After Lucinda’s death, we were faced with immediate pressure from readers over the fate of the promised eighth book. Mum had asked me to finish the series, but there was no guarantee it would be an acceptable outcome for her publishers at home and abroad.

Fortunately, my first meeting with Jeremy Trevathan and Lucy Hale from Pan Macmillan assured me that they had confidence in the plan, and the rest of the world followed suit. I am particularly grateful to the brilliant Lucy, who has continued to be enormously supportive throughout the process. In fact, the entire team at Macmillan have been phenomenal. Thanks in particular go to Jayne Osborne, Samantha Fletcher, Lorraine Green and Becky Lloyd.

To Lucinda’s publishers across the globe . . . what can I say? Mum was in the slightly unique position of being dear friends with you all, and I know she would want to express her gratitude for your amazing contribution to the Seven Sisters legacy. Many of you began this project with her a decade ago, and Atlas represents the end of quite a remarkable journey together. Thank you to those who sent messages of encouragement during the writing process, specifically Claudia Negele, Grusche Juncker, Fernando Mercadante and Sander Knol. Also to Knut Gørvell, who freely admitted he had little confidence in me, but was the most enthusiastic of all after reading the manuscript! I also wish to pay tribute to the brilliant translators who have worked so diligently on the Seven Sisters series across the years. Their role is often undervalued, but never by Lucinda or myself.

I knew I needed an excellent editor, and Susan Opie has been just that. I have discovered that the life of a novelist can be a lonely one, particularly in my situation, and Susan’s thoughts, reflections and catches have been invaluable. I couldn’t have done it without you!

Far from Atlas being the end of the Seven Sisters universe, it is in fact ever-expanding. The last year has proved to be an education in the world of the screen, and I want to acknowledge Sean Gascoine, Benjamina Mirnik-Voges, Faye Ward and Caroline Harvey for their patience and expertise.

Thank you to Jacquelyn Heslop, Nathan Moore, Charles Deane, Matthew Stallworthy, James Gamblin, Ellie Brennan, David Dunning, Cathal and Mags Dineen, Kerrie Scot, Kirsty Kennedy, Tory Hardy, Anna Evans, Martyn Weston and Richard Staples, who have all in their different ways offered me support during the past year.

June 2021–June 2022 proved to be an annus horribilis in which my family endured two further unexpected deaths. My grandmother (Mum’s mum) Janet Edmonds died in January 2022. Granny was sweet and effervescent, and provided us with untold laughs over the years. Then, in May 2022, we lost my stepsister Olivia. Not just a wonderful sibling, Olivia acted as a personal assistant and publishing executive for Lucinda Riley Ltd for many years. She was the first point of contact for readers, and engaged with them brilliantly. She also ran the office with huge efficiency and ease. It would be remiss of me not to mention the enormous contribution she made to everything behind the scenes, including in the case of this novel. Thank you, Livi.

I owe particular thanks to my stepfather Stephen, who acts as agent and deals with aspects of the business I simply cannot. He has shouldered many of the practical responsibilities in the most testing of circumstances, and I don’t know what I’d do without him. Further thanks go to Jess Kearton, who has learnt the ins and outs of her wide-ranging role at Lucinda Riley Ltd very quickly, and is completely reliable in all she does.

I am endlessly appreciative of my partner Lily, who has been a stoic pillar during the last eighteen months (apologies for the fact you’ve had to endure my artistic meltdowns for five years). Thanks to my cat, Tiggy, for convincing this canine fan that her species can be loving. Finally, thank you to my brother and sisters – Isabella for her superb research work early on, Leonora for her genuine enthusiasm about the book, and Kit for making me laugh like no one else. Mum would be indescribably proud of you all.

The final words must be Lucinda Riley’s. I hope she won’t mind me lifting them from Seven Sisters acknowledgements throughout the years:

Thanks lastly to YOU, the readers, whose love and support as I travel to the four corners of the earth and hear your stories inspire and humble me. Writing a seven-book series seemed like such a mad idea in 2012 – I never guessed that my sisters would touch so many people around the world. You have taken them to your hearts, laughed, loved and cried with them as I have done when I am writing their stories.

If I have learnt one thing from the past year, it is that the moment is truly all we have. Try, if you can, to relish it, in whatever circumstances you find yourself, and never give up hope – it is the fundamental flame that keeps us human beings alive.