The Road Home (26 page)
THIS book has come a long way and huge thanks must go to Ali Watts for her help, guidance and persistence. Ali, I value everything you say and without you, this book wouldn’t be what it has become. Your dedication so greatly needs to be recognised.
My mum, Sue, is my sounding board, brain stormer, support crew and everything in between. I am so lucky to have you. And thank you to the other very important girl in my life, my daughter Mackenzie, who at eight years old can clean the house with such precision, help with dinner and make cuppas while I’m writing. You, Darryl and Blake make my life so much easier. Having family support means a lot.
Thanks to my agent, Lyn Tranter, for being so understanding and for answering my naive questions. To Dianne Biviano, who handles my publicity, Jo Rosenberg for her editing skills, and the rest of the Penguin team who helped to get this book into its final form, I am truly thankful.
Big thanks also to my go-to girl, Rachael Jensen, for answering
all my texts and questions on farming. And big hugs to my go-to guy, Jim Stewart, for always having time to provide me with information, no matter how busy he is or which country he’s in. Thanks to Jeni Wyatt for helping to brainstorm (most importantly the ending), and for the many cups of coffee. Also to Evan for answering my questions and reading the relevant parts. It takes more than one person to write a book.
To Ron and Tessa Silver and the Gangells of Kulin for the flexible hours of work at the shop. It’s a great spot to work, and it gives me a break from writing.
Big thanks to Jacinta, as always, for providing plenty of support and friendship and also my cousin Tammy Stone for providing the right little details.
To all the writers who form our own authors’ support group – Margareta, Fleur, Rach, Karly, Mandy, Helene and Cathryn, just to name a few – you are all invaluable. It can be nail-biting stuff.
Finally, to all the readers – thank you for your emails. You brighten my days and make what I do worth doing.
MICHAEL JOSEPH
Published by the Penguin Group
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First published by Penguin Group (Australia), 2012
Copyright © Fiona Palmer 2012
The moral right of the author has been asserted
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
ISBN: 9780857961990