ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This book has been coming in some form or another for so long now that I really fear I have forgotten people who have assisted me along the way. Writing is both a solo pursuit and one that requires the help, conversation and support from so many people that I don’t think I could mention them all if I tried. Obviously I will try – I love reading acknowledgements – but I’m sorry if I missed thanking you.

Stephanie Lai, thank you so much for helping me craft Alice’s life over the years, and for improving mine too.

To my writers group, Katherine Collette, Ingrid Laguna and Ailsa Wild: thank you for being okay with me bringing my crime book to a children’s writing meet-up, telling me that it was funny and being a sounding board for all my ideas. You’re all amazing.

Huge thanks to my early readers, Julia Jackson, Jacinta DiMase and Chris Rodgers, for their initial advice about what worked and what didn’t.

To my agents, Jacinta DiMase and Danielle Binks: thanks for all your help and advice getting Unbury to the right people, as always.

To my editors, Laura Franks and Martin Hughes: look, you deleted a lot of my favourite characters and jokes, but I know for a fact that readers are probably grateful for all your edits, since the revised word count means now they can actually lift the book. Thanks so much for believing in and understanding Alice and Teddy. They like you too.

Also to everyone else at Affirm Press who guided Unbury along: Anna Thwaites, Ruby Ashby-Orr, Keiran Rogers, Luke Causby, Georgie Sweeting, Emma Schwarcz, Tace Kelly and Julia Kathro. There really aren’t words for how much I appreciate all the work and effort you put in to help this book come to life. Thanks too to all the Affirm sales reps, and, since my career means I know something of how the sausage is made, thanks to everyone along the distribution line: those at the ADS warehouse, the delivery drivers, and all the booksellers or librarians who received the stock and then put this in your hands.

Thanks to all of my glorious colleagues, who encourage me to no end, hype me up, and have listened to a vast number of small-scale updates on this manuscript for years without ever once looking visibly bored. I love you all.

For Nadia, Lian, Dani, Rachael, Sarah and Liz, and all the happiness you give me.

While Teddy and Alice have small social circles (necessary for readability purposes), I’ve been lucky to have supportive friends in so many places. Thank you to my book club, my school parent buddies, and my kids sports pals. Traditionally, I also thank the people at the cafes where I do most of my writing, but this time around I just gave up caffeine and decided I was probably capable of making toast at home, so on this count I’d like to thank myself (and my couch).

To my family, both immediate and extended: I’m unbelievably lucky to have you all in my life, and I’m grateful for all of you every day. Mum, I’m sorry about all the swearing.

Finally, to Chris and Natalie. I don’t know how I lucked into getting the most supportive partner and kid in the world, but somehow I did. This would have taken until the end of time without you giving me the space and encouragement you do. Sorry for all the times I yelled, ‘Hang on, don’t talk to me, I just have to finish writing this sentence’ while you were on fire or similar. I love you both so much.