ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

A book is a solitary thing until you get towards the end of it all and so many people come together to help it on its way. And the help that is given at that point is expert help, not the bumbling efforts of the author.

Thanks to my agent, Gaby Naher of Leftbank Literary—there’s no better first reader for precision insights and masterful suggestions. To senior editor Mandy Brett of Text Publishing for the second round of artful recommendations and thoughtful edits, and an editing process that was supremely professional.

I fell in love with the cover design and thought ‘take it straight to the pool room’ as soon as I saw it. It’s not only apt for the story but it’s breathtakingly beautiful. Thank you Imogen Stubbs at Text Publishing.

To my publicist Madeleine Rebbechi, a most talented professional who has worked so hard in difficult circumstances to bring White Throat to the reading public.

To Text Publishing generally, thank you for your support and for keeping on publishing Aussie stories, no matter the challenges.

To Dean, as always, my consultant in all things dangerous, outrageous, fast, mechanical, electrical. All of the adventurous parts of this novel are inspired by the man himself who has, in most cases, personal experience of them. Thanks too, my darling for your unending support of all my endeavours and for your courteous silence while I’m working, despite the degree of suffering it causes to be quiet for such lengths of time.

Also to my family and friends who keep supporting me, giving me so much confidence and courage to continue. I love youse all.