Kim Atkins. This wouldn’t have happened without you (although I know you’ll argue that fact) and I will forever be grateful. From being a very early reader when I was just starting, and giving me the encouragement to keep going, to helping shape my first draft and generally being a tremendous cheerleader, professional rockstar and fantastic friend, there are not enough thank yous that could ever explain my appreciation. All I will say is that the bubbles will be on me for as long as you’ll let me! And I hope that every girl with any kind of dream is lucky enough to have a mentor as special as you to help her realise she can make it happen with a bit of elbow grease.
Emma and Ross. My friends and early readers. Thank you! You’ll never know how nervous I was throwing this out there, and having your feedback and encouragement meant so much. I know I must have bored you both to tears talking about this and you never once told me to shut up. Saints.
Paige Toon. They tell you to never meet your heroes but they are wrong! As you know, I’ve been a huge fan of your work ever since your first book and to get accidentally Prosecco tipsy with you and become brilliant friends has been such a gift. You are a truly wonderful person and to have such an inspiration cheering me on and taking a total novice seriously has been such a confidence boost.
Charlie Haynes and Amie McCracken. You ladies are geniuses! You finally made it possible for me to work out how to practically write the bloody thing that had been nagging at me for so long and how to make it happen around working full time. Thanks for all the cheerleading and frank advice. I don’t think this would have got finished without a programme like yours.
Lily Wilson. Thank you for designing the beautiful cover. You created something that, when I saw it, I instantly knew it was mine. You are so talented and I feel so lucky to have had you design this before you go big time!
Serena Clarke. Editor of dreams. Thank you for so gently taking me through the process and making it less terrifying than it could have been.
My girlfriends! I really feel lucky to be a woman and have an amazing group of inspirational, badass friends. Thanks to all of you and for the amazing support and encouragement to those that saw me through the writing of this – none of you ever questioned if I could actually do this and that means everything. One of the strong messages of this book is the value of female friendships and having an epic support network and I have that in spades. Karen, Nicki, Lee, Mabel, Lindsay and Jess in particular, thank you for listening to my frequent book writing ramblings and, to you and my other glorious friends, I love you.
Nicola, Nic-Nac, Nikisha-B. You might have noticed that Abbie has a little sister that she loves to the moon and back and would do anything for. That’s no coincidence. I’m so lucky to have you, Lennon and Garry in my life and I count my blessings I have you every single day.
Mum and Dad. The hardest acknowledgement to write because how on earth do you put a lifetime of love and thankfulness in one paragraph? Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do for our family. You are, quite simply, the most phenomenal parents a girl could wish for and I hope I make you proud (every now and then, when I’m not going out in inappropriate clothing, sleeping in the bush at the front of your house after drinking absinthe or driving too close to the car in front).
Half the World Away Page 24