First, a big thank you to Nettie Finn, my editor at St. Martin’s, and Elizabeth Bewley, my agent, for their help bringing the Cambridge Bookshop Series to life. I love bookstores, especially old, atmospheric ones stuffed with literary treasures, and the setting is a return home of sorts. My mother grew up in England fairly close to Cambridge, and went to nursing school there. As a young family, we lived in England and France, wherever my American father was stationed, and I still have relatives in King’s Lynn. I hope to visit them again soon. In the meantime, members from wonderful Facebook groups “Cambridge in the Good Old Days” and “Cambridge Memories” have been very helpful. A special shout-out to Keith Mansfield and Derek Smiley for their assistance and support.
Gratitude also for the publicity and marketing efforts of Sarah Haeckel and Allison Ziegler. Your enthusiasm makes all the difference. Danielle Christopher and Mary Ann Lasher did a spectacular job bringing the bookshop to life on the cover. I especially love the depiction of Puck. And John Simko, my intrepid copy-editor—thanks for catching the goofs and errors.
A note: Many locations in the series are real, but Magpie Lane and its businesses, and the village of Hazelhurst, are fictional.