My first thanks go to Barbara Large for her wonderful Winchester Writers’ Conferences, and Allie Spencer, whom I met at my first one, for recommending I join the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writers’ Scheme, who also deserve a heartfelt thank you.
Anne Bennett, Trisha Ashley and the late Catherine King took me under their wing at my very first RNA event. I have fond memories of our stays at the New Cavendish and want to thank them for the writerly wisdom they imparted in the bar and across the breakfast table. They treated me as if I were already one of the gang!
Amanda Jennings and Lucy Diamond gave me generous critical help (literally), thanks to the charity auction, Authors for the Philippines. Ditto Joanne Grant thanks to Authors for Nepal. Very much appreciated!
Special thanks to Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, for introducing me to my agent, Alison Bonomi of LBA Books. And to Judy Finnegan and Francesca Main, for choosing one of my stories as the winner of its first Literary Idol Competition in 2014.
Also Yvette Judge and all at Dubai International Writers’ Centre, where talented tutors Sherry Ashworth and Jo Wroe provided plenty of inspiration.
Cathie Hartigan, Margaret James and Sophie Duffy – thank you for organising the annual Exeter Novel Prize, and Broo Doherty, for judging the finalists. It was a great experience!
Much gratitude to my long-suffering editor, Alexandra Davies who, if there was a Nobel prize for patience, would deserve to win it. Thanks too, Hazel Cushion, Bethan James, Rebecca Lloyd and everyone behind the scenes at Accent. Also Cat Camacho, who was my first editor there.
Much appreciation to Daunt Books Chelsea, for hosting my London launch, and Jane Northcote at Dubai World Trade Centre Club, for hosting my Dubai one.
Enormous hugs for my ever so supportive writing pals, both in UK and Dubai, Sue Mackender, the Tonbridge Diamonds, Sharmila Mohan and Linda MacConnell. You’ve all helped me more than you know.
Thanks and love to my family, who’ve been there at every turn and done everything they could to help me on my way.
And last but not least, my husband, Andrew, for making it all possible – and for his new-found interest in cooking which couldn’t have come at a better time!