Snake Ropes (31 page)

I’d like to thank my agent Lucy Luck, for her editorial advice through early drafts, and her constant support and wisdom.

My talented editors, Jocasta Hamilton and Suzie Dooré; Carole Welch and the team at Sceptre.

With thanks to the hardworking team at HarperCollins, Canada: Jennifer Lambert, Iris Tupholme and Jane Warren.

The staff at Sussex University CCE: Mark Slater, Susannah Waters, and especially Catherine Smith for always being right and Anna McGrail for her invaluable questions and for demanding a weekly word count. My writing group: Anna, Gra, Lucy, Noel and Woody for their feedback and friendship, David for his expert advice and kindness.

Alan for his knowledge of birds and plants, and Anne for not reading the ending first.

Andy, Ben, Caspian, Fiona, Kate A, Kirsty, Orlando, Rachel, Sophie and Tom for reading early drafts.

Ros, for her help with echoes.

Rosie and Sue, for their faith in dreams.

Jac, for believing in hard work and magic.

Paul and Sarah for cake, hugs and emergency coffee.

And Kakey, for reminding me ‘it’s time to take the red shoes off; stop writing and get some sleep’, and then giving me a pair of bright red shoes for Christmas.

J
ESS
R
ICHARDS

was born in Wales in 1972 and grew up too fast in southwest Scotland, where she lived with her English parents and three brothers, watching the ferry boats going to and from Northern Ireland. At age twenty-one, she earned a first-class degree from Dartington College of Arts. After brief stints busking and carrying on in both Leeds and London, she moved to Brighton, where she has lived and worked ever since. She has recently studied creative writing at the University of Sussex and has had a number of short stories published. Visit her online at www.jessrichards.com.

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Cover art: Clayton Bastiani / Trevillion Images
Cover design: Lisa Bettencourt

Snake Ropes
Copyright © Jess Richards 2012

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EPub Edition © APRIL 2012 ISBN: 978-1-443-41016-8

Published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

FIRST CANADIAN EDITION

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