Thank you to my beautiful family for all your support and assistance during the writing of this book, with special thanks to my daughters Amanda Canham and Danielle Curley for their insightful comments and critiques; and to my sister Therese Mallia who has supported this series from the start and who has not been disappointed yet!
To my good friend and agent, Geoffrey Radford, a heart-felt thank you. And to my London agent Janelle Andrew, I appreciate all you do for me.
To the brilliant editorial team at Bloomsbury’s London Office – you always bring out the best in me, and I thank you for that. With special mention to Ele Fountain, Emma Young, Sam MacIntosh, Isabel Ford, Maurice Lyon, Helen Jones, Katie Everson and Katie Smith.
A big thank you to the Bloomsbury New York Office for all you do to make the Avena Series a success in the US.
And to Bloomsbury’s Sydney office; what did I ever do before you set up in Australia? You are a great supporting machine with many amazing and invaluable talents. Thank you to Louise, Hannah, Elizabeth, Kristin, Brendan, Bethia and Jennie. And a very special mention to the lovely Sonia Palmisano – I promise next time you won’t have to hold my hand quite so much!