by Anna Daniels
‘Yep,’ I reply.
‘How about Two Birds, One’s Stoned?’
‘Ha! I like it. Maybe that can be the name for our joint memoir one day?’
‘Hey!’ She grins across at me as we both stand. ‘I cut all that out last week!’
I laugh and put my arm around her. ‘You know I wouldn’t be where I am now if it wasn’t for you.’
‘Yes you would,’ she says, smiling. ‘You just might not have had as much fun along the way.’
‘Not half as much fun!’ I exclaim. ‘Rosie, I love y—’
‘I know, mate!’ she says, splashing me with water. ‘I know you love me.’
‘I love UNIQLO,’ I say, laughing. ‘I was going to say I love UNIQLO.’
It’s been quite the journey for me in writing this book and there are a few people I’d like to thank for helping me along the way.
Firstly to my parents Janny and Wayne. Thank you for all the love and laughter and the ability to appreciate the ridiculous and silly moments of life. The hilarious chaos growing up and the confidence to laugh at ourselves was one of the greatest gifts you gave us.
Thank you also to my extended family, including my 102-year-old grandfather Dave, and siblings Nick, Carl, Sam and Sally who were very excited for me to become a published author and have always been proud of my creative pursuits. I know that my grandmas, Eileen and Mary, would also have been thrilled. Thanks to my sister-in-law Betina for coming up with the title, and a particular thanks to my little sis Sal, who never failed to respond to my novel-related texts, even when they were at midnight and asking, ‘Should the girls buy Calippos or Golden Gaytimes from Red Rooster?’
For all my friends, who’ve been so happy for me to get where I hoped to be with Girl In Between, you are superstars and I’m lucky to have you. A particular thanks to Brooke Carrigan, Alice Harriott, Kelly Evans and Camille Banks who sometimes acted as silent editors and never tired of hearing me update them on my word count! Thank you to Suz Lambert and Kath Crocker in the UK, and to Shannon Byrne and the Irish gang who helped me meet some major deadlines in between the craic.
Thanks to The Project, ABC Radio, Saxton Speakers Bureau, Brisbane Writers Festival, my former high school The Cathedral College, Duchesne College and QUT for supporting my ambitions over the past years. I grew up in Rocky, and I’d like to thank the community there. My book is for you and everyone in regional Australia who has a big dream in a small town.
I benefited from the advice of fellow writers and would like to thank Suzanne Leal, Rebecca Sparrow, Benjamin Law, Rohan Wilson, Kirsty Brooks, Christine Retschlag, Sam Carmody, Paula Ellery, Don Reiman and the Queensland Writers Centre. Thanks also to UK comedian John Bishop for the chats and encouragement.
I first began writing my manuscript, originally titled Rocky Road, in 2013, and I would not be writing these acknowledgements four years later if it weren’t for The Australian/Vogel’s Literary Award, for which I was shortlisted in 2016. I will never forget your phone call, Annette Barlow! A massive thanks to you and your fellow judges for opening up a new world of opportunity to me, and to Allen & Unwin for taking me on and supporting me on this writing journey. I’m thrilled to tell people that I’m with you! A particular thanks to editor Ali Lavau for your brilliant feedback and suggestions; Genevieve Buzo and Sarina Rowell for your expert editorial eyes, and Henrietta Ashton, whose wondrous emails set this whole ball rolling.
Finally, it’s hard to find the right words to convey just how thankful I am to Louise Thurtell. I first met Louise on a fortuitous Sydney evening at the Vogel’s Award party atop the Allen & Unwin Terrace, and I will remember it as one of the best nights ever!
Louise had faith in me and my writing from the get-go, and never once doubted my ability to transform Girl in Between from a novella of 38,000 words to a manuscript of over 80,000 words—something I never thought I could do.
Louise, thank you for everything—for championing me as a debut author, for cheering me from the sidelines when I was developing the story and for guiding Girl in Between in the right direction. I’ve had the time of my life working with you (and many laughs!) and it’s an honour to call you my publisher, editor and friend.