The Marble Collector

Acknowledgements

I’d like to thank all the people who shared their marble memories with me: in all of my twelve novels, I don’t think I’ve ever received quite the reaction when I’ve shared the topic I’m writing about. Personal stories just tumbled out of people, and whether those stories were big or small, each of them reinforced my belief that marble memories go hand in hand with key moments in adolescence. All of these shared memories encouraged me along the way.

Thank you Killian Schurman, glass artist and sculptor, who spent many hours showing me the process of marble making. Anything incorrect in the marble making scene is entirely my doing. Thanks Orla de Brí for connecting us and for inspiring me through your own work. Thank you to Lundberg Studios for sharing your expertise, and inspiring ‘Marlow’s’ universe marble. Two books in particular were constantly in use; Marbles Identification and Price Guide by Robert Block, and Collecting Marbles; A Beginners Guide by Richard Maxwell. Thanks to Dylan Bradshaw for answering my odd questions about the silent hairdryer that I’m sorry never made it to the final edit!

As ever, all my love to David, Robin and Sonny. Mimmie, Dad, Georgina, Nicky and the gang. Fairy godmother Sarah Kelly, Marianne Gunn O’Connor, Vicki Satlow and Pat Lynch.

Thank you Lynne Drew and Martha Ashby for the epic edit. The ever joyful Louise Swannell, Kate Elton, Charlie Redmayne and all of the HarperCollins team and Kate Bowe and Sarah Dee from Kate Bowe PR in Ireland. Thanks to the booksellers, big and small, independent and chain, physical and electronic. And most important of all, thank you readers.