Writing your first book is like playing blindman’s bluff. You know what you have to do, but you can’t see where you’re going. I am indebted to many people for pushing me in the right direction. Above all others, I need to thank Sam Harmsworth Sparling for the love, enthusiasm, and unwavering support. He always knew I could do it, especially when I did not, and without him there would be no Beetle Boy.

This book is factually accurate, thanks to the expertise of Dr. Sarah Beynon, entomologist extraordinaire. A massive thanks goes to her for generously giving her time and knowledge to Beetle Boy. If you are interested in learning more about beetles, then you should take a trip to her Bug Farm in Pembrokeshire. You can find out about it here: www.thebugfarm.co.uk.

Heartfelt love and thanks go to Claire Rakich, a true friend. Honest to a fault, she read every draft and told me when I was going awry. And it’s impossible to write a book with children clambering on your head, and so thank you, Nana Jane, for giving me the gift of time and looking after my boys. A generous sprinkle of gratitude goes to the beta readers who gave me the confidence to keep on going. That’s you: Hannah Gabrielle, Jude Bloor, Jacob Bloor, Adam Rakich, Sarah Dustagheer, Gwilym Jones, Dominic Fennell, Emma Beaty, Sophie Lilley, Will Richmond, Dom Brouard, Lorna Hosler, Ivor Talbot, and Emma Keith. And I must thank David Sabel and the gang at the National Theatre for the good advice (that’s you, Bash), support, and encouragement.

I owe a debt of gratitude to Jenny Saville for pointing me in the direction of the Golden Egg Academy. It was Imogen Cooper, and her Golden Egg Academy, that threw me into the head of Barry Cunningham, and there the magic happened. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Imogen.

Thank you, Kirsty McLachlan and DGA, for helping me negotiate my foothold in the publishing industry.

Thanks to Chicken House editor Rachel Leyshon for ironing out the wrinkles and making me think about the story I wanted to tell. Thanks to Rachel Hickman, Elinor Bagenal, and everyone at Chicken House for the support and enthusiasm for Beetle Boy. I’m very lucky to have landed in your coop. In particular, thank you to Barry for the beetle-browed passion right from the word go. To be championed by you is a writer’s dream.