FORTUNE COOKIE
Page 64
Bruce Gee, my researcher, must be and is a constant and utterly dependable resource. When I turn on the word tap he has to be ready with a bucket of knowledge to mix with the flow. I like to think that my fiction evolves within the facts of history or contemporary life down to the smallest detail. In my experience the actual facts are usually better than the ones you invent and, besides, the reader has the right to know that you are taking the care to be accurate with your incidental information. Bruce, who digs, suggests and constantly checks, is a rare and talented searcher of truth and plays an essential part in my books. Thank you, mate, we appear to have done it again.
Alex Hamill, good friend and true, first suggested the idea for this book to me and gave me helpful advice throughout, as well as several incidents to incorporate in the story. In fact without his input it would be a much slimmer and less interesting volume. Thanks, mate, I’m truly grateful.
Geoff and Phyllis Pike helped greatly with things Chinese, Hong Kong and in other ways. Thank you for generously giving of your time and knowledge.
To Professor Carl A. Trocki, Professor of Asian Studies at Queensland University of Technology, my gratitude for his references to sources, and personal and professional advice given at a critical stage of this book. Also, for allowing me to quote from his own book, Singapore: Wealth, Power and the Culture of Control.
Christine Lenton, my P.A., who has for the past thirteen years kept the world at bay while I write, and attends to the endless detail that seems to be a part of my public life. I simply cannot imagine what I would do without her.
What follows in alphabetical order are those others who helped in various ways: John Adamson, Yasuko Ando, John Atkin, Carole Baird, Ian Batey (Asian Branding – a great way to fly), Debra Calderbank, Phil Clegg, Russell and Barbara Coburn, Adam Courtenay, Brett Courtenay, Tony Crosby, Michael Dean, Tony Freeman, Alida Haskins, Jodie Iliani, Irwin Light, Nima Price, Debbie Tobin, Duncan Thomas, Wang Kangning, Wang Tai-Peng, and, by no means least, our cherished friends in Singapore, who provided knowledge and generosity of spirit.
Margaret Gee suggested the title and I thank her.
Finally those people who labour in the temple of publishing, all those at Penguin who in one way or another contributed to the final book. I thank you all for your personal contribution to Fortune Cookie: Vicky Axi-otis, Sally Bateman (publicity is everything), Peter Blake (without retail sales, I’m dead!), Deb Brash, Nicole Brown, Gabrielle Coyne, CEO (the boss of bosses), Carol George, Chris Grierson, Lisa and Ron Eady, Anyez Lindop (my personal tour minder and publicity finder), Gordon McKenzie, Cameron Midson, Jordan Ormandy-Neale, Kim Noble, Tony Palmer, Adrian Potts, Sarina Rowell, Dan Ruffino (good luck, Dan), Louise Ryan (ditto Blakey comment), Andre Sawenko, SharleneVinall and Julian Welch.
Finally, there are the charities this book will help to support, and that allow Christine Gee and me to give back, something we value highly and which we regard as both an honour and a privilege: The Australian Himalayan Foundation, The Thin Green Line Foundation, Gene & Cell Trust, The Bookend Trust, The Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Sane Australia, and Voiceless.
VIKING
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First published by Penguin Group (Australia), 2010
Copyright © Bryce Courtenay 2010
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ISBN: 978-1-74-253164-9