My agent, Vivien Green of Sheil Land, has long been fascinated by Wallis Simpson (mainly because of the jewellery, I suspect) and suggested I write about her. Mr Ideas Man Richard Hughes then told me that Princess Diana visited Villa Windsor on the day she died, and the germ of the idea for this novel was born. Huge thanks to both of them for all their inspiration and support.
I changed publishers with this book, which is a nerve-racking process, akin to leaving the family home and taking up residence with another family in the hope they will adopt you. To my immense relief, new editor Sherise Hobbs and marketing supremo Jen Doyle made me feel instantly welcome by taking me for a champagne lunch. Sherise gave top-notch editorial guidance on the text, Jane Selley did a sensitive copy-edit and Katie Green did a forensic proofread. My gratitude to them and to Emily Gowers, Mari Evans, and the rest of the Headline team, who were wonderful from the very start.
Early readers of this novel included the indomitable Karen Sullivan of Orenda Books, who sent me a five-page email of detailed notes and suggestions, despite being officially the busiest person in the universe. Bloggers Lor Bingham and Abbie Rutherford also made loads of valuable suggestions, as did the brilliant Gaia Banks at Sheil Land and the aforementioned Richard Hughes, while Abby Endler was my American dialogue coach. Thank you all.
A special mention to Zoe Hill at Schlesinger Library Research Services, Harvard for scanning Mary Kirk’s letters and finding me a copy of the book by her sister Anne and niece Elizabeth. Catherine Lamb kindly put me in touch with John Peacock, who offered useful fashion advice, and Bettina Hartas Geary, a trained therapist, wrote a fascinating email to me about ‘Diana Syndrome’.
The book blogging community have yet again been wonderfully supportive and encouraging in the last year and a special mention goes to Anne Williams, Karen Cocking, Anne Cater, Julie Boon, Kate Atherton, Liz Barnsley, Victoria Goldman, Jess Bickerton, Laura McKeen, Linda Hill, Rachel Gilbey, Sharon Wilden, Emma Crowley, Bronagh McAteer, Rebecca Pugh, Maryline VP, Kaisha Holloway, Magdalena Johansson, Amanda Moran, Emma B, Ana Thom, Jody Hoekstra, Joanne Baird, Louise Wykes, Susan Head and Tina Hartas, as well as the ever-glamorous Tracy Fenton.
A special shout-out to Robert Blenman for buying copies of The Secret Wife for virtually everyone he knows, as did my gorgeous sister Fiona Williams. Huge gratitude to Christina Jansen and Jutta Russell for making me look presentable in author photos. For their extraordinarily generous social media support, my warmest thanks to Barbara Doukas, Jan Moran and Simon Kettlewell, as well as author pals Marnie Riches, Louise Beech and Kerry Fisher.
And thanks to Karel Bata for everything.