Acknowledgements

I coudn’t possibly let a book like this end without drawing on another piece of wisdom that I’ve picked up during my time with Bob: the importance of saying thank you. It’s been six years now since my first, tentative steps into the world of publishing. Back in 2012, when A Street Cat Named Bob was first published, I was more than a little daunted by it all. But now – half a dozen books later – each new project seems like a reunion with old and trusted friends. That’s certainly the case with Rowena Webb, my publisher at Hodder and Stoughton, who first took me on all those years ago and whose idea has now provided the spark for this book. She therefore must get my first thanks. I’d also like to single out Kerry Hood, Rosie Stephen, Ian Wong and the rest of the talented team at Hodder, as well as Dan Williams for his adorable illustrations. Thanks must also go to my agent Lesley Thorne and everyone at Aitken Alexander for all the work they do on my behalf. I really appreciate it. Last – but definitely not least – I must again thank Garry Jenkins, who has been on this journey the longest of all, since Bob and I first met him on a wintry day outside the Angel, Islington in December 2010, in fact. Somehow, he always manages to find the right words – although, I suspect, even he probably doesn’t have enough of them to sum up the debt of gratitude I owe him. So I’ll end where I began, by just saying thank you.