There are many people who have offered their generous assistance on the path to bring Blood in the Dust to publication. If I have forgotten anyone, please forgive me.

To Lorraine Archibald and Cathy Couzner, who helped with the development of the early drafts of this novel, you are both angels. Thank you very much. To Jo Hamlet, Jackie Cavill and the members of the Donnybrook Writers’ Group, your words of encouragement will never be forgotten. To Wilbur and Niso Smith, their foundation and Georgina Brown, I can’t thank you enough for the wonderful opportunity you have presented me. To Kevin Conroy Scott and my agent, Charlotte Colwill, thank you so much for taking a chance on a writer from the other side of the world. To Kate Parkin and my editor, Claire Johnson-Creek, at Zaffre, thank you for all your hard work. To Rachel Capps and Rob Munro, my online writer friends whom I have never met in person, thank you for picking me up and dusting me off whenever I needed it. To my ex-Air Force and firefighter friends who have read my work, offered advice and spurred me along, thanks guys. To my mother and father, who have always believed in me, I love you both. Finally, I’d like to thank my family; Michael, for becoming my I.T. guy, and Rhonda, my wife, for enduring the ups and downs of living with a writer. I know that at times it’s not easy. Thank you, sweetheart.

B.S.

About the Author

About the Author

Bill Swiggs was born in Victoria and brought up in Western Australia, where he still lives. He joined the Royal Australian Air Force as an aviation firefighter before becoming a police officer, and now works as a firefighter for a defence contractor. Bill divides his time between working, writing, flying and his grandchildren.