This book never would have reached your hands if it hadn’t been for Sally Bassington, an intensely talented librarian with effortless style and great taste in clothes. Sally was a colleague at the school I worked in whilst writing the first draft, and she read every chapter as I wrote it. Sally, thank you for being so gentle with a blocked creative stumbling back into the world of writing. Thank you for badgering me relentlessly until I agreed to try and get this published. You made this happen, and changed my life forever.
Thanks to Peter, Rick and Amanda, without whom Zane, Titus and Erin would never have existed. I hope you like where I have taken them.
Many thanks to the small army of friends and family who read through the early drafts and gave just the right mix of encouragement and constructive criticism to get the book this far. In particular, Dan, I still remember your advice on my writer tics; you made me a better writer. Conall, your encouragement meant the world to me.
All of you have enriched my life immeasurably, I am many
times blessed. Much love to you all.