Crane quotes from Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poem ‘Adonais’. Lines from ‘A Cockeyed Optimist’ © Rodgers and Hammerstein, 1958.
I am very fortunate to work with Georgia Richter of Fremantle Press as my editor. Everything is better for having her eye across the manuscript and I thank her for her input. Thanks also in advance to Jane Fraser, Claire Miller and everybody else at Fremantle Press who I know will be working very hard on my behalf to bring River of Salt to the widest readership possible. The idea of this book came when I went to an Atlantics’ gig where my friend and colleague Martin Cilia, Australia’s premier surf-guitarist, was playing with the original members of that amazing band. This is a good chance to thank Martin for all the times we’ve sat around working out chords, bars and other licks. Finally my greatest appreciation to my wife and most ardent supporter Nicole, who gives everything of herself to her family and friends. Hopefully we’ll record her album next and she can thank Martin and me before heading to Philly and meeting Vin, Marcello and the gang in the flesh — if they haven’t been rubbed out.