There is an old saying: it takes a village to raise a child. It’s a cliché and it may or may not be true, but as I now sit down – still a little disbelievingly – to write the acknowledgements for my first novel, there is one thing I know: it took a village to write this book.
It was an unexpected discovery. When I began Killer Intent I foolishly believed that it was me and the page. I could not have been more wrong. The help I have received in the creation, marketing and publication of this novel has been invaluable. Without it, your hands would now be empty. The very least I can do in return is to say thank you.
First, the two women whose drive – and, at times, flat out cheerleading – kept me going. My wife, Victoria, and my mother, Elizabeth.
Mum was the first person to read Killer Intent, in bits and pieces as I wrote. She endured long phone calls, rambling questions and maybe the occasional need for some unearned praise, and through it all she gave me the reassurance and confidence I needed to keep going. Mum’s advice was insightful, her encouragement vital. She was my first editor. She was my first critic. And she was my first fan. This book is entirely hers. Thanks, Mum.
Victoria came to Killer Intent much later, at a time when my focus was back on the day job. It was Victoria’s instant enthusiasm, her support and her sheer drive that brought me back to this book. My brilliant, beautiful wife reignited my writing ambitions and pushed me to achieve publication. I would not be here without her.
The rest of my family, too, have played their part. Whether it was a detailed critique from a long-term reader of the genre (my brother Derek), the inspiration for various characters (my brothers Joe and Jimmy), sheer enthusiasm (my sister Kate) or even just a willingness to listen about the tortuous path to publication without telling me to shut up (my dad), everyone offered something and I realise how vital each ‘something’ was.
Moving from one family to another, I cannot write another word without recognising Lorne Forsyth, Jennie Condell, Pippa Crane, Angela McMahon, Anthony Keates and everyone at Elliott & Thompson for believing in an untested writer and for taking the risk to back me. The dedication and skill that Jennie and Pippa collectively brought to bear on the main edit, on the final preparation and on the publication of Killer Intent has been staggering; this is the book that it is because of them, and it is infinitely better for their attentions. Combined with the PR and marketing expertise of both Angela and Anthony, the E&T team have allowed me to jump into the deep end without fear of drowning. I could not ask for more effort, professionalism or skill from the people I have behind me.
And Lorne in particular deserves the utmost praise for championing the book you now hold and those that will follow. His extraordinary faith has changed my life.
My sincere thanks is also owed to Gill Richardson – a true champion of Killer Intent – Sarah Anderson and their incredible sales team at Simon & Schuster. I cannot thank them enough for everything they have done to make this book a success.
Next are Annalise Fard, Michael Ward and Virginie Duigon, for all of their amazing efforts in launching the hardback. They have truly gone above and beyond to give Killer Intent a start in life that was beyond my wildest dreams, and ‘thanks’ seems so woefully insufficient. And the same is true of Daniel Gedeon, whose determined support from his receipt of our first proof has been invaluable.
All of which brings me to Neil Speight, the friend whose skilled advice turned the first draft of Killer Intent from an amateur manuscript into something more. Neil spent weeks reading and editing what I foolishly thought was already a finished novel, and I realise how incredibly lucky I was for that attention. He added the finishing touches to my writing style, and his impact on every book I will ever write cannot be overstated. Killer Intent would have caught no one’s attention without Neil’s influence and advice. We each get very few true friends in life, and Neil has proved that he is one of the best.
So those are the big ones in terms of creating this novel, but of course there are many more. And so thank you to Scott Ewing, Jeremy Newell and everyone at Ewing Law for helping me to wear two hats; without their efforts and understanding it would be impossible to combine the Criminal Bar with crime writing. To my former pupil-master Craig Rush and to everyone at the Chambers of William Clegg QC, for introducing me to and educating me about the world of criminal courts and criminal lawyers that provides the backdrop for Killer Intent. To Craig again, this time for being the pedantic nuisance whose factual corrections to my earlier drafts were sometimes less than graciously received. To Lucinda Boon and to Jane Oldfield, for their character and plot suggestions that helped develop Killer Intent from draft to draft. To John Lawrence, for providing some of the inspiration – and all of the surname – for a key character. To David Charters, Clementine Rainey-Brown and Orla Constant, for the ‘Rolls-Royce’ of introductions which ultimately put me in touch with Lorne and therefore with Elliott & Thompson. And to my friends David French, Charlie Langley, Michael Epstein, Stephen Ferguson and Libby Ferguson, all of whom tried to help me achieve publication at times when – unknown to them and to me – the book was not yet ready. I truly appreciate the efforts they all made.
And finally to the readers. Those who have read and hopefully enjoyed Killer Intent at various stages in its development. Thank you, then, to my aunt Angela Gray; my uncle Michael Gray; my father-in-law Clive Christian OBE; his partner, the lovely Frances Falconer; my brother-in-law Stef Humphries; my self-appointed big sister Jacqueline Carey; and my good friends Grant Benjamin, Carolyn Lawrence, Shauna Bush, Helen Ding and Michelle Edelson.
It’s a small village, but each and every one of you has been indispensable. Thank you all.
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