ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This is the page where, Oscar clutched in hand, tears of emotion in my eyes, I take to the podium and reel off a long list of all the people who have contributed in one way or another to my success and whose help, backing, encouragement and endeavour, have been my lantern along the way.

First and foremost, an enormous round of applause goes to Wendy Wootton, my web site designer. Without her expertise, there wouldn’t be a web site at all. Thanks Wendy!

Domestic

On the domestic front I would like to thank my parents for having me! Not sure if they always feel the same. No, seriously, I extend warmest love to Bob and Joan Chadwick for always being there for me, and to my brother Peter for betting me a tenner when he was eight years old that I’d never be published. You owe me!

I want to tell the world about how lucky I am in my husband Roger who has given me the space to write and never begrudged me the time. He also does all the ironing – greater love hath no man. Sometimes too, he’s a research assistant. (see biography page!) My sons, Ian and Simon for being so matter of fact about Mum being a writer, and for not being brats (most of the time!). I must mention my good friend Alison King with whom I have shared an abiding friendship since we were housebound young mums with small children. Thank you for the intuition, support and constructive criticism.

Business

I’m not sure that the acknowledgement to my wonderful agent Carole Blake of Blake Friedmann should come under business because she has been such a good friend and mentor to me. I came to her agency completely wet behind the ears and she has guided me through the perils and pitfalls of the publishing road, keeping my feet dryshod and on the ground through both terrific and trying times. I would like to say a huge thank you for all her hard work on my behalf, and for earning me sales in every far flung corner of the earth! Thanks also to Isobel Dixon for gently bullying me into writing short stories and Kate Wilkinson, for helping me out if Carole’s not around.

I owe a debt to Barbara Boote, my editor at Little Brown and Warner for having faith in me and for being so friendly and accommodating to work with. Dave Scutt does an excellent job of illustrating my UK novels and what’s more he’s always willing to consider my opinion – something that doesn’t always happen, believe me!

Between writing my novels, I work as a reader and appraiser on a couple of New Writer schemes. I would like to say thank you to Marina Oliver of the Romantic Novelists’ Association for the fun and friendship we’ve shared whilst being colleagues on the RNA scheme, and the same for Lisa Pacynko of East Midlands Arts.

The Historical Novel Society has been (and I hope it will continue to be) a source of encouragement, support, information and friendship. A huge thank you goes out to Richard Lee for forming the society and drawing it onwards and upwards. My appreciation goes out to Towse Harrison, an editor of The Historical Novel Review. Again, business and friendship meet and overlap.

Research

As well as appreciating their friendship, I want to thank my re-enactor friends for allowing me to tap into their vast wealth of knowledge and also for trusting me enough to let me loose on the cooking pot! Waes thu Hale to Gary Golding, Lynne and Sam McQuaid, Steve, Jo and Daniel Wibberly, Pat O’Connel, Cheryl, Leo, Graham Turner and Sinbad, Simon Hammond and wife, Dave the Moneyer, Mike and Sarah Doyle, Nathan, Ivor Lawton, Rosemary and Trevor Watson, John and Tanya Bentham, Spook, Simon Carter, Sharon Goode, Jon and Lizzy Preston, Mark and Rob Roberts, and Dave Southgate. Hope that’s everyone. If I’ve missed anyone out, I’ll include you at the next website update!