The Curious Heart of Ailsa Rae (ARC)
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Professor Martin Elliott, MD FRCS FRSA lent his expertise and patience in helping me to find, then understand, Ailsa’s heart condition. Kate Beales answered endless questions about my imaginary Edinburgh production. Toni Glitz shared Pam’s story of corneal transplant. Julie Grey, Helen Dobson and Victoria Tremlett talked to me about different health aspects of this novel. Many others shared memories of Edinburgh, dancing, acting, press reporting, studying the law, parenting sick children, illness and recovery. Thank you all, in particular Katy Bromberg, Jane Buffham, Ian Burdon, Jacq Kelly, Virginia Moffatt, Ann Ogbomo and the people who spoke to me on condition that they weren’t mentioned in the acknowledgements – you know who you are! Thank you too to Meredith Katz and Edie and Eliza Gardiner, who gave me permission to use their wonderful names.
I learned to tango as part of my research for this book, though Ailsa does it WAY better. Thank you to Angela and Andi of Tango on Tyne and the dancers at their weekly class, who were patient and helpful, and who showed me the wonder and excitement of this life-affirming dance.
Although much of writing is solitary, there’s a lot of support that goes on around it. Thank you to my long-suffering family and friends, who put up with much for the sake of my career. Honourable mentions: Alan, Ned, Joy, Mum, Dad, Auntie Susan, Jude, Lou, Tom, Rebecca, Scarlet.
My fellow novelists Carys Bray, Sarah Franklin and Shelley Harris are always there with sage advice and/or silliness, as required, and I feel honoured to have their intelligence and friendship in my life. Shelley, thank you for all the times you’ve told me it’s going to be all right.
My agent Oli Munson is steady and wise; my editor Eli Dryden eggs me on to better writing with insight and vision. And they are both great friends. My wider publishing team, at A. M. Heath and Bonnier Zaffre, are unfailingly hard-working, professional and creative, and working with them is a joy. Thank you all.
My beta-readers were Joanne Baird, Kate Beales, Alan Butland, Jude Evans, Emily Medland, Tom Nelson, Jackie Leach Scully and Susan Young, and their comments were immensely helpful in shaping this book.
Emily Field is a real person, who generously bid to name a character as part of the #AuthorsForGrenfellTower auction. Real-life Emily is as wonderful as Ailsa’s best friend Emily is, and they wear the same perfume.