A book isn’t just the work of one person, but then neither is a writer. So I need to thank Mum and Dad first of all: not just for the lifetime of unconditional love and support, but also for moving to North Wales when I was four. Luckily they took me with them, and The Box of Demons is the result.
Alex read and reread the manuscript nearly as many times as I did, was right about most things along the way and nudged me in the direction of the Write Now! competition. It’s thanks to him that you’re holding this book at all.
Lynne was always on hand for advice and support and having things she told me pilfered and put into the dreams of rabbits.
Sylwia had the most difficult job of all: she had to live with me while I grumped around going on about angels and castles and monsters and whatever else popped into my head. Kocham cię, kochanie moje.
I’d also like to mention all the people who took the time to plough through early drafts and were nice enough to offer encouragement: Philip Benjamin, Emily Butterfield, Morven Christie, Linda Gale, fish & chip consultants Silv and Sarah del Prete, and the Rowleys, who sent me a lovely email when (unbeknown to them) I needed it most. Druss’s revenge is for them.
I want to thank Nancy Miles for her faith in me; Chris Riddell for making the characters look better than I imagined them; my brilliant editor, Rachel Petty, for coming up with loads of brilliant ideas that have made the book brillianter (she wasn’t allowed to edit that sentence), and the judges of the Write Now! Prize for choosing The Box of Demons as their winner.
I’d like to finish by recognizing all the booksellers and librarians out there, fighting the good fight and putting the right stories into the hands of the people who want to read them. I’ve been bowled over by their passion, their support and above all their kindness towards me. But since they’re probably too busy finding awesome new books to bother reading these acknowledgements, will you do me a favour?
Next time you see one, thank them for me.