Acknowledgements

I always love reading the acknowledgement section of a novel. After I’ve finished a book, I want to know a bit more about the person behind the story, and if I’m lucky, the motivation behind the story. The acknowledgements are often the bit that gives me that.

The first person I want to acknowledge is my writing partner, confidante, and first reader, my little sister, Larissa Johns. Larissa is also a writer (‘Having It All’ was published in December 2020 and her new novel, ‘Without Warning’ was published in June 2021). Larissa and I spent our childhoods imagining life as authors, but both opted to move into different careers. It’s nice that we’ve now embarked on our childhood dreams at the same time and I love sharing ideas and trading suggestions with you!

Also on a personal note, I’d like to thank my family – my partner who never minds me tapping away at the computer, and heard about this book for ages, but probably didn’t believe it would become a reality! I also want to thank our children – without you, I would never have written a book about parenting! To my parents Noel and Sandra whom have always been supportive, my other sister, Melanie, my brother in law, and my nieces and nephews. I’d also like to acknowledge my mother-in-law, Julie, who loved talking books with me, and eagerly awaited this book release. Sadly, as we were editing this book, Julie passed away after a short battle with cancer. I’ve got one planned to dedicate to you, Julie, and I wish you were here with us, able to read this book.

I’d like to thank Ashley Kingsbury, of Ninestar Press, who was the first editor to decide she wanted to work with me and publish my work. Then, to Liz Borino, who took over from Ashley, and edited my manuscript, doing a fabulous job of working with me. Thank you also to the copy editor and proofreader. A huge thank you to the whole Ninestar Press team, and it would be remiss of me to not mention Raevyn McCann, the Managing Director of Ninestar Press. Thank you – it’s great to be working with you all!

The moment I tell people I’ve written a novel about foster care, they assume it’s our story. This is not the case, at all. This really is a work of fiction, but it’s inspired by the stories of the many foster carers and parents, generally, I have spoken to over the years. Parenting can be challenging, and I’ve tried to share that in the novel – whether that be parenting through fostering, adoption, birth or some other way. The characters in this story are inspired by a number of women I’ve met along the way, more of a hybrid approach, coupled with my imagination.

I’ve also been privileged, along the way, to meet birth mothers whom have had their children removed. Some well-intended friends warned me off sharing the birth mother’s voice, claiming I couldn’t possibly understand, but I felt compelled to share Melissa’s story in the novel to hopefully depict both sides of foster care. I haven’t had the experience of birth mothers who have had their children removed, but I have spent many hours talking to a couple of women who have had their children removed. I hope I did it justice. The bittersweet reality of foster care is one that has always struck me – while people are congratulating the ‘new parents’, someone else is in mourning as they grieve the loss of their child – temporarily, or perhaps forever. I initially started writing this book to understand how it might feel to be a birth mum who lost her children, and I’m so grateful to these women for sharing their stories with me. Again, Melissa’s story is very much a work of fiction, but my understanding through talking to these women has contributed toward my fictional account and the emotions Melissa was feeling.

I’d like to thank the two March 2013 mums groups I was part of. They read the first few chapters and told me they wanted to read more. This one might have been like all the other books I had started over the years if it wasn’t for their support. I kept them waiting a long time, though. Life, parenting, and my career got in the way, but eventually I finished writing it and then got the bug to write more. Thankfully I write much faster and consistently today! I have a range of novels to come—from romance to women’s fiction.

Thank you also to all my readers, Instagram and Facebook friends and followers, and the various writing and reader groups I’m involved in. I love hearing from you, and you can follow me on Instagram @gemmajohnsauthor, or on Facebook as Gemma Johns—Author. You can also email me at gemmajohnsauthor@gmail.com.