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Back My Spare Heart Save as PDF
Chapters (25)
  1. COVER PAGE
  2. PRAISE
  3. DEDICATION
  4. CHAPTER 1
  5. CHAPTER 2
  6. CHAPTER 3
  7. CHAPTER 4
  8. CHAPTER 5
  9. CHAPTER 6
  10. CHAPTER 7
  11. CHAPTER 8
  12. CHAPTER 9
  13. CHAPTER 10
  14. CHAPTER 11
  15. CHAPTER 12
  16. CHAPTER 13
  17. CHAPTER 14
  18. CHAPTER 15
  19. CHAPTER 16
  20. CHAPTER 17
  21. CHAPTER 18
  22. CHAPTER 19
  23. RESOURCES
  24. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  25. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A service to help families and friends of alcoholics recover from the effects of living with someone whose drinking is a problem. Alateen provides support for teens affected by the problem drinking of a parent or family member.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

In acknowledging those that have assisted in the writing of this book, there are two key supporters without which this book wouldn’t be what it is today. The first is Anna McFarlane, for identifying the potential in this story and providing the opportunity for me to write it with the support of Allen & Unwin. The other key supporter is the Australia Council for the Arts, who provided financial support to enable the writing of My Spare Heart. This financial support, and the support of the Australia Council for the Arts staff, was invaluable in assisting me to persevere over many years.

The idea for My Spare Heart was sparked following an introduction to publisher Joy Peskin by one of the most significant authors of young adult fiction, Laurie Halse Anderson. Thank you Joy and Laurie, for prompting and supporting the writing of this story. Laurie, I especially thank you for your generosity from the earliest stages of story development and the inspiration you constantly provide.

For all of my writing career, Kerry Reed-Gilbert, Cathy Craigie and Anita Heiss have supported and inspired my writing. Kerry and Cathy, you supported my meetings in America, and many other developmental opportunities that underpinned the writing of My Spare Heart. Kerry, during the writing of this book you passed away, but you provided so much encouragement through our many years of friendship that I hear you giving me pep talks even as I write this sentence. Thank you Cathy, Anita and especially Kerry.

Thanks to my agent Tara Wynne at Curtis Brown for keeping me on track and fielding both the good and bad ideas.

With this novel, it was important to me to challenge myself to rise to another level of storytelling, and to do this, I realised I needed to work with great editors. I was very fortunate to work with Grace Lucas-Pennington and Nicola Santilli. Grace, you provided encouraging feedback on the first draft and simultaneously delicately brought to light key areas that required greater focus. Nicola, you also provided sensitive feedback and encouragement but most importantly, you were there with me the whole way along the journey, making time for detailed discussion, and ensuring that I refined this story as best as possible.

Desirai, thank you for producing such a wonderful cover! And Jo Hunt, thank you for your wonderful design.

Rick Slager, thanks for the proofread and providing added confidence.

Anita Heiss, Rebecca Lim and Tobias Madden, thank you for providing endorsements.

Thank you to Helen Gillies at Al-Anon Family Groups Australia and Tom Coffey at Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc for their enthusiasm for this story and for their swift permissions approval.