I feel totally humbled by the fact that I am now writing my thank you page for my book. This whole project has been five years in the making. I had no idea where it would end up, but I did know I had a purpose, something big to strive towards. I had countless doors closed in my face and, with hindsight, for very good reason. Some of my ideas had been a little unorthodox to say the least. I wouldn't say that I never gave up, because I gave up on numerous occasions, but that didn't stop me from starting over again and, well, here I am.
Thank you mum: your support, advice and belief in me, even when I was scraping the floors for inspiration to make a life for myself, have been second to none. Being the youngest of nine I always say in jest that you kept going until you reached perfection, where in reality, the truth is, you had nine of us because your heart was big enough to love us all unconditionally. I love you..
My sisters Michele, Siobhan, Majella, Louise and Andrea, my brothers John, Anthony and Carl: you all have played a part in this, either directly or indirectly, but I have taken parts of all of you and used them in my life; you aren't all as useless as I make out!
Thank you Ciara and the Behan's for all your support and love over the struggling years, I deeply appreciated it all.
A huge thank you to all the staff at Mercier Press, for believing I had something to offer and for going along with my visions ... well some of them anyway.
Amy, for everything – and I mean everything – I wouldn't even know where to start, amazing xx! And to Brendan for the patience and skill to have me looking half well for the cover shot, even though the stilts didn't get a look in ...
To all my other friends, family, neighbours (a special mention to Mary, you listened to every idea; you have the patience of a saint girl).
And my greatest inspiration, a true gentleman, my dad – missed and loved always. I hope you can see this!
This is only the beginning!