Thanks to Jo Williamson and Emma Matthewson for letting me try something a little different. The creative freedom I’ve been given is much appreciated. Thanks as ever to all the team at Hot Key Books – it’s always such a joy – especially Naomi Colthurst for her work in the edit.
Big thanks to Sam Powick, Tanya Byrne and Kim Curran for reading a very early NaNoWriMo version of this book – your feedback was so important. Katreena Dare and Aiden Gilhooley’s advice on all things Hindu was invaluable. I have Beth Lintin to thank for her rules on meeting new people, and Kerry Turner and Olivia Hewitt for a better understanding of mental-health issues.
Turns out I’m a poet and I didn’t know it. It was only through the phenomenally talented poets I work with at First Story that I would have ever dared to attempt a poem. It’s been a real eye-opener and now I think I’m hooked. So huge thanks to Caroline Bird (whose poem ‘Medicine’ in The Hat-Stand Union inspired Toria’s ‘She and I’), Laura Dockrill, Anthony Anaxagorou and Andrew McMillan.
Thank you to the author friends who read various versions of AOTA – Patrick Ness, Lisa Williamson, Louise O’Neil, Rainbow Rowell and Non Pratt. It means so much.
Finally, a heartfelt thank you to my readers, wherever you are and whoever you love.
Juno x