Thank you to Sarah Ritherdon and her team for working their magic on my manuscript. Without their dedication, my story would remain untold and unloved as a document upon a shelf.
Unreserved thanks to David Headley and his dedicated team at D H H Literary Agency – I couldn’t ask for a more experienced and professional team to support my career.
Thank you to my writing friends within the Romantic Novelists’ Association. You continue to be a great support and a wealth of laughter at every party and conference – I promise to repay the generosity and kindness received in recent years.
The Salloway family – thank you for the love and fond memories of happy visits, which we both treasure. Every year, Mary always had the most beautiful Christmas tree decorated with love – bless her x
Kathryn ‘Kitty’ Patrickson, Jackie Glendinning, Sharon Walker, Rebecca Hibbins, Steve Klym, Sean Phillips and Bexy Read from The George Eliot School – you guys have made my daily juggle of the day-job and the dream so much easier. I wanted to thank you in the only way I know how… forever in a book. P.S. Steve Klym, the year 11 pupils told me the ‘drawing pin’ joke.
Tim and Debbie Woodward, Graham Vann-Turner and Pid Pardoe – for your support and dedicated friendship to Lush. He deserves top quality friends given that his wife is often AWOL in Narnia. To all at Warwickshire Fire and Rescue who have followed my progress and purchased my books – it’s been my pleasure to sign each and every book.
Thank you to the ‘Polesworth Posse’ for instantly answering my questions via social media regards ‘stera’, ‘crashing ciggies’ and reminding me of days gone by.
A large skinny mocha without sprinkles ‘thank you’ to the baristas at Costa Coffee in Atherstone for allowing me to linger at the corner table while I edited this book. Smiles, happy chatter and great service ensured that I returned each day.
To the ‘Hollys’ of this world, ignore the ‘mean girls’ – their unsavoury treatment towards others only moulds us into strong women from an early age. To the ‘Ninas’, may you experience your stomach flip and never settle for anything less. To the ‘Angies’, never doubt how precious that single moment was!
Robin redbreast – whether it be a coincidence, an urban myth or a sign of my faith, I really don’t mind, but I’ll provide the mealworms if you continue to appear and delight.
Mum, I think it can be safely said that I’ve finally converted you from a strict diet of autobiographies and memoirs into the realms of fiction, given that you’ve read my other books in a single day!
Heartfelt thanks to my husband, Leo, for your unwavering belief since day one that ‘one day’ would happen. Apologies for my constant stream of nonsense author questions regarding suitable names, haircuts and firefighting – I’ll leave you in peace until my next novel idea takes flight.
And finally, to my wonderful readers… you continue to thrill me each day with your fabulous reviews and supportive emails. I am truly humbled that you make time in your busy lives to read my books.
Postscript: to Multiple Sclerosis, you stood in the corner and watched our struggle before leaving with my dad – thankfully, I’d collected a childhood full of memories. I’m still picking up the pieces ☹ but now, you are no longer a secret ☺