Many people have a hand in bringing a book to publication and I want to express my heartfelt thanks to them all. My agent, Judith Murdoch, who stands firmly in my corner. My editor Wayne Brookes, who is always there for me, encourages me and makes me laugh – I love him to bits. Victoria Hughes-Williams, who does a wonderful, sensitive structural edit of my books, keeping my voice and tightening my work. Alex Saunders, Samantha Fletcher and Mandy Greenfield, who all do a wonderful job of editing my work and checking my research, till my words sing off the page. Ellis Keene, my publicist, who works towards getting exposure for my books and me, and meticulously organizes events to ensure I am taken care of on my travels. The sales team, for their efforts to get my books onto the shelves. The cover designer for my beautiful covers. And last but by no means least, a special thanks to my son, James Wood, who reads so many versions of each book, advising me what is working and what isn’t as I write my draft manuscript, and then helps with the read-through of the final proofs when last-minute mistakes need to be spotted. All of you are much-appreciated and do an amazing job for me. Thank you.
My thanks, too, to my family – my husband Roy, who looks after me so well as I lose myself in writing my books, and is the love of my life. He’s been by my side for almost sixty years and I couldn’t do what I do without him or the love and generous support that he gives me. My children, Christine, Julie, Rachel and James, for your love, encouragement and just for having pride in me. My grandchildren and great-grandchildren, too numerous to name, but all loved so very dearly and who are all in my corner cheering me on. My Olley and Wood families, for all the support. Thank you to each and every one of you. You help me to climb my mountain.
And I want to thank my readers, especially those on my Facebook page, for the encouragement you give me, for making me laugh, for taking part in all my competitions, for pre-ordering all of my books, for taking the time to post lovely reviews and support my launch events, and for just being my special friends. You are second to none and keep me from flagging. Thank you.