If I’ve learned anything from writing this story it’s that a finished book is only the tip of the iceberg in the sheer amount of time, work, support and goodwill it takes to make such a thing float.
A huge thanks has to go to my family, my parents Judith and Robert and my siblings Martin and Victoria, for encouraging me to take a nascent interest and grow it into the passion it became, something I will forever be thankful for. And thank you to Tina, John, Eoin, Aisleen and Margret (ice cream!) Gillespie for cheering me on.
Further thanks have to go to my cadre of beta-readers who had much more important things to be doing than to read my work – Linwood Barclay, Mason Cross, Steve Cavanagh, Mark Stay, Ayo Onatade, Michael Miller, Anna Boatman, Rob Selby, Sophie Painter - every one of your contributions were invaluable and I owe you all a drink at the very, very least.
Thanks also have to go to the SRFC crew Phil, Kristina and Magnus, (and the club’s creators Jen Williams and Den Patrick) for creating and running such a great monthly event which allowed me to blow off steam, meet other writers and take a night off a month from writing.
Huge thanks have to go to the brilliant team at Canelo, Elizabeth Jenner for her guidance, Ellie Pilcher for her enthusiasm, Tom Sanderson for the incredible cover and to Micaela Cavaletto, Francesca Riccardi, Paul Swallow and Caroline Goldsmith whose tireless behind-the-scenes work turned a bunch of words into an actual book. And massive thanks to Laurel Sills, who saw the potential in this book and brought me into the Canelo fold right before she started on an even bigger adventure.
Then there’s my agent-extraordinaire, Juliet Mushens, who managed to turn the whole book on its head, made me see it in a different light and made The End of the Line the beast it is today. I had never thought to ever meet someone with such insight and narrative skill, let alone that they would want to represent me. It’s no exaggeration to say that you’ve changed my life and I couldn’t wish for better. And mustn’t forget Robert Caskie, Liza DeBlock and the rest of Team CaskieMushens, I’m always looking forward to our next drinks and couldn’t ask for a better publishing family.
Of course the biggest thanks go to my incredible wife, Lisa, who knew from the day we met what she was letting herself in for and didn’t run screaming. I love you so, so much. None of this book would have existed without you and your daily support, advice and jokes. You’re the smartest, most brilliant person I know and I’d be lost without you. We did it!