I’d like to thank friends who are not writers who have helped me in incalculable ways. Stephen Logan for the PhD reference, then reminding me, when I chose not to go ahead with it, that I was capable of writing a novel without the academic framework. Emma, you encouraged your children to read that early draft and read it yourself, even though you’re a very busy maths teacher! And for introducing me to both Parkruns. Rebecca, for our walks and talks. You’ve been rooting for Elle from the outset. Jo, you were so thrilled when I got the text from Canongate and I rushed out of your house to make that phone call. Stephen G, for your absolute joy when you heard I’d written a novel. Anne-Marie for recommending Black speculative fiction on the way back from the school run.

All this would be behind closed doors if I didn’t have one of the most innovative and dynamic publishers ever. Thank you to the entire team at Canongate for their excitement about this book. I especially want to thank Jamie Byng, for publishing my poetry as early as 2000 and even then, encouraging me to write a novel. It’s only taken me 20 years! Francis Bickmore, who responded to the concept in the early stages with such enthusiasm. You sent me that lovely email 45 pages in and continue to champion the book. Thank you so, so much. My editor, Jo Dingley, for always believing in Elle’s voice, for your thoroughness and dedication to the micro and the macro of world-building, I’m forever indebted. Freelance copy editor, Debs Warner, for painstakingly editing all those double quote marks and numbers and still remaining positive about the text! Anna Frame for continuing to support me and my work with verve. Vicki Rutherford, Leila Cruickshank, Holly Domney and Megan Reid for coordinating the process and efficiently answering my endless queries. Leila, I’m in awe of your superhuman proofreading skills, spotting everything from the nitty-gritty of punctuation to the mammoth of a plot hole we all missed. The entire Art Team for creating a cover that made my boys say wow.

A very special thank you to Lizzie Huxley-Jones for your meticulous sensitivity read, reminding me that empathy is more important than euphony. You know Elle and her friends better than I know myself. I hope you enjoy the final edit.

Respect to my literary agent, Simon Trewin, for believing in the manuscript, for sharing it, for those rejuvenating meetings and witty one-liner emails. Thank you for enabling me to transition to this new literary form. My performance agents, Rochelle Saunders and Melanie Abrahams at Renaissance One, for staying with me despite my regular literary hibernations when I refused all sources of income. Your hard work and dedication are eternally appreciated.