by Adam Maxwell
To my daughter Nina - what the hell are you doing reading this? You’re twelve years old. Swearing isn’t funny OR cool. Don’t use Violet as a role model. And if you do, don’t get caught.
James Whitman, my co-conspirator and now editor. Thank you for never saying ‘well, that sounds like a fucking stupid idea’ whilst still ensuring that any fucking stupid ideas don’t get through. And for championing the very fucking stupidest and helping me elevate them beyond their worth. Your input is absolutely invaluable.
To the gents from the Story Toolkit podcast. Literally every author should listen to their incisive ramblings if they want to level up. Luke Lyon-Wall - your email encouragement is appreciated enormously. The impact your insight has on writers of all abilities is not to be underestimated. And to your co-rambler Bassim El-Wakil…
I sent Bass the original outline for this book and his insight into the characters and advice on how to improve the book as a whole was frankly more than a little scary. Your ability to cut through the shit and identify what was and wasn’t working was so accurate that at some point I’m certain you’ll be burned as a witch. Until then I can only hope the changes I made did the trick.
My co-editors Elaine Jinks-Turner and Sam Hartburn have the eagle-eyed accuracy of… well… eagles. Thank you for your eyes and minds. I would be fearful to publish without your assistance.
Mister Matthew Austin. Even by moving to Australia you cannot escape the pull of Kilchester. To the last I was tweaking the manuscript to your advice. And including jokes that only you will get.
Michael Brett, thank you for listening to me banging on about Kilchester every bloody time we meet up.
Thanks to my experts… Dean Coulson for making me less fat and for being a brilliant fight co-ordinator and helping Katie be what she is. A goddess. But a goddamn dangerous one. Carlos Echevarria for his insight into medical procedures and David Kelly for not reporting me to the police when I asked him how to make sausages out of human flesh. Tony Hutchinson for his insight and advice in terms of police procedure.
Once again the cover illustration by Mute. People judge a book by its cover and I couldn’t be happier by them judging me by your immense talent.
To Fergus McNeill for being not just a great writer but generous enough with his time to read my novella. I couldn’t be prouder of the blurb you wrote. Fingers crossed it’ll help convince people to take a punt on the book but more than that I’m over the moon you liked it as much as you did. The next pint is on me.
Thanks to my advance readers, especially Brenda West for your unrivalled insights!
Paul Jones and Garry Willey from Cheshire Cat Books - thank you for your help from the shadows and going forward.
Lastly, but most certainly not leastly thank you to the Kilchester Irregulars. I know I sent you gifts but it was only because I love you all.
- A.M.