What was it, she thought as they bowled back to the cottage, that someone had once said about circles? That we gather together the people we care about and encircle them, our family in one, our forebears in another, and our friends in the next. They’re conjoined, timeless and infinite, and bound together, and there we have it, she thought. A circle within a circle, without an end.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

When incorporating local history into my novels it is essential to bring in authenticity in order to capture the essential elements of the once living past. I have found throughout my writing career that local historians and those with an interest in social history have been more than willing to furnish information on their particular subject, and I therefore give my sincere thanks to:

Dan F. Tunnicliffe and John Netherwood for details of Mrs Christiana Rose who was one of the few women, and probably the first, to be involved in the seed-crushing oil industry in Hull and who with her partners founded what subsequently became Rose, Downs and Thompson Ltd.

Marian Shaw on Pearson Park from her book Zachariah Pearson: Man of Hull (The Grimsay Press, 196 Rose Street, Edinburgh).

John R. Key for driving me through Sculcoates and Wincomlee districts to ‘set a place’ in my mind, where I visited the old St Mary’s graveyard and knew I had to incorporate it into the novel.

The sketches and drawings of F. S. Smith’s Images of Victorian Hull are always inspirational in creating a scene from what is now long gone from this vibrant city, and I can heartily recommend them for anyone with an interest in local history. Enquiries to the Hull History Centre www.hullhistorycentre.org.uk/home.aspx

Finally, but not least, I give my appreciative thanks to the Transworld publishing team both past and present who, over the last twenty-five years since 1993 when my first novel The Hungry Tide won the Catherine Cookson Prize and propelled me into a much-enjoyed writing career, have shown their support and encouragement.

Larry Finlay, MD, the late Diane Pearson, Linda Evans, Vivien Thompson production editor and Nancy Webber peerless copy editor with their keen and discerning eyes deserve a special mention, as does my present invaluable editor Francesca Best. There are many more unsung team members, editorial assistants, proof-readers, design staff, publicity and marketing, et al, who ensure the books are ready for our readers. I thank you all.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Twenty-five years ago in September 1993 the most exciting event ever to happen to me was when I was awarded the Catherine Cookson Fiction prize, presented in honour of author Catherine Cookson’s long career as a storyteller.