Thanks are due first to my commissioning editor at Reaktion, Ben Hayes, who approached me about this book (in what remains one of the best email treats I’ve ever received). I’d also like to thank Reaktion’s production staff and my agent Robert Fleck.
In addition to the usual suspects – Pamela Apkarian-Russell, Lesley Bannatyne, David Bertolino, Rich Hanf, Jack Santino, Al Sarrantonio, Stuart Schneider, the staff of the Central Los Angeles Public Library, the Iliad Bookshop and Dark Delicacies – I’d also like to thank Rocky Wood for his Stephen King information, Rocky and Greg Chapman for notes on Australian festivities, and Marilyn and Damien Valentine for Guy Fawkes research. Thank you to those of you who responded to my calls for photos or kindly provided rights, including Kat Caro, Pete Dudar, Brian Freeman at Cemetery Dance Publications, Craig Knighton, Karen Romanko, Christopher Slatsky, and Scott Smith of Rucus Studios. And lastly, biggest thanks to Ricky Grove for tips on Archive.org and for invaluable support with everything.