My gorgeous husband, Anders. I say it every time, but it seems to become truer with every book, I couldn’t do what I do without his support. Calm, tolerant, wise, he’s a rubbish editor – far too kind to me – but it’s always his opinion I seek. May he never leave me for one of my characters.
My three beautiful children, who put up with me saying, ‘I’m on deadline!’ every time they want me to play football in the garden and haven’t yet put me up for adoption – in spite of the threats. All the love in the prologue is inspired by them.
My mum for being my touchstone in everything and ringing me every morning, cup of tea in hand and ear ready.
Sally, Mhairi and Muirne for inspiring the last scene in the last chapter; Rebecca O’Connor for giving me a camel to work with – yep, he’s alive and well and living in Sussex; Camilla Fenning for her red shoe wisdom; Tamson Martin for her beautiful cat-like eyes; Carole Bennett for canine inspiration; Aunty Flora for keeping sales buoyant in Scotland; and any friend who hasn’t dumped me while I’ve gone to ground on this book.
And most of all, my editor, Jenny Geras, and agent, Amanda Preston, for keeping the wheels on with this one!