Acknowledgements

Huge thanks to the divine Francesca Liversidge; believe me, I know how lucky I am to have such an amazing editor. Thanks also to everyone else at Transworld, especially Larry Finlay, Madeline Toy, Joanne Williamson, Lucie Jordan, Gary Harley, Martin Higgins, Rebecca Jones and Vivien Garrett, for all their tireless hard work. I’m so grateful to you all.

Transworld Ireland is now officially launched, so a big hi to Eoin McHugh and Lauren Hadden; I’m really looking forward to working with you.

Huge thanks, as always, to the wonderful team at Gill Hess: Gill (the man himself), Simon, Declan Heeney and Helen Gleed O’Connor. You make life so easy for all of your authors!

Special thanks to Pat Lynch for everything and for being one of those people that you just don’t know what you’d do without. And of course to the beyond-fabulous Vicki Satlow . . . please come to Ireland for a longer visit next time!

Thanks to Karen Glass in New York for all her wonderful vision. I’m so excited about Remind Me Again Why I Need a Man coming to the small screen and it’s all down to you, Karen! While writing this book, my miracle-worker agent rang with the fabulous news that the movie rights to I Never Fancied Him Anyway have been bought in the US. So a huge hi to Wendy Finerman and Liza Zupan . . . this really is dream come true stuff!

Thanks so much also to all at HarperCollins in NYC, especially Carrie Ferron, Claire Wachtel, Julia Novitch and Tessa Woodward. See you all very soon, I hope.

On a personal note, thanks, as always, to Mum and Dad, Karen Nolan, Larry Finnegan, Susan McHugh, Sean Murphy, Clelia Murphy (and madam Clara!), Pat Kinevane, Marian O’Dwyer, Frank Mackey, Fiona Lalor, Alison McKenna, Sharon Hogan, Karen Hastings, Kevin Reynolds, Derick Mulvey and all the Gunn family. Old friends are the best!

Writing is a lonely, isolated gig, so I’m doubly grateful to have friends like Anita Notaro, Patricia Scanlan and Morag Prunty who’ve all been there before and know what it’s like.

And just in case you think I’ve forgotten someone, this book is dedicated to Marianne Gunn O’Connor, who has become such a good friend . . . and who really can work miracles.