The Dynamite Room (33 page)

I'd like to take the opportunity to acknowledge a few people without whom you would not be reading this and who have given me invaluable help, advice, and support in the production of this book and my journey to this point.

Firstly, I would like to thank my editor, Sarah Murphy, for her boundless enthusiasm and, in particular, for taking such a big gamble on such a little me. Also, the rest of the team at Little, Brown, who have welcomed me into their publishing family, as well as Catherine Cooker, my copyeditor, for her eagle eyes and for teaching me the difference between “fringe” and “bangs,” and everyone else involved in the production of this book (in particular Ben Allen for guiding the book so painlessly through to publication, and Lauren Harms for the fabulous cover design). I'd also like to thank everyone at Simon & Schuster UK—most importantly my UK editor, Jessica Leeke—and my US and UK agents, PJ Mark and Will Francis, both at Janklow & Nesbit. Terry Chapman, author and senior historian at the Imperial War Museum, London, and Adam Dighton at the University of Salford for hunting out my factual blunders and setting me straight on a few things! Also Sophie Hardach for generously reading it through with her enthusiastic German eye. Thanks also to the staff of the British Library and the Imperial War Museum for providing access to unpublished documents and countless fascinating books. My dedicated Bath Spa alumni workshop group—Sam, Jenni, Karen, Becky, Pam, and Anthea—need special mention for never ceasing to push me, and whose advice, support, encouragement, and valuable criticism helped shape the story into what it has become. The end result? Not only a better novel than I ever could have produced without them, but also a tougher skin. Thanks also to the staff at Bath Spa University for their prior guidance whilst I studied for my master's there. The most special and heartfelt thanks, of course, go to my parents for their unwavering love, belief, and patience, and for never doubting me, even when I doubted myself. My brother, Jonathan, too, and sister-in-law, Helen, for their endless support and enthusiasm, for being my get-out-of-London retreat, and for giving me the two most adorable nephews a writer could want, William and Henry, who bring me joy every minute I see them and keep my feet firmly on the ground. Finally, to everyone else—friends and family too many to mention—who have supported, loved, enthused, challenged, and occasionally propped me up over the years. Thank you.

I should also like to take this opportunity to point out that whilst some of the minor characters who appear in this book are based on historical figures, and many of the locations described exist, it is important to stress that the story is a fiction and that the portraits of the characters that appear in it are fictional, as are some of the events and places, including the village of Willemsley. Any factual inconsistences are my own, but some may be deliberate wanderings from the truth put into play for the benefit of the story.

About the Author

Jason Hewitt was born in Oxford and lives in London. He has a bachelor of arts degree in history and English from the University of Winchester and a master of arts with distinction in creative writing from Bath Spa University. Between his degrees he spent a number of years working in a bookshop in Oxford before moving into the publishing industry, where he worked primarily as a marketing manager for a number of professional and academic publishers. He is also a playwright and actor.
The Dynamite Room
is his first novel.

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