The Secrets of Life and Death (41 page)

With all this uncertainty about such interesting and sometimes infamous characters, I have stretched history to suit the story. If this causes any offence, I apologise.

I have many reasons to be grateful, because without the help of the people below, this book would never have been published.

Gerry Ryan of the Open College of the Arts, who taught me to trust my storytelling but to work on the craft of writing.

Diana Gittins and Morgaine Merch Lleuad were both inspiring and encouraging Open University tutors. They taught me to concentrate on the good, not the bad.

Carole Burns and my other lecturers at the University of Winchester, with special thanks to Judith Heneghan, who showed me the joy of writing fantasy.

My patient beta readers: Gilly Goldsworthy, Jenny Kline and Rachel Carter from the Open University, and Bethany Coombs and Downith Monaghan from my MA, who have been confident enough to tell me what doesn’t work, as well as what does!

Debbie Taylor and the team at Mslexia, for running the novel writing competition that got the book noticed.

Charlotte Robertson, my agent, has been amazing, making the scary world of publishing seem easier. She showed the book to Michael Rowley, who polished it up with his team at Ebury and Del Rey UK. Charlotte and Michael have pushed the book into a better shape than I could have imagined.

My family, who have cajoled, read, argued and encouraged, especially my eldest son, Carey. Without his enthusiasm and ideas this book might never have been written.

Finally, my husband Russell, who has spent endless hours in the car listening to plot twists, characters, ideas. He has never, even once, told me to shut up. Another reason to say in public, he is the love of my life.

I thank you all.

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First published in the UK in 2013 by Del Rey, an imprint of Ebury Publishing
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Copyright © 2013 by Rebecca Alexander

Rebecca Alexander 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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ISBN 9780091953232

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