I would like to thank the team at Boldwood Books for being so supportive, especially my editors, Jade Craddock and Ross Dickinson, and Caroline Ridding for allowing me to tell my story of Icel.
To my better half and adult children – thank you for trying to understand that ‘headphones on’ means I’m working. I know you all try to live with my sometimes bizarre behaviour.
I would also like to thank my beta readers, EP, CS, ST and AM, and pay a special tribute to Christine Hancock, who sadly passed away before she could meet the younger Icel. I will certainly miss her sharp observations about my writing, and our meanderings and musings about events in Saxon England. Every historical fiction writer needs someone who shares their passion in order to debate such matters.
I would also like to thank my father, MC, for his help, as always, in finding antique maps that allow me to piece together a time before maps even existed. Without such help, I wouldn’t know my River Thames from my River Trent, and certainly, my reimagining of Londonia wouldn’t have been possible. I must also give a shout-out to Shaun at Flintlock Covers for then turning those ideas into something that can be visualised on a page.
And, finally, a big thank you to my readers. You allow me to continually linger in Saxon England, and I’m so, so grateful.