If it takes a village to raise a child, it appears that it takes a cohort, a university, a society and a family to write a book – let alone get it published. It’s a possibility that this work could have existed without their contribution and their deadlines, but you probably wouldn’t be reading it right now.
Those requiring thanks are just too numerous to be contained here, so the following is an “including, but not limited to” list. Conversely, markedly different expressions of gratitude are not abundant enough to make these acknowledgements a good read and those that do exist are woefully inadequate.
I have to start with a tale of two Scoobies.
There is my MA cohort at Manchester Metropolitan University, aka the Scooby Gang. We met weekly online, in a watcher’s library of the mind, salivating over maps, dragons and the necessity for dead monks. We made each other better, we made each other laugh and we messed royally with our tutors. A more supportive and talented bunch of writers it would be difficult to find, with a chemistry impossible to replicate. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to Marie Dentan, Jason E. Hill, Kim Hutson, Anna Mainwaring, Luci Nettleton, Alison Padley-Woods, Katy Simmonds and Paula Warrington, not forgetting Dave and Jane who we lost along the way. “If there’s something bad out there, we’ll find, you’ll slay, we’ll party.” I love you all.
Thank you also to the MMU staff whose belief and tutelage turned a hack into an author – Livi Michael, Iris Feindt, Catherine Fox, N M Browne and Ellie Byrne, with special gratitude to Sherry Ashworth for praise and validation at a critical moment.
The second set of Scoobies are the members, volunteers and organizers of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, or SCBWI. This is a very special organization, uniquely caring and genuinely helpful, with a real “all for one and one for all” spirit. We’re not in competition. One person’s success is everyone’s success. Add to this free wine, tables of cake and the best costume parties. I can’t possibly name every Scooby who has touched my life and I couldn’t single out any one person for fear of neglecting someone. Look, you know who you are. See you at the next conference or retreat.
SCBWI also gave me the opportunity to meet some authors and professionals whose advice and encouragement changed my career – or at least gave me a sound bite to get me through the dark times. Being told I “could be the YA Graham Greene” is right up there with once being mistaken for a film star in a restaurant. Thank you to Elizabeth Wein, Melvin Burgess and Lauren Fortune to name but three.
There is, of course, nothing like someone staking their professional reputation on you and loving your work as much as you do. Enter Molly Ker Hawn at TBA, the Great Santini of editing and the kind of agent I spend every writing day trying to be worthy of. Thank you, Molly, and may your eyes be forever tiny-spider-free.
Which brings me to my editors Kendra Levin at Viking and Sarah Stewart at Usborne, whose very real connection to and empathy with the story and characters made many hard choices easy ones. Thank you for the belief and achievable deadlines. Gratitude must also go to Jody and Janet for keeping me on my toes.
To everyone else who expressed a preference, the deepest gratitude for your kind words and compelling stories.
I have to thank those who contributed to the story in some vital way – my Jewish consultant Deborah Goldstein, self-described “disappointing gymnast” Leila Sales, Paula and Luci for horses and Norse mythology respectively, Jo Wyton for seismic advice, and Dr Jennifer Naparstek Klein whose counsel on childhood trauma I took (and occasionally ignored). Danke and dzięki to Kornelia Lemberger and Jannina Broders. Thanks too to the innumerable librarians, online historians and museum curators whose help and work have been invaluable, especially the Center for Jewish History and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Miscellaneous thanks to the late great Mal Peet, SF Said, Sarwat Chadda, Kathryn Evans, Peter Bunzl, Vanessa Curtis, Clare Furniss, Non Pratt, Robin Stevens, Emma Solomon, Miriam Craig, Alexandra Boyd, Louise Palfreyman, Anna’s students and my other unnamed readers, for feedback and guidance.
Before I get to my real family, I want to express a measure of gratitude to my colleagues and friends at the company that isn’t, in fact, called TLG, for their support, tutelage and moments of invaluable humanity. Thank you to Ali, Greg, Heidi, Janne, Jeremy, Lauren and everyone in Enfield for making me part of your clan. Never forget that det bedste er ikke for godt.
Thank you to my big brothers, Andy and Ben, the BAM, orphans all. In particular, Andrew Killeen, a grown-up writer of thrilling and NSFW historical fiction, who has been an inspiration to me for my entire life. He was the arbiter elegantiarum of my teens and childhood – yes, even the Emerson, Lake & Palmer – so he gets a degree of credit (and blame) for the person I’ve become.
Thank you to Coco-Mojo for keeping me fit. Who’s a good girl? You are. Yes, you are.
Thank you to my children, Elliott and little FH, who delight and challenge me by equal turns, delighting me as they infuriate. You are inspirational, motivational and as close to a meaning for existence as I’ve found. You are wonderful people who make me proud. I love you with all my heart and with an intensity for which words are inadequate.
As for Anne-Marie, my sweetest and only…as a description, “muse” doesn’t really do you justice. Writers are often asked, “Is your partner supportive?” by which they mean, “How do they stand you being emotionally unavailable and moody, spending all your time alone with fictional people who enrage you and making no money in the process? Is it possible they still love you in any way?” Yes, you are supportive. You invented supportive. Thank you for helping me become myself, in every way. This book is yours.