Enormous thanks, as always, to the one and only Barry Cunningham and to Rachel Leyshon – the kindest and cleverest editor in the business: no one else can light the blue touchpaper (creatively speaking) quite like Rachel does. Thank you also to all the fabulous Chickens – Rachel H, Laura, Jazz, Elinor, Kesia, Sarah, Esther and Lucy – for your continued enthusiasm, hard work and diligence, and for your patience when I was trying to edit the book at the same time as being heavily pregnant/looking after a new baby! I love being part of the Chicken House coop, and am so grateful for the support of all my fellow Chicken authors – you guys rock the reading world.

Thank you to Daphne (the genius copy-editor), my meticulous proofreader, and to my friend and historical consultant Graham Noble for giving me so much of his precious time: please accept my humble apologies for the points at which I have chosen the integrity of the story over factual precision. Helen Crawford-White has, as always, worked her unique magic with the cover design and illustrations – thank you, Helen, for this beautiful interpretation of Petra and her clifftop home.

Thank you to Luigi and Alison Bonomi for offering not only representation and creative advice, but kindness and friendship as well. I am so happy and grateful to be tucked beneath the LBA wing.

Thanks also go to Kinn Hamilton Mcintosh and Heather Stennett for all their painstaking work in this corner of Kent, gathering local accounts of the Second World War. Their collections of real memories from the war were so valuable to me in creating this story.

My friends and colleagues at Kent College Canterbury have been the most fantastic help facilitating and encouraging my work as a writer. Particular thanks go to the English Department for cheering me on, and for stepping in as proofreaders at the last minute!

Many thanks to the hard-working and knowledgeable volunteers at the many lighthouses I visited during my research, particularly those at the South Foreland Lighthouse at St Margaret’s Bay. Thanks also to the staff at the beautiful Belle Tout Lighthouse, Beachy Head. I must mention here the paintings of Eric Ravilious which I love so much, especially the view from the Belle Tout lantern room which was the starting point for this book.

I am profoundly grateful for the support of my lovely friends, my amazing parents, all the Strange clan and the Barbers too! A special thank you to my wonderful partner James, who has driven me to lots of lighthouses and kept me smiling through what has been the most incredible year of challenges and miracles. Thank you for your help with this book and for your hugs and encouragement when it was all a bit overwhelming.