A Song for Tomorrow
Page 30
The family and I want the novel to raise awareness of CF, a chronically misunderstood condition that shortens the lives of thousands of young people. It would be wonderful to revive Alice’s music, since she died so shortly after her album was released. Finally, we want the novel to recognise and celebrate Alice’s motto for living life to the full: sing, dance, love, laugh, take risks, never give up and, above all, make every second count.
This isn’t a book about someone dying. It is, I believe, about someone truly exceptional, living.
Alice Martineau
by Luke Martineau, Alice’s brother
We are very proud of Alice and of everything she achieved against seemingly impossible odds. She was inspirational while she was still with us, and even now, long after her death, her story continues to move and inspire many people – and not just those who suffer from cystic fibrosis. She was not a saint; in fact she could be utterly – delightfully – wicked. But as with so many strong personalities who know their time is likely to be short, she lived life very intensely. It is because of that magnetic, irresistible life-force which burnt so strong in Alice that we continue to celebrate her now. And because it is Alice’s love of life that we remember every day, it never feels as though we are looking backwards in time.
The book you have just read is broadly speaking the true story of her last years, of her pursuit and achievement of a record deal, her love life, and her determined struggle against the appalling, relentless illness which gradually took the breath from her body. Although the supporting cast of characters, and the narrative, have necessarily been adapted and fictionalised, at the heart of Alice Peterson’s book is the character of Alice Martineau – which is as true and life-like a portrait as any family could wish to behold.
After Alice died in 2003, we set up the Alice Martineau Appeal for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. The Appeal has raised almost £1.5 million since then, principally through our annual Carols by Candlelight service at St Luke’s church in Sydney Street, Chelsea. The church is overlooked by the Brompton Hospital where Alice spent too much of her time, like so many with her condition. It is comforting to think that perhaps she still watches over proceedings at St Luke’s with an approving eye, and that she might feel, as we certainly do, a pang of pride that everything she went through in the past is contributing to a brighter future for all her fellow Cystic Fibrosis sufferers.
That is perhaps Alice’s last and greatest song, a song of hope – a song for tomorrow.
Luke Martineau, Alice’s brother, and
David and Liz Martineau, Alice’s parents
Alice Martineau,
A Song for Tomorrow and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust
by Oli Lewington
Living on the transplant list is a unique experience. Despite millions of people around the world extolling the virtues of living your life day-to-day, being forced into a moment-to-moment existence by a life-threatening condition like cystic fibrosis is another matter altogether.
Every phone call makes your heart skip a beat. Every morning brings fresh hope that today might be the day, accompanied by the realisation that the call didn’t come in the night.
Alice Martineau remains an inspiration to people with CF all over the world. For me her music resonates in so many ways that I turn to her whenever I need to be inspired, understood, or simply to cry for the friends that I’ve lost to the same condition.
I was delighted to be able to share my experiences with Alice Peterson, to help make this story as real and honest as possible. It’s hard to imagine the emotional turmoil, the psychological battles and the physical exertion that waiting for ‘the call’ can put on you, and I think this novel captures it beautifully. It also paints a picture of the remarkable positivity, humour and determination of people with cystic fibrosis.
This is an incredibly exciting time in the world of cystic fibrosis and for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, an organisation I’m proud to serve as Engagement Director. Innovative scientific breakthroughs, transformational new treatments and the beginning of a revolution in the way care is delivered are all converging to create a once in a lifetime opportunity to beat CF for good.
The Trust works tirelessly to make sure that everyone affected by CF can believe in a brighter future, but also make the most of their lives today. We invest in research and provide vital support through our helpline and a suite of digital resources to make sure information is at hand when it is needed most.
Raising awareness of this little-known and poorly-understood condition is essential in our fight for a future where lives are no longer limited by or lost to CF, and celebrating the lives of people like Alice Martineau is inspiring for the whole community.
Thank you for the music, Alice, and may your voice and your legacy live on forever.
To find out more about cystic fibrosis please visit the Cystic Fibrosis Trust website www.cysticfibrosis.org.uk
Alice Martineau’s Music
For more information about Alice Martineau and her music, please visit: www.alicepeterson.co.uk
‘If I Fall’ Words and Music by Alice Martineau © 2002, reproduced by permission of Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Ltd, London W1F 9LD
‘Inside of You’ Words and Music by Alice Martineau © 2002, reproduced by permission of Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Ltd, London W1F 9LD
Many of the songs referenced in A Song for Tomorrow, including ‘If I Fall’ and ‘Inside of You’ feature on Alice Martineau’s album, Daydreams, which is currently available on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify.
© 2002 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Acknowledgements
It is only those who live with cystic fibrosis that can truly express the impact it has had on their life. My thanks to Shelly Naylor at the Cystic Fibrosis Trust for putting me in touch with Tim Wotton, Emma Lake, Jo Acharya and Oli Lewington who have all helped me with this part of the novel. Tim has written an inspiring autobiography, How Have I Cheated Death? that captures his fighting spirit. Emma described to me every aspect of living with CF, from relationships to medication and her love of cake. Her honesty and humour made me laugh and cry. Like Alice, Jo has a background in music, and I greatly enjoyed hearing about her childhood memories and her love of singing. And Oli gave me a vivid insight into what it means to be on a transplant list. Aged twenty-three, he endured eighteen months of waiting and false alarms. During this time Oli wrote a book in diary form called, Smile Through It – A Year On The Transplant List. Finally he underwent and survived a double lung transplant in 2007. They are all ambassadors of the message, ‘make every day count’ and ‘never take anything for granted’.
I’d also like to thank Tim’s mum, Margaret Wotton, for giving me a moving insight into being the mother of a child with CF.
Professor Geddes, Alice’s Consultant Physician at the Royal Brompton Hospital, was endlessly patient with my questions. I was humbled by his dedication and respect for those he has treated. My warmest thanks go to him. Thanks also to Lizzie Holder for her expert knowledge in nursing and for sharing with me the invaluable work she carried out for patients like Alice. Dr Michael Harding told me what it often is like for a family to face the diagnosis of CF or any other disability. To Hilde Rodriguez for her colourful accounts of the time she spent with Alice, and the undoubted affection between them.
Stevie Lange, vocal coach to some of the world’s leading artists, worked with Alice over many years. I sensed the joy between them and the wonderful way she strengthened Alice’s talent. Special thanks also to Howard Toshman for giving me an insight into the music industry in the 1990s. Being in Howard’s studio allowed me to imagine what it might have been like to write songs and perform. I was moved by his friendship and admiration for Alice.
Many thanks go to Simon Jenkins and Amelia Wright at Sony Music, and Leah Mack and William Booth at Sony/ ATV Music Publishing, along with Jo Charrington at Capitol Records, for supporting this project. My thanks, too, to Paul Burger, a senior executive at Sony
Music for many years.
I’d like to thank Char Warre. Talking to Char gave me a great sense of her close friendship with Alice, their shared humour and the unconditional support and loyalty they gave to one another.
To Al Haig-Thomas. Al was an integral part of Alice’s success. I believe their relationship celebrates the power of love and the strength of having someone by your side.
Friends and family. Nichola Clark for talking to me about her closest friend Louise, who sadly died of CF. To Ross Bradley, Martina Murphy, Lara Cannuli, my sister Hels, her husband James Noel and to Sammy C who have all helped me in different but such important ways. To my parents – as always –for their continual support.
Diana Beaumont, my literary agent at United Talent. Diana has nurtured and been my mentor since my first novel was published in 2005. It is her passion and unfaltering belief in me that has brought me to where I am today. I’d also like to thank Sarah Manning at United Talent for reading my very first draft.
To Merle Bennett and the team at Simon & Schuster for all their support and hard work. From the beginning, my editor Jo Dickinson believed in this novel and this book simply would not be the same without her. My debt to her is huge.
Finally, my heartfelt thanks are due to the Martineau family, David, Liz and Luke, and Luke’s wife, Bella. A Song for Tomorrow is a work of fiction, but it is inspired by the story of their Alice. They lost, at a cruelly early age, a beautiful, brave and talented daughter and sister. But from the outset the family have encouraged and supported me in writing this book, sharing with me their memories of Alice with total generosity and sensitivity. I can only hope they will feel that the book celebrates Alice in the way that her talent, and her courage, deserve.
About the Author
Alice Peterson writes contemporary fiction with humour and compassion. Her novels are always uplifting, but her protagonists often have to overcome adversity. This is based on Alice’s own experience of a professional tennis career cut short at the age of eighteen, when she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.
Alice has written two non-fiction titles and eight novels, and is currently living in West London with her handsome Lucas Terrier, Mr Darcy.
Find out more about Alice at: www.alicepeterson.co.uk or follow her on Twitter: @AlicePeterson1 and Facebook: Alice Peterson
Also by Alice Peterson
NON-FICTION
Another Alice
M’coben, Place of Ghosts
FICTION
Letters from My Sister
You, Me and Him
Monday to Friday Man
Ten Years on
By My Side
One Step Closer to You
The Things We Do For Love
First published in Great Britain by Simon & Schuster UK Ltd, 2017
A CBS COMPANY
Copyright © Alice Peterson, 2017
This book is copyright under the Berne Convention.
No reproduction without permission.
® and © 1997 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.
The right of Alice Peterson to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
Simon & Schuster UK Ltd
1st Floor
222 Gray’s Inn Road
London WC1X 8HB
www.simonandschuster.co.uk
Simon & Schuster Australia, Sydney
Simon & Schuster India, New Delhi
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4711-5301-3
Export ISBN: 978-1-4711-5302-0
eBook ISBN: 978-1-4711-5303-7
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Typeset in the UK by M Rules
Printed and bound by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CR0 4YY
Simon & Schuster UK Ltd are committed to sourcing paper that is made from wood grown in sustainable forests and support the Forest Stewardship Council, the leading international forest certification organisation. Our books displaying the FSC logo are printed on FSC certified paper.