Ghost Gum Valley
Page 59
I am most fortunate in having Ghost Gum Valley in the hands of Simon and Schuster’s exceptionally gifted Australian publishers,
Managing Director LOU JOHNSON, Head of Publishing LARISSA EDWARDS and their wonderfully supportive team who work together to make publication a memorable adventure. Every author needs fine editors and I was delighted to be reunited with two who had worked with me on Ironbark. My heartfelt thanks to JODY LEE for
her sensitive insight into my characters, their era, and not least
for her buoyant sense of humour.
Equally to KATE O’DONNELL for her fresh, meticulous eye, for gently challenging perceptions and stimulating further exploration. And to Larissa Edwards for her guiding light throughout the editing journey.
To SELWA ANTHONY, my Australian agent since the development of Ironbark, I pay full tribute to her remarkable combination of nurturing, straight talking, wisdom and the mutual trust enjoyed by all in her ‘family’ of authors; to my German agent BASTIAN SCHLÜCK of the Thomas Schlück Agency, my champion in Europe.
Author BRIAN NICHOLLS, the first person to read Ghost Gum Valley at a late stage of development, gave it the benefit of his experience as documentary writer, producer, director and editor. His support during marathon races towards deadlines is a gift every author deserves.
My family and friends were generous and forgiving when I was so locked into the 1830s time zone of Ghost Gum Valley I overlooked social milestones. EADIE CASSIM, 5, and GUS CASSIM, 2, keep me grounded and revitalized. Their joyous celebration of life is a gift shared with their actor parents, my son NICHOLAS CASSIM and his beloved NIKI OWEN. As always I am indebted to my sister and friend DONNA for her uniquely Australian sense of humour and wisdom.
I hope to acknowledge face to face the long-term encouragement of many friends but especially those separated by distance and who took ‘May Day!’ phone calls, including: Anne Robinson (W.A.); Bill and Penny Owen, ‘Wydidya’, North Star, NSW; Dr Stephen Shumach; Anne Austin; Philip Bray; Catherine Taylor, Michael and Toni Cassim, Olivia Nelson (Q’ld); Sister Mary Constable; Mick Djekovic; Lionel and Delys Dunk, Keira and Graham Lockyer, Lois Radeski (Vic); Rosalind Ihaka in Bali; John Arbouw; Peter Nicolaidis; John Allard; the family of Dr Tom Selby and ‘all the Melton mob’; John and Judy Barry in Switzerland; Ulrike Bauer in Germany; Fennie Pos in Holland; the Muldoon, Nicholls and Kinney families; Jean and David Trevor; Janette Boot; Peter Dunne; Wendy Borchers; Richard and Helen Walker; Kevin and Joanne Schluter; Earle Cross, Philip Thorniley and Harry (Cop This Young Harry) Griffiths. And not least the great support given me by Philip Brady, Denise Drysdale, Richard Stubbs and Roger Lupton.
Two special friends who Always Believed, have been around ‘for the long haul’. ENID ISABEL MORRISON, my journalist ‘friend for all seasons’ since our teenage copy-girl era, mastered the gentle art of keeping me buoyant during crises.
And legendary TV comedy writer and author MIKE MCCOLL JONES whose friendship and guidance I was blessed to inherit from his mentor, my father Fred Parsons.
To all the readers of Ironbark who took the time and trouble to write to me c/o Simon and Schuster, and warmly encouraged me to write this novel. I cannot measure all your support.
Ghost Gum Valley is for you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Johanna Nicholls comes from a theatrical family. She was a journalist and magazine feature writer in Sydney, Melbourne and London. In television she worked as a researcher/writer and Head Script Editor of TV Drama at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Johanna has lived in England, Italy and Greece. Her home is an 1830s convict-built sandstone cottage in Birchgrove, Sydney, where she is currently writing her third Australian historical novel and researching her fourth. Her first saga, Ironbark, was published by Simon and Schuster Australia in Australia and New Zealand in 2009 and 2010. Ghost Gum Valley was first published in 2012. Both books have been translated into German and published in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Ironbark
A stunning epic bringing the passions and heartaches of colonial Australia to vivid life.
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