THERE’S A WHOLE nine years between ‘Broken Crockery’ and ‘Abdul’ so I’d first like to thank all those I don’t know who’ve read my stories, found my stories, chosen my stories and bought this book. I hope our paths will cross one day for me to shake your hand.
And then to the folk I’m lucky enough to know and who know how much these stories mean: Phil and Becky, Len and Jim, Hallsy, Deb, Ami, Mags and Steve, Petra, Maz, Rachy, Lord and Lady Moncrieff, John and Sandra, Laura Creyke, Siani Hughes, Laura and Lee, Jo and Dan, Anna Dreda, Fay Bailey, Meg Hawkins, Liz Lefroy, Fat Boy, Nick Button, Jack and David, Jim Hawkins, Phil Gillam, and to all the Blowers and the Edwardses with the A53 in between.
To Philippa Brewster who has been my word glue from the word go and continues to always believe in me and my stories. To Candida Lacey and the Myriad team, who also saw something in me to give me a shot. Thank you x
To Professors Ian Davidson, Helen Wilcox and Ailsa Cox—for their tireless readings of a novel that never made it but became some of these stories all the same.
To Professor Deborah Wynne and Dr Catherine Burgass for flying that Midlands flag for me.
To my fabulous colleagues at Bangor University—for your support, advice, boiling kettles, listening ears, and allowing me to be me.
To Liz Allard, Justine Willett, Rebekah Staton and Jacqueline Redgewell, who brought ‘Barmouth’ and ‘Pot Luck’ to such life.
To the literary wizard Jonathan Davidson and the Room 204 cohort who never cease to amaze.
To Natasha Carlish—thank you for sticking your neck out for me.
To Tania Harrison—a constant shining star.
To the huge talents that are Niall Griffiths, Luke Wright, Hollie McNish, and my short fiction consciousness Paul McVeigh. Thank you for reading me and always being so supportive.
To Kit de Waal. Where do I even start? x
To Ra Page at Comma Press for always giving me a chance to be part of a project that blows me away.
To the team behind Literary Salmon—Jane Roberts, Fran Harvey, Alexa Radcliffe-Hart—and to Cathy Galvin and the Word Factory team for always keeping me in mind.
Finally, to my mum, dad and Sarah, who never ever stop listening or thinking I can’t do it, and to Dave who reads me better than anyone and puts big light on when I need it.
This book is also in the memory of ‘Uncle’ Dave Jones. Thank you for mending so many paths going up x