Thank you to my students at the University of Glasgow, and to my colleagues Sophie Collins, Colin Herd, Elizabeth Reeder, Zoë Strachan, Louise Welsh, and Jane Goldman. To my friends and writing comrades, Leanne Pearce, Nuala Ellwood, Ruth Stacey, Peta Whitney, Shelley Day Sclater, Emma Heatherington, Kathryn Maris, CL Taylor, and many, many others – self-doubt is my biggest hurdle and I value your encouragement so very much.

I had a feeling that a research trip or two to Norway would be a good idea, but I could never have imagined just how transformative my trips to those stark, awe-inspiring landscapes would be to the story. I spent some time on a ship in the depths of winter sailing in the Arctic circle, absorbing the sights, sounds, tastes, languages, and textures of Norway. This was made possible by an Arts Council England grant, for which I’m incredibly grateful. I am also very grateful to John Arne Bjerknes at the Nordic Office of Architecture for giving of his time so generously to assist with the architectural elements in the book, and for doing a fact-checking read. Thanks also to Ben McPherson for an impromptu discussion about wolves, which refined my thinking about environmental ethics.

Thank you to my audio publishers and to the voice artists and actors who bring my work to life for listeners.

Thanks to my favourite person, Jared, who gave excellent feedback as I was shaping the plot, and who likes to say he basically wrote the book but settled for a cheese sandwich in lieu of co-authorship credits. You’re awesome, babe. Thanks for keeping the kids alive and scurvy-free while I traipsed off to Norway. Most of all, thank you for always, always believing in me. This book is dedicated to you, and to our beautiful boy, Phoenix, for inspiring the architectural element of the story. To our girls, Melody, Summer, and Willow: my jewels, my darlings, I love you all the way up to the moon and back a thousand times over.

I am so very grateful to all the many people who sell and champion my books. New Writing North has supported me since the very beginning of my writing career, in the form of a prize way back in 2008, and many other prizes and opportunities over the last 12 years. I am tremendously grateful, especially to NWN’s Chief Executive, the amazing Claire Malcolm, for all you have done to help me realise my dreams. Thank you also to every bookseller, librarian, literature festival organiser and arts officer who has played a role in placing my book into a reader’s hands.

Finally, thank you so much to my readers, whose emails, messages, and reviews spur me on more than you can ever know. I’m thankful every single day to be able to share my love of storytelling with so many readers around the world, so thank you.

Author Note