Heartfelt thanks to my agent, Sarah Lutyens, and my publishers Clare Hey and Vanessa Radnidge, who all helped to make this book far better than the one I initially gave them. Thank you to Rabab Adams, Olivia Barber, Jennifer Breslin, Jo Carpenter, Andrew Cattanach, Ella Chapman, Francesca Davies, Katie Espiner, Rebecca Gray, Sophie Hutton-Squire, Juliet Mahony, Christa Moffitt, Brigid Mullane, Daniel Pilkington, Justin Ractliffe, Louise Sherwin-Stark, Chris Sims, Isabel Staas, Lydia Tasker, Jennifer Wilson, Mel Winder and the talented teams at Orion and Hachette Australia who have worked their magic on The Peacock Summer. Thank you to all the booksellers out there who spend their days matching the right book to the right reader. Thank you to David Andrews at the National Trust for answering my various queries regarding the acquisition of old properties. And thank you to the Arvon Foundation, for the time and space to finish this novel at The Hurst in Shropshire.
Every book is a challenge to write, but this one hit a wall after a personal tragedy. For their guidance and counsel I thank the extraordinary Wendy Liu and Louise Adams. I owe love and gratitude to Gill Norman, John Norman, Will Norman, Jude Richell, Gracie Richell, Adam Simpson, Auriol Bishop, Alexis Kenny, Marthe le Prevost, Toni Byrne, Clare Young, Emily Biesbroek, Steph Lees, Ilde Naismith-Beeley, Stephanie Goodwin, Sara Hutton-Potts, Saul Wordsworth, Fraser Tant, Karl Wilson and the “Hodder Girls”. Thank you for your support, and for helping me to pick up the pieces.
I first talked to my husband, Matt, about this novel on one of our long drives to Melbourne, the kids in the back of the car and the open road ahead of us. While we no longer travel roads together, Matt continues to inspire me every day. I hope he would be proud of how we strive to live with his immense light and love in our hearts.
Finally, this book is dedicated to my sister, Jess. Everyone needs a ‘Jess’ in their lives; someone to make you laugh till you cry, and hold your hand on the darkest days. You are still the only person I feel brave enough to share my first drafts with. Thank you – for everything.