The A to Z of You and Me

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

‘Team …’

Thank you first of all to my two brothers, who have put me up and put up with me; to my mum and my dad, who afforded me time and space; to my bandmates, inspirations all; and to the Jolly family of Preston, who had me over for Christmas once.

Thank you too, Catherine O’Flynn, for support, friendship, generosity and positive discouragement, and for inadvertently giving me the title.

I am grateful for the advice given to me by Dr Alice Myers, David Abdy, Sally Quigg, Ian Abdy, Shonagh Musgrave, Carolyn Willitts, Simon Wheatley, Sara Grainger, Su Portwood, Anna Davis, Chris Wakling and the Autumn 2011 cohort of the Curtis Brown Creative writing school.

I am indebted to Susan Armstrong and Jane Lawson, Anne O’Brien and the talented teams at Conville & Walsh and Transworld, without whom this book would be worse (also not published).

I have never met John Murray, author and benevolent editor of Panurge New Writing. But I am grateful to him for a few typewritten notes from him back in ’94, and a phone conversation in ’03. It only takes a few words to change your world.

This novel has been tested on, discussed with, and occasionally bundled past the incomparably marvellous Christine Jolly. Jols, I cannot thank you enough for everything you’ve brought to this book. But I can try: Thank you times like fifty.