Zagreb Cowboy (35 page)

Acknowledgements

It should go without saying, but all the characters and situations in this story are works of fiction. There is no political subtext, only a desire to entertain.

I owe thanks to many people. The ones who had the most direct input into the creation and publication of this story are, in their order of appearance, Lucy Vinten Mattich, Andrew Steinmetz, Luke Vinten, Hilary McMahon, Gren Manuel, and Janie Yoon. To them, my boundless gratitude.

But above all I’d like to thank my children, Pippa, Tilly, Kit, and Bee. Their wit, joyfulness, hard work, and perseverance taught me that much can be achieved on the strength of discipline, effort, and revelling in what you do.

About the Author

ALEN MATTICH
was born in Zagreb, Croatia, and grew up in Libya, Italy, Canada, and the United States. He went to McGill University for his undergraduate degree and then did post-graduate work at the London School of Economics. A financial journalist and columnist, he’s now based in London and writes for
Dow Jones
and the
Wall Street Journal
. The second Marko della Torre novel,
Killing Pilgrim
, will be published in fall of 2013.

About the Publisher

House of Anansi
Press was founded in 1967 with a mandate to publish Canadian-authored books, a mandate that continues to this day even as the list has branched out to include internationally acclaimed thinkers and writers. The press immediately gained attention for significant titles by notable writers such as Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, George Grant, and Northrop Frye. Since then, Anansi’s commitment to finding, publishing and promoting challenging, excellent writing has won it tremendous acclaim and solid staying power. Today Anansi is Canada’s pre-eminent independent press, and home to nationally and internationally bestselling and acclaimed authors such as Gil Adamson, Margaret Atwood, Ken Babstock, Peter Behrens, Rawi Hage, Misha Glenny, Jim Harrison, A. L. Kennedy, Pasha Malla, Lisa Moore, A. F. Moritz, Eric Siblin, Karen Solie, and Ronald Wright. Anansi is also proud to publish the award-winning nonfiction series The CBC Massey Lectures. In 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2011 Anansi was honoured by the Canadian Booksellers Association as “Publisher of the Year.”