Fishnet (29 page)

Acknowledgements

As a dear friend of mine insists on pointing out, a book is a group effort (especially when it takes you blimming years to write). Bekah Mackenzie, Ellie Shaw and Kate Robertson have been fabulous, patient and encouraging readers. Caitrin Armstrong has always been on hand with practical advice and support. I am very lucky that an accident of the school system threw us together many years ago, and I love you all very much.

Magi Gibson, Iain Maloney and Rodge Glass all offered essential feedback at various early stages. Bridget Innes helped me through some fallow periods. Nine performed a heroic editing job. My agent Charlie Brotherstone is the world's most charming cheerleader and I'm delighted to have him on side. Leila Cruickshank has been a great and thoughtful editor, and I couldn't have asked for a more attentive publisher than Adrian Searle at Freight. Alan Bissett has done and been all of the above and more. Thank you so much, my lovelies.

This is not my world, and I was very nervous about approaching it. I have to pay tribute to the brilliant, articulate and inspiring women I met along the way, both online and face to face, who have agreed to interviews, read the book to make sure I wasn't barking up any erroneous trees, and helped me navigate my way through. N, M and the magnificent Laura Lee: a massive, massive thank you to you.