What will Mum say?

What will the uni girls say?

I wish Asma hadn’t already gone into the church.

I think Freddie wants to cry and is trying really hard not to.

I hate this. I hate this. I hate this.

I’m going to kill him.

‘Stop,’ I said to the driver. ‘Stop the car.’

‘Ma’am?’ he replied, slowing down and glancing over his shoulder. ‘Are you okay?’

I made for the door, grabbing at the handle before the car had fully slowed, forcing him to slam on the breaks. I elbowed my way out, somewhere near Kings Cross, tourists and buses and black cabs and shoppers slowing to watch me throw up all over my gown.

‘She looks like she’s having a bad day,’ I heard somebody say.

Can’t wait to see what happens next? Pre-order The Lucky Escape now!

UK readers: click here to find out more.

US readers: click here to find out more.

Canadian readers: click here to find out more.

Australian readers: click here to find out more.

Acknowledgements

Ever since I read Elton John’s autobiography I’ve been dying to try out acknowledgements like he did. At the end of Me he has one line that says, ‘Thank you to everyone who jogged my memory and who contributed to my amazing life.’ That’s it. How baller is that! Not to mention funny. However, on reflection, I don’t think I can pull it off like he does – and besides, a shout-out here is the least I can do when I stand on the shoulders of giants.

There’s a lot of work that goes into a book. Aside from the hours that stretch into days, weeks, and months wherein I sit at home eating biscuits and imagine various witty exchanges between friends and lovers – as well as the odd afternoon crafting a titillating sex scene – there’s scores of people who contribute to what happens after that. I want to list them all here because it’s the right thing to do, but also it could be interesting for you, or your daughter, or your nephew, or your neighbour, maybe, to know how broad a range of jobs publishing offers. I teach writing, sometimes, and it always comes up: that there’s more than one way to contribute to a book. Loads of publishing houses are now opening up regional offices, so you don’t even need to be London-based to pursue a career working in publishing. It can get lonely for me, working solo, but remotely becoming part of Avon, the imprint of HarperCollins this book is made under, has been like becoming a member of the most positive, accomplished, ‘can do’ team possible. I am proud to bear witness to their #BDE. (That’s one of those annoying private jokes we have. I apologize.)

Anyway. To the credits.