The publication of The Swifts has changed my life so profoundly that I hardly know where to begin. I wrote its sequel at the center of a whirlwind, and the joy and success I have experienced over the past year are down to the efforts of a small army of people.
My thanks go first to my partner, Stuart, whose support this book is built on. Thank you for your patience, your kindness, your humor, and your roast potatoes. I love you. I’m putting the kettle on, if you want a coffee.
My agent, Zoë Plant, who I maintain deserves a small monument or perhaps a national holiday, and Molly Ker Hawn, who took the helm while Zoë was off working on an exceedingly important personal project.
Ben Horslen, an editor nonpareil—except, of course, for Julie Strauss-Gabel. Between the three of us we renovated this entire book from the ground up, several times over. Without their skills, I would have been whacking each draft with a hammer until it fell apart.
Illustrator Claire Powell, who applied her incredible talent to The Swifts and its sequel, has frequently made me cry from delight. Thank you so, so much for your work on these books. The kids I meet are all BIG fans.
I’d also like to thank the incredibly kind and professional people at Puffin (UK) and Dutton (US) who between them launched my career farther and faster than I ever thought possible, and looked after me along the way. In particular I would like to thank Ellen Grady and Lottie Halstead at Puffin for their excellent work and excellent company, and Jordana Kulak over in the States, who guided me through my American adventures.
Copyeditors Shreeta Shah, Samantha Stewart, and Robert Farren, whose keen eyes passed over this book, and Marie-Christine Payette, who smoothed my garbled GCSE French into something that actually resembles the language.
Designers Andrea Kearney at Puffin and Anna Booth at Dutton, for making these books the beautiful objects they are.
The booksellers, librarians, and teachers who have championed The Swifts from day dot, and pressed copies into the hands of thousands. I’ve met many people this year who do vital work in their communities, and who are deeply passionate about the power of children’s books. Thank you.
And finally, the kids. THE KIDS. Every single one I meet is a small, roaring, new-made universe, weird and complicated and wonderful. Regardless of whether they liked my book, hated my book, have never heard of my book, or are secretly texting under the table during my school visit (don’t worry mate, I would NEVER grass) they energize and inspire me and I am privileged to write for them. If any of you are reading this (and I dunno why you would be, who reads the acknowledgments?) THANK YOU. You’re awesome.