The Love of My Life(96)

And to those friends who have supplied everything from psychiatrist introductions to virtual tours of the BBC’s New Broadcasting House:

Josie Lee, Kate Hannay, Natalie Barrass, Vikki Humphreys, Ed Harrison, Elin Somer, Claire Willers, Angela Waterstone, Emily Koch, Marc Butler, Alex Brown, Jack Bremer, Claudine Pavier, Michael Pagliero, James Pagliero, Jo Nadin and Dave Walters.

To my wonderful writer friends who’ve kindly provided feedback on drafts, or helped me brainstorm plotlines: Emma Stonex, Emylia Hall, Kate Riordan, Rowan Coleman, Jane Green and Cally Taylor. Thanks also to George Pagliero, Caroline Walsh and Emma Holland.

To the many people I’ve spoken to informally at death cafes, charities, marine ecology events, obituary events, parties, even – so many hundreds of conversations have made this book possible. Thank you to you all.

Unending thanks to my miracle-worker publishers, Pan Macmillan (UK), Viking (USA) and the many others around the world who have published me in nearly thirty-five languages. Dream come true doesn’t even begin to cover it.

My most grateful thanks to my brilliant UK editor, Sam Humphreys, who sent me back to this manuscript again and again. You were always right. Thank you for the many brainstorms – including that awful one when I was half dead with morning sickness – and your endless encouragement and kindness during a challenging writing experience.

To the amazing team at Pan Macmillan: Alice Gray, Charlotte Wright, Rosie Wilson, Ellie Bailey, Sian Chilvers, Holly Sheldrake and Becky Lloyd. Thanks, also, to my legendary US editor, Pam Dorman, for taking an unnecessarily dark story and pushing me to turn it into something people might actually want to read. You lifted this book in so many ways.

To Lizzy Kremer, my peerless agent, for the many reads and editorial suggestions, and for rescuing me more than once from writer’s block and crippling self-doubt. Thank you for your belief in this book, your love of the characters, and for always wanting the very best for me – not to mention the book deals and years of skilful diplomacy. To Allison Hunter, my US agent, for the many plot brainstorms and reads, and for holding my hand through such difficult times – if a book deal of dreams wasn’t enough, you’ve been an absolute rock to me. Thanks also to Maddalena Cavaciuti and Kay Begum.

To Alice Howe and her incredible translation rights team at David Higham Associates – I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to thank you enough for what you’ve achieved on my behalf. Thank you for getting my words into the hands of readers even in the most far-flung corners of the earth.

To my writing partner, author Deborah O’Donaghue – Deb, I don’t know where to begin. You must have spent weeks of your life reading and editing this book. So many of the breakthroughs I’ve had have been as a result of a Skype with you; so many good bits are yours. Thank you for your kindness and encouragement, your respectful questions and your inability to let me get away with anything that doesn’t add up. You know how much of this book is down to you.

Sincere thanks to YOU, the reader of this book, for investing your hard-earned cash in Leo and Emma’s story. Without you I would not be able to do what I do – I would not be able to do what I love. You have changed my life, and your messages over the last few years have been the highlight of my writing career. My sincerest gratitude to you all.

Thank you to Wendy, Clare and the many other amazing women who kept me sane and useful during the writing of this book. To my wonderful friends whose excitement about my career continues – genuinely – to be a huge joy in my life. Thank you to my dear family, Lyn, Brian and Caroline Walsh, who I’ve missed terribly in the madness of the pandemic; also Dave Mallows, and the Exton, Clyst St George, Exeter and London Paglieros, wonderful cheerleaders and in-laws.

Thank you to George, who took our children out time after time in the cruellest days of winter lockdown so I could meet my deadline, and who has always believed in this book – and me. We survived! (Just.) Thank you for never keeping secrets for me, and for being exactly who you always have been, right from the moment we met.

And thank you to my two children. To my little lockdown baby girl, the brightest light in a dark time, and my now big boy, who made me roar with laughter when I wondered if I’d ever smile again.

You three are the loves of my life.