And to the amazing and talented people I work with both at home and over the seas: my ever fantastic super-agent Nelle Andrew who I would genuinely be lost without and my two editors who continually amaze me with their ability to turn the book around for the better at each edit. Emily Griffin and Jackie Cantor, you have both made my experience of writing this book an absolute pleasure.

The teams at both Century in the UK and Gallery in the US – thank you all for your support in marketing, PR, proof reading, designing brilliant covers and getting the book into stores. I have to pinch myself that I have such great people working behind my books, and I know that any success is a massive team effort.

And finally to my family, this time with the added support of Pickle the cat who helps me by sitting on my laptop and biting the end of my pen. To my mum, for picking up the phone and crying when she’d finished reading because she is so proud of me. And to my husband, for continuing to be my other biggest supporter, who never doubts me and loves to think that the characters are written around him. (Harry isn’t you, John!)

And, as always, my two precious children. Bethany and Joseph, you are my world. Words will never be enough to tell you how much I love you and how proud I am of you, but I am, every single day. Thank you for allowing me the time to work on my book when I needed to and for basically being the two kind, loving and generous little people you are.

THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING

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