I started writing Sky Song at the same time as my husband and I started talking about having our first baby. The planning for this book took place during the time I lost my first three pregnancies, the writing took place when I mourned them and the edits took place while I spent three months in hospital with complications regarding my fourth pregnancy. Put like that, you might assume Sky Song to be a story filled with pain and loss. There is pain and there is loss – how can there not be when life itself is filled with troubles just as worrying and upsetting as snargoyles, thunderghosts and villainous Ice Queens? – but overwhelmingly this is a story about hope. And courage. Because I’ve learnt a great deal about both over the last two years. About how, even in the darkest of times you can scrabble around to muster up a handful of faith and that, combined with a pocketful of bravery, as Eska discovers in Sky Song, can make all the difference. I also learnt much about the kindness of other people in the run up to having my little boy and writing this book, and I want to thank those who supported me and bolstered my spirit so that I felt strong enough to tell Eska and Flint’s story.

My first thank you goes to the NHS, to the outstanding Lewis Suite midwives at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital (Ruth, Usha, Joyce, Vida, Ann, Marcia, Hayley, Jayne, Ghazala, Elizabeta and Elsie), as well as the healthcare assistants (Danielle, Jumoki, Yulia, Sandra and Ratchna) and the doctors (Samantha, Maya, and Miss Danjal) whose care, encouragement and expertise meant that I could keep writing in the ward despite the daily uncertainties. Thank you also to my incredible friends and book-world buddies who brought stories, pork gyozas, smiles and even mobile nail salons to the hospital to keep me going.

An enormous thank you goes to my publishers, Simon & Schuster, for making every possible effort to support me through writing this book: to my publicist, Hannah Cooper, and marketing gurus, Jade Westwood and Elisa Offord, for re-arranging signings and tour dates; to sales director extraordinaire, Laura Hough, for holding meetings at my house when I couldn’t travel further than five minutes from the hospital; to my editor, Jane Griffiths, for turning edits around so quickly, for understanding how to bring out the wild magic in Sky Song and for nudging me towards fairytale prologues and epilogues; to designer Jenny Richards and illustrator Daniela Terrazzini for the most beautiful cover I could have dared to hope for. And I also owe a big thank you to my agent, Hannah Sheppard, for checking up on me in hospital and for offering both wisdom and reassurance regarding my writing.

Thank you to the wonderful kids who have read my books, sent me letters (and get well cards) and even quotes to feature in Sky Song. Special thanks goes to Toby Crapper from Eagles Class at Whitchurch C of E Primary School for naming Bala, to my epic Canadian cousins, Abigaile, Catelin, Rachel and Meghan, for brainstorming the Fur, Feather and Tusk tribes in Devon and to Sam Prince from Ashley C of E Primary School who helped inspire inventor boy Flint. And a big well done also goes to the winners and runners up of the various competitions I hosted last year: Naomi Betts, Seren James, Louis James Sanders, Lydia Cubley, Sughra Shah, Coleen Junkaluhad-Ives, Harry Dabb, Brendan Culshaw and Sebastiano Alden.

Thank you, as ever, to my incredible family. To Dad for your prayers and thoughts, to Will and Tom for your hospital visits and potato comments, to Charis for the delicious food and care packages and to Mum for giving up so much of your time to rush me to hospital, sit by my bedside and cook me countless meals. I could never have written this book without your constant love and support. And thank you also to my wonderful sister-in-law, Steph. You inspired Blu in Sky Song and I hope I have managed to capture a little of your joy, kindness and courage in her. My life is infinitely better because you are in it; thank you for all that you have taught me.

My last thank you goes to my husband, Edo. You adventured alongside me while I researched this book (living with Kazakh Eagle Hunters in Mongolia and dog-sledding across the Arctic) then you carried me through the writing stage when things got complicated (sleeping on hospital floors, driving faster than ambulances to get me the quickest care, bringing endless meals into the ward and purchasing Game of Thrones Monopoly when I hit three months in hospital). I can think of no one I’d rather have faced my battles alongside. Your patience, positivity and love not only kept me sane; they filled me with hope about what our lives still hold in store for us. Our tribe may not be very big (yet) but with you by my side and Logie strapped to my back I feel like we can brave all the snargoyles, thunderghosts and villainous Ice Queens that happen to come our way. Thank you for everything.