I spoke to a lot of firefighters, both in Sydney and in New York, to fuel the writing of this book. I will keep their identities a secret, as I have been asked to do, because they spoke openly, honestly, and with great vulnerability about what they do. They revealed the good and the bad. The unquestioning openness of these men shocked me (and they all happened to be men, through no design of my own). Some were involved in the rescue efforts after the terrible events of September 11, 2001. Others shared their experience of losing colleagues, of struggling with hostile work environments, of relishing in the joy and heartache that is being a firefighter. They took me into their firehouses, told me their stories, and answered my sometimes difficult questions, based on kindness alone. Any and all mistakes, exaggerations, or flagrant disregardings of the truth about firefighting and its processes in this novel are my fault. And make no mistake: I did not meet, nor hear tell of a single firefighter whose nefarious actions or intentions compare to the men in this book. Matt, Engo, Jake, and Ben are all, thankfully, fictional.
So my thanks go to J, R, N, Chief D and his crew, The Black Prince and his crew, and a number of others. I owe you more cake than I could ever hope to bring you. Stay safe.
I get to do what I do because of the people who have schooled me in the craft of writing at the University of Notre Dame, the University of the Sunshine Coast, and the University of Queensland. Team Fox consists of my long-suffering agents Gaby Naher, Lisa Gallagher, and Steve Fisher, and my dedicated publishers, editors, and others across the world at Penguin Random House, Tor/Forge Macmillan, Suhrkamp Verlag, and beyond. Thank you so much for believing in me.
Finally, Tim; thank you for always holding the fort, never rolling your eyes, being my rock of patience and tolerance. Noggy, thank you for being my teddy. Violet, thank you for being the best kid in the world. It’s not easy, but you somehow manage it every minute of every day.