A writer’s occupation is solitary by necessity. But once the manuscript is finished, other people become involved. All of them help to get the manuscript ready for publication. I would like to thank those who do this job so well for me.
In New York my editor is Jennifer Enderlin, who is President and Publisher of St. Martin’s Press. Despite all of her responsibilities, Jen finds the time to work with me on the books. Thanks to her and also her team: Brant Janeway, Marketing Director; Tracey Guest, Publicity Director; and Elizabeth Curione, Production Editor.
In London, my editor is Lynne Drew, Publisher. Lynne has a great sense of drama and character, and I appreciate her suggestions and ideas; thanks also to Lucy Stewart, Editorial Assistant, and Penelope Isaac, my copyeditor.
My team at HarperCollins also includes Kate Elton, Managing Director; Roger Cazalet, Associate Publisher, and Lucy Vanderbilt, Group Rights Director. I thank them all. Elizabeth Dawson, PR Director, deserves many thanks from me for her promotion and publicity endeavours once the book goes on sale. And for always keeping me laughing on the road.
I am grateful to Charlie Redmayne, CEO of HarperCollins UK, for his enthusiasm, encouragement and continuing support for my novels.
Although I do a lot of my own research, sometimes I use other people to help me. For this book, I was happy to use Sheron Boyle, who took on the task of researching Leeds in the 1800s and early 1900s. Some of her research helped me to understand the influx of the Irish in those years, as well as the condition of the city of my birth. I was genuinely pleased with her discoveries, some of them surprising.
I have a dear friend in London, John Scanlon, who works for the Dorchester group of hotels. He is Irish, and I knew he would be able to enlighten me about his country of birth. He did, and his knowledge and insights were very pertinent to me when I was writing the first parts of the book. I can never thank him enough for the help he gave me.
Maria Boyle has been my personal publicity representative for many years, and also represented my late husband, Robert Bradford, and his movies of my books. Maria still works with me, and she also gave me many insights into the Irish in Leeds. I owe her thanks for that and the other work she does.
Finally, but by no means least, I must give very special thanks to Linda Sullivan. For years, Linda has typed my manuscripts, and sometimes has also pointed out an error or made suggestions. I am appreciative of this dedication she shows. And my editors, like me, love her beautifully typed manuscripts.