talking about neglect, none of this would be possible without my husband, David, who has been ignored for long periods of time during the writing of this book, but has been unfailingly enthusiastic and tolerant.
Finally, there’s the dogs, Freddie and Molly, who drag me out when I don’t feel like it and give me space to think. Without them I’d be a shapeless blob with a brain like custard.
Published by Bookouture in 2018
An imprint of StoryFire Ltd.
Carmelite House
50 Victoria Embankment
London EC4Y 0DZ
www.bookouture.com
Copyright © Rona Halsall, 2018
Rona Halsall has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.
eBook ISBN: 978-1-78681-684-9
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events other than those clearly in the public domain, are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
