Dark Vision (40 page)

Thank you to my agent, Laura Longrigg of MBA, for tirelessly putting up with my crazy ideas and genre-hopping manuscripts. We got there in the end, Laura. Thanks also to everyone involved in the Harry Bowling Prize, for giving me encouragement, and for putting up with a drunk acceptance speech where I thanked Daniel Craig.

Three cheers also to the Royal Society of Literature, whose Brookleaze Award boosted both my finances and my morale.

Eternal gratitude to Michael Rowley at Del Rey UK for seeing something special in Lily and helping me share her story with the world, and to the whole team there – especially Emily Yau. It’s been an exciting journey, and I’ve received a wonderful welcome from every one there, including the other fabulous authors.

Like Lily I have had many ‘Champions’ in my life, who have helped me in so many different ways. I couldn’t have done this – or indeed pretty much anything – without the support of my friends. They include Sandra Shennan, Helen Shaw, Pamela Hoey, Rachael Tinniswood, Jane Murdoch, Paula Woosey, Vikki Everett, Louise Douglas, Ann Potterton, and, last but not least, Jane Costello – a successful author now, but a friend first, and an invaluable source of advice and encouragement. Also, the late Brian McNaught, for giving me Liverpool.

Thanks to all my pals at the
Post
and
Echo
in Liverpool (and yes, the night news desk really
is
like that, sometimes!) and everyone I met during my time on the pop page. The
Gazette
is completely fictional, but I have to say a year in journalism gives you enough anecdotes to last a lifetime!

On the home front, eternal love and gratitude to my family – my rock God/librarian husband Dom, and my three beautiful kids Keir, Daniel and Louisa. Thanks for putting up with me, helping with plots, suggesting titles, and generally making life a happy, chaotic place to be. I love the bones of you all. And a big hug to the Crazy O’Malleys in all their glory – Terry, Norm, and the gang – for childcare, pep talks, buffet dinners, and encouragement.

Finally, an apology to any serious scholars of Celtic mythology, or the Irish language. I’m afraid I took it, and brutalised it to suit my fictional needs – some of the names are intentionally wrong, and I’ve lifted legends and recklessly tinkered with them. Same goes for the wonderful city of Liverpool – I’ve played fast and loose with its geography, but hopefully retained its spirit. I can’t think of any better place to set a story.

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Published in 2014 by Del Rey, an imprint of Ebury Publishing
A Random House Group Company

Copyright © 2014 by Debbie Johnson

Debbie Johnson has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this Work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

This novel is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental

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