This is my thirtieth year of being published by Pan Macmillan and I’m so lucky to still be working with this team. There are too many people to mention individually, and everyone has played an important part in supporting me throughout my career, so this is a big shout-out to them all. I couldn’t have been with a more enthusiastic and skilful bunch.
My agent and friend, Sara Menguc, has been with me almost from the beginning of this terrific journey. Huge thanks to her and to all her wonderful co-agents.
Minotaur in the US has become a big part of my life in recent years and they now feel like part of the extended family too. I can’t wait to get back to the US to meet them all in person again.
Emma Harrow is a fabulous publicist: wise and full of the best advice.
My assistant, Jill Heslop, besides keeping me on track and taking on much of the admin load, has headed up the Reading for Wellbeing project – while allowing me to take much of the credit.
Thanks to Helen Pepper, friend and advisor, for all her help with forensic details in The Rising Tide. Of course, any errors are mine. Sue Beardshall is the kindest person I know. Thanks to her for my base in North Devon, for fun and the Cava Sundays.
Charlotte Thomas donated to the Tarset Village Hall Fund, and so became a character in the book. As did Skip the dog.
For more than twenty years I’ve had the support of Murder Squad, my writing friends in the North. Writing can be a lonely business and we need the company of people who understand us.
Finally, and most importantly, thanks to readers. Readers who buy and borrow our books and keep us in business, readers who are writers too and who have provided an escape and a challenge with their work, and readers who are book-sellers that share their passion and spread the joy.