ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Eternally thankful to Brent, for physically picking me up and putting me on the chair to write so very long ago. I couldn’t have done it, I couldn’t continue to do any of it, without you. Thank you to Thomas, whose thoughtfulness and heart of determination and courage beats in time with my own. I love you both beyond words.

A special thank you to my mum for taking me to the library and feeding my habit as a child. You introduced me to the world of imagination through books and I am forever grateful for your unconditional support and love. Thank you to my nan for the old bookshop visits after school and to my dad for a particular conversation one night. Thank you to my brother for the phone calls and for introducing me to Steven Pressfield, it changed everything. And to my dear friend, whose loyalty (and laughs) have been a constant source of solace even though we live so far away.

Much gratitude goes to Two Sugars, Two Wrens and Alfie’s for years of hospitality and extra hot water. Thank you to all the students I have taught over the years whose little questions of ‘How’s the book going Mrs Lyons-Lee?’ meant so much. Thank you also to my school for supporting me with time away from teaching in order to write.

Nigel Featherstone and Mary Cunnane have provided invaluable emotional and practical support through the Hardcopy program, as well as the opportunity to be part of a writing community. Thank you for your generosity and thank you to my writing friends and colleagues, you understand what it takes. Thank you to Mariano Tomatis, internationally renowned Italian writer and magician, whose skills and knowledge concerning all things magic and history is truly wonderful. Thank you to the fabulous and talented author H. G Parry (Hannah Parry) for taking the time out of her own writing schedule to support me. My editor Kate Goldsworthy has been incredible in her unwavering attention to detail. Finally, a huge thank you to my publisher Barry Scott of Transit Lounge, who connected with my story and understood.