Writing The Woman in the Photograph has changed me. It’s given me new respect for the women who bellowed and marched and organised, and changed the law. And changed the world. I thought I had educated myself about feminism, but there was so much I didn’t know. Spending time in archives and reading the work of women who were uncovering and exploring the things I take for granted was humbling. It’s made me determined to be a better feminist myself. It’s made me frustrated at how far there is still to go. I’m furious about the ways women are mistreated, and exhausted at the insidious sexism of our day-to-day lives – and I know how sheltered I am from most of it, by dint of being white in the West. I know that makes it easy for me to write this letter: to own my achievement.

The world has changed, but it has not yet changed enough.

We need more unapologetic women. We need them in fiction, and we need them in the world.

I’m proud of The Woman in the Photograph and I worked hard on it. I hope it means something to you too.

Stephanie Butland

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

Thank you:

When I was small, I used to ‘help’ my dad when he took photographs, then I used to ‘help’ in the darkroom. In the writing of this book my dad was a great help to me (without the inverted commas). Veronica’s ability and understanding of her craft come from him, as do the words of her unpublished book.

For expertise, advice, and/or outings: Luke Dodd, Clare Grafik, Shelley Harris, Rebecca Leete, Clare Macintosh, Louise Williams.

You know what for: Carys Bray, Sarah Franklin, Shelley Harris.

For patience, wisdom, and general knocking it out of the park: Oli Munson.

Bonnier: especially Sarah, Katie, Margaret, Clare, Sahina Felice, Imogen, Alex, Kate, James, Nico, Vincent, Angie, Victoria, Jeff, Graham, Sarah and Jennie.

A M Heath: especially Florence, Alexandra, Prema, Mairi and Vickie.

For sharp and intelligent copyediting and proofreading: Genevieve Pegg and Jane Howard.

The unsung heroes of publishing are the bloggers and booksellers who champion the books they love. Thank you.

Kate Beales, Alan Butland, Clare Grafik, Tom Nelson, and Susan Young, my trusted beta-readers.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, because it’s still true: being the family or friend of a writer is not easy. Honourable mentions go to: Alan, Ned, Joy, Auntie Susan, Lou, Jude, Rebecca, Scarlet, Tom, Kym, Donna, Victoria.

This novel has its roots in the faith and creative egging-on of my extraordinary editor, Eli Dryden. She takes everything I do and shows me how to shape it into something better and brighter. I am more glad of her than I know how to say.

Letter from Author

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