I want to make it very, very clear that every word in this book is fiction. I made stuff up—lots of stuff. Places, characters, events, legal processes, hierarchies. I did research, sure. But I didn’t want technicalities to bog down the spirit of the story that wanted to be told. The only exception to that is any information about bees. To the best of my knowledge and research, all that information is correct, though I am far from a bee expert and apologise in advance for any errors.
And a note about Catholicism. I come from generations of Catholics, was baptised as a baby and made holy sacraments. I went to Catholic schools and studied at Australian Catholic University. I went on to teach in Catholic schools and even taught religion. Some of the nicest people I’ve known in my life have been Catholics and my memories of Catholicism are overwhelmingly positive.
I had a beautiful nun (Sister Maria, after whom our heroine is named) for a teacher in Year Three; she was kind, loving and fun, and I cried when she left halfway through the year to take up the role of principal in another school. I still find inspiration in words from Peter Kennedy (formerly the long-serving priest of St Mary’s church in South Brisbane, but sacked for conducting mass outside of the rules). My uncle Anthony, a sensible, spirited Catholic, is a great humanitarian, backyard theologian and generous wine critic who thoroughly enjoyed helping me write my university theology assignment over a couple of bottles of fantastic red.
My point is that I have great respect for many Catholics. And while today I consider that my spirituality is based in an eclectic mix of many world ideas, philosophies and experiences, the Catholic church and its rituals and teaching will always be a significant spiritual origin in my life.
Acknowledgements
My tremendous gratitude goes to my publishers in Australia and the UK for taking my books on these journeys. So many people work so hard to get these books out into the world. The same goes to my agent, Fiona Inglis, and all at Curtis Brown in Australia and the UK. You are all always on my mind and in my gratitude lists.
Thanks to Gayle Currie, a passionate beekeeper and wonderful woman, for sharing with me so much about bees and allowing me to visit her precious girls.
Chenrezig Institute, situated in Eudlo on the Sunshine Coast, inspired my vision for the location of Honeybee Haven, especially all those steps up the hillside.
I drew inspiration from the wonderful Australian television mini-series Brides of Christ; Lesley O’Brien’s book, Mary MacKillop Unveiled; Backyard Bees: A guide for the beginner beekeeper by Doug Purdie; and Nature’s Gifts: Answers to questions about honey, pollen & all things bees by Athol and Skaidra Craig, with photographs by Glenbo.
Thank you to Simon Groth for inviting me to take part in the Memory Makes Us project at the Brisbane Writers Festival in 2014, and to everyone who contributed memories on my chosen theme of ‘soul food’. I found inspiration in your words, and some of them even made the final draft.
The following guinea pigs volunteered to read a much less polished early draft: Amanda Wooding, Kate Smibert, Kathleen Lamarque and Peta Schoenwald. Thank you.
My publisher, Annette Barlow, as always, is completely wonderful and gives the best editorial feedback a writer could hope for.
My copy editor, Clara Finlay, for making me work so very hard and making my words sparkle more than I thought they could.
My family, for everything in between.
My husband, Alwyn, as usual, is the rock and light of my life, as is my adorable cherub, Flynn. I love you guys to the moon and back.
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