Thank you for reading Moonlight on the Thames, and best wishes for a happy holiday season. This book is a work of fiction and is not based on any real person or event (with apologies to the lovely choir that sang one evening last December at Waterloo station, brightening up the evening for many stranded commuters!).
The issues, however, that are raised in this book are very real and affect the lives of millions of people all over the world. I am not a counsellor or an expert in these subjects, I am just a writer telling a story. Any mistakes that I have made in portraying these situations are purely my own. The book is intended as a romantic fairytale, and I know that in real life, things are much more complex and not wrapped up so easily in ‘happily ever after’. If you or anyone you know are affected by any of the issues raised in this book, I would encourage you to seek help, even if taking the first step seems difficult or impossible. A good place to start is the Samaritans (www.samaritans.org) who can provide further advice. While justice may seem like a thing of fiction books or Hollywood films, it is only by people speaking out that we move closer to banishing these dark things.
I have tried to portray my Russian characters in an honest and non-stereotypical way, but again, any mistakes are my own. I did have the privilege to visit Russia back in 1998 with a group of American friends. While this trip is now going on twenty years ago, I was very much captivated by the country and enchanted by its people. I would like to thank the people at Masterrussian.net who helped me with many queries on name conventions, culture and language. The tale of The Firebird in this book is my own amalgam of several classic Russian fairytales, and I have taken some liberties in the retelling. I believe, however, that the power of fairytales is that their archetypes apply far beyond whatever their original contexts may have been, and as such, they are often adapted in the retelling.
I would like to thank my dad, who raised me to love and appreciate classical music (and my mum who did the running around and paid for music lessons). It is a legacy that I feel strongly about passing on to my own children. We listen to a lot of Classic FM in the car, and I listen to a lot of piano practice at home. I have a particular love of Russian composers and their music has always resonated with me. Many years ago, I studied music – oboe performance – at university. It took me only one year to determine that, unfortunately, I did not have what it took to be a professional musician. In addition to raw talent, it takes a ruthless focus, a lot of luck and a lot of hours in a tiny room practising, not the world’s greatest music, but scales and exercises.
Looking back now, I’ve discovered that I do have that kind of passion, focus and drive – but as a writer, not a musician. Some days when I’m deep in the process of editing a book, I long for those ‘simpler’ days of my music studies. I’ve always wanted to write a book that explores the heights of ecstasy and the depths of despair that music can evoke. I don’t know if I’ve achieved that here, but if you do feel inspired to listen to the music referred to in this book, I’ve put together a Moonlight on the Thames playlist on Spotify. My words may not be sufficient, but the music can speak for itself. The link is www.goo.gl/JCWbpV.
I’d like to thank all of the people who have helped make this book possible: my agent, Anna Power; Caroline Ridding and all the rest of the team at Aria, who agreed to publish my somewhat dubious interpretation of a ‘light-hearted Christmas romance’. And then there is my writing group: Chris King, Ronan Winters, and Francisco Gochez. Given the tight deadlines on this book, they read some very long excerpts and revisions (over wine, of course) and their comments (from the male perspective) were very helpful and enlightening.
Last but not least, I’d like to thank my family. Last Christmas, I was supposed to be taking a break from a difficult work and writing schedule to spend time with them. But when the idea for this book came into my head, it took over. Being a writer, you often live inside the heads of the characters and go where others cannot follow. Thank you to my parents, Suzanne and Bruce, Monica Yeo, and of course, my partner, Ian, and my daughters, Eve, Rose and Grace. I appreciate your love and support, even if I don’t always show it.
If you as a reader have enjoyed this book, please leave a review on Goodreads, Amazon, Kobo, iBooks, Google Play or wherever you purchased it. I hope to be able to continue writing books that are a little different to what else is out there and am reliant on readers to help spread the word. I am also happy to receive correspondence and feedback via my website email.
Thank you for reading, and may your holidays be filled with love and music.
Lauren
June, 2018