This is my first novel. Any generous reader will notice that (despite all the funny business) mindfulness really is important to me. A mindful attitude to life makes many things easier. It’s not a panacea, however, even if we’re now always just an easy Google search away from a mindfulness exercise to address any conceivable problem. I am grateful for all this inspiring advice. This novel thrived on its abundance.
On my way to finishing this book, I have been inspired by encounters with countless people. Each was a necessary building block. I want to thank every single one of these people, and a few of them here by name.
When I first felt the need to put the vague idea I had for this book into actual words, I was sitting in my favourite pub on my favourite island. I’d like to thank the waitress who lent me her pen and order pad. These six pieces of paper, densely covered in writing, are now framed on my wall. And this book begins exactly as I first drafted it.
Marco, that same evening your café became my theatre, you my first audience. You listened to me and gave me Der Mob by Dagobert Lindlau for research. In addition, one of your patrons unsuspectingly inspired me to turn them into one of the book’s supporting characters. Thank you.
Marcel, thank you for so lovingly taking me in and supporting me at your agency.408
Anvar, you took wonderful care of me and my work. If books were baptised, you’d be the godfather.
I would like to thank Oskar Rauch, the editor at Heyne Verlag who believed in this novel from the start. I’d also like to thank Joscha Faralisch, who maintained that level of faith during Oscar’s paternity leave.
I would like to thank Heiko Arntz for his detailed and stimulating edits. It was great fun to go over my work so intensively.
And thank you for reading this book to the very last page.409410