One Step Closer to You (27 page)

Firstly, lots of thanks go to Jane Wood and Katie Gordon at Quercus for their wonderful editing. To my agent Charlotte Robertson, thank you so much for your amazing support.

This book was helped enormously by a number of people talking to me about addiction. Mark Hjaltun – thank you for our many fun lunches together and for being so open about your experiences, both light and dark. To Johnny S for sharing his stories; to Virginia Graham, a psychotherapist and counsellor with a wealth of experience in this field. A huge thank-you to you all.

There are other parts of the book that many friends have helped me with. Masses of thanks to Sam Boyero for telling me about her life as a single mum and her touchingly warm relationship with her son.

To Mark Chamberlen, for giving me an insight into being born partially sighted. I think you are funny, inspiring and quite incredible.

I’d also like to thank my friends, SJ, Ju, Debbie and Ed F-S for helping me in very different but important ways. To Diana Beaumont for her invaluable input, as always.

To
Books For Cooks
, in Notting Hill, my favourite haunt for a bowl of soup and slice of cake.

To my parents, for always being there for me. To my sister, Helen. You are the best.

Finally, Catty Thomas. Thank you for your patience, wisdom, courage and humour. You helped me to get right under the skin of my leading character, Polly. Through you I have learned so much about addiction, especially the vital importance of AA. This novel could not have been written without you.