Three men have believed in my work over many years.
My husband, Nick Georges, who allowed me to drag him to deserts and war zones for the sake of love and research, who printed out countless copies of my manuscript and brings home tulips and poppies on days when my writing has gone stale.
My literary agent, Tim Curnow, whose humorous, experienced and authentic encouragement has for twelve years pushed me toward deeper truths, and who has now become more than an agent to me – family friend, mentor and wise counsel.
Peter Bishop, formerly of Varuna, The Writers’ House, Australia’s patron saint of writers, who went beyond the course of duty to read this book in its very early stages.
Thanks to Dr Izzeldin Abuelaish, who took the time to read the entire manuscript and provide such heartfelt praise. Also the Independent’s foreign correspondent Robert Fisk – who not only read the sample my agent sent him, but went to the trouble of phoning me personally right away – for being so generous with his time, his knowledge of the Middle East and his contacts, and for making suggestions for the chapters he read.
The whole team at Hardie Grant Australia and the UK – from CEO to sales, marketing, publicity and proofreading – have my eternal gratitude: firstly, for being brave and far-sighted enough to take on this difficult and controversial book during such tough times in publishing, and for nurturing me with such enthusiasm and kindness.
Special gratitude to the wonderful Rose Michael, my editor and publisher. Without her bold commitment to the book in the beginning, and the intense energy she brought to championing it, editing it, promoting it and believing in it throughout the whole process, none of this would have occurred. Thanks also to my fellow writer Libby-Jane Charleston, for, without a chance conversation between Rose and her, this partnership would never have come to fruition.
Huge thanks to Nicola Redhouse, for her insightful and exhaustive thematic and line-editing. Sometimes I felt she cared as much – if not more – for the book as I did.
Kenneth Hachikian, chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has gone far beyond the call of duty to be a passionate advocate of my novel in the US and overseas. Varant Mergueditchian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC) was also supportive and enthusiastic about this work in his former role. Vache Kahramanian, his successor, has also been a tireless advocate for me and the book. Khatchig Mouradian, editor of the US-based Armenian Weekly, has also been a great supporter and help – and a fount of knowledge about the genocide. Thank you all for your incredible generosity and belief in my retelling of your story, and for welcoming a non-Armenian into the fold.
I would like to thank the Australia Council for a generous yearlong grant and a residency at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in County Monaghan, Ireland, in 2003, where I began this novel. I would also like to express my appreciation for a three-year Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) scholarship that allowed me to complete my doctorate at the University of Technology, Sydney, and to pave the way for this book. My mentors and colleagues at UTS, particularly Dr John Dale, were an invaluable source of inspiration throughout this process, as were my early workshop partners, Heather Banyard, Libby-Jane Charleston and Dr Carol Major.
Fellow writer Christopher Cyril fully inhabited the ‘dream’ of the novel, as he so beautifully termed it, and gave me fresh insights when I was at a low ebb.
Huge, humbling thanks to Sophie Haythornthwaite, who read the manuscript countless times (with much brainstorming for titles) between the demands of children and her own need to paint. Also to Anyo Geddes, who gave me valuable feedback when I asked her to read many chapters at the last minute.
Thanks to Dr Martes Alison for reading an early draft.
Also to Hugh Barrett in London, who always reads with a fresh eye and an inexhaustible knowledge of culture and geo-politics.
Big thanks to Armen Gakavian, who read the novel in its final stages and made sure my Armenian content and language was correct.
Shukran to Omran Matar, who read with an eye to correcting my Arabic and any strange ideas I had about Lebanese culture, religion(s) and customs.
Also to Michael Lever, who did the same for the Israeli/Jewish sections.
I would also like to thank Dr Charles Herdy, who helped me immensely with matters military.
All mistakes and misconceptions are mine.
A special, heartfelt thank you to Jane Turner, who graciously allowed me to leave our business partnership at Gertrude and Alice Café Bookstore to pursue my writing ambitions.
To my dear friend Larissa Reid: it was in your home that I finished one of the many drafts of this book. Thank you for your gentleness and generosity of spirit.
The people of Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Morocco, the Gulf and Armenia speeded the progress of this book with their recollections, hopes, honesty and hospitality. I thank every one of them for sharing their stories and lives with me in 1995, 1998, 2002, 2004 and 2010.
Aghapi to my mother Anastasia Bakas and my father Graham Cosgrove, whose unobtrusive support smoothed the writer’s path.
To my sister Annette Livas, who died in October 2010, my deepest thanks for the many times I needed to hear your voice over the phone: for your strength, serenity and sheer will. Thank you for the beautiful example that was your life.
Finally, I am blessed with my daughter Damascin, who, with her devastating mixture of innocence and intensity, has taught me a new – and more time-efficient! – way to write.
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