This story began in 2006 and has since taken me on several journeys. Sincere thanks to those who were there from the beginning and to those who got on board somewhere along the way. Special thanks to: Zoe Walton, Catriona Murdie and everyone at Woolshed Press; Louise Burns, Hilary Johnson’s anonymous reader, Kate Gordon and Ophelia Leviny; Caroline Green, Luisa Plaja and Alexandra Fouracres; my friends and family, especially Aaron, Madeleine and Jonah; the late Joan Brown, an extraordinary grandmother; and, finally – Melbourne, Australia: thanks for having me.