The Drowning

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First and foremost, I want to thank my Martin. Because you love me and constantly find new ways to show it.

As usual there is one person who has been invaluable for the genesis of all my books: my wonderful publisher, Karin Linge Nordh. She’s both tough and warm at the same time in a most delightful combination, and she always makes my books better! This time we’ve also had help with the editing from Mathilda Lund, who made an amazing contribution. I am incredibly grateful to you. And to all of the others at Bokförlaget Forum – you know who you are. I can’t believe what a great job you do! I also want to mention the Ester PR agency, which has created fantastic, albeit rather scary, ad campaigns. I’m particularly grateful for my publisher’s involvement in producing my short novel Snöstorm och mandeldoft [Snow Storm and the Scent of Almonds], to benefit the organization MinStoraDag.

As always, Bengt Nordin has been a very important person for me, both personally and professionally. Thanks as well to the new talents at the revamped Nordin Agency: Joakim, Hanserik, Sofia, and Anna. I appreciate your enthusiasm and the work that you’ve done since taking over the baton from Bengt, who now can enjoy his well-deserved retirement. Only you know, Bengt, how much you have meant to me. On all levels.

Thanks to my mother for helping out with the babysitting, among many other things; and to Anders Torevi for quickly reading through the manuscript and for helping me with his knowledge of Fjällbacka, as he always does. I’d also like to thank the citizens of Fjällbacka for embracing my books as you’ve done, and for being so loyal to me, offering me the most amazing support. You always make me feel like a ‘Fjällbacka girl’, in spite of the many years I’ve lived in Stockholm.

Thanks also to the police officers at the Tanumshede station – none named, but none forgotten. You do a magnificent job, and you’ve been so incredibly patient in allowing me – and the TV crew – to take up residence at your police station. Jonas Lindgren at the Forensics Lab in Göteborg: thanks for always being willing to correct my forensics mistakes.

I also want to mention my amazing friends who have patiently stood by me, even though there are long periods when I don’t communicate very much. Thanks to my former mother-in-law, Mona, whom I have bribed to continue supplying the world’s best meatballs – and in return she’s allowed to read the manuscript as soon as it’s done. I also want to send a big thank you to the children’s father, Micke! Because you’re always so understanding and nice. And to the children’s paternal grandfather, Hasse Eriksson. I don’t know how to explain how important you are. You were taken from us much too soon and too quickly this year, but the world’s best grandfather can’t just disappear. You will live on in your children and grandchildren, and in our memory. And yes, I do know how to cook…

My thanks to Sandra, who has been the children’s babysitter for two years now. She is the world’s best babysitter, bar none. She even asks if she can come by and play with the children if we haven’t needed her services for a while. She really cares, and for that I’m eternally grateful.

Thanks also to all of my faithful blog readers. And to my women author friends, especially Denise Rudberg, who is always willing to listen and who is the smartest and most loyal person I know.

Last but not least: Caroline and Johan Engvall, who are undoubtedly the nicest people in the world and who helped me out in Thailand when my computer crashed while I was writing the last chapter of The Drowning. I’m so very fond of both of you. And Maj-Britt and Ulf – you are incredible, always offering support when I need it most.

Camilla Läckberg

Copenhagen, 4 March 2008

www.CamillaLackberg.com