To all my friends and family who have continued to show interest in my work, and faith in my ability to tell this story, my ongoing gratitude for your friendship and love. In particular I would like to thank:
Deb Warren and Robyn Williams, for their generous hospitality and for providing an inspiring space in which various sections of this novel were written.
My gifted readers for their thoughtful and insightful feedback: Helen Cerne, Barbara Brook, Bruno Annetta, and Megan Evans, who read a full draft of the manuscript, and Susan Holmes and Bronwen Hickman, who read various sections.
Vivienne Hadj, Helen Cerne, and Arty Owens for their enthusiasm and readiness to engage in long conversations about writing and literature, about life, about politics, and about the West Gate. These discussions have helped shape my thinking and my writing.
My gratitude to Alice Pung for making the time to read this novel and for her generosity and support.
I would like to thank everyone at Scribe Publications and especially my editor, Julia Carlomagno, for her perceptive and scrupulous editing, and for her commitment to and belief in the novel. The Bridge has been enhanced by her input. And thanks to David Golding for shepherding the novel in its final stages from manuscript to book.
Special thanks to my husband, Bruno Annetta, who has lived with this project as long as I have, for the thousands of conversations, for his love and partnership, and for his passion, generosity, and creative spirit; for believing in me even when I don’t believe in myself and for making every day a joy.
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