Next, I must acknowledge, and possibly apologize to, the genius Mary Shelley. There was a plague in my time, and I borrowed your characters for a short while.
Now, my thank-yous! Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, aka Christina Lauren, I have loved you two since the year 1814, and this book is dedicated to you both. When I write a book, it’s done safe in the knowledge that you will understand the heart of it—even in this instance, when it’s a heart from the morgue. Thank you, Roland, Tina, Katie, and my mum, Sue, for always being in my corner. I can’t do this without my agent, my rock, Taylor Haggerty. Thank you, Root Literary. I gain a great amount of confidence from my editor, Carrie Feron, and the amazing team at Avon. The fact that so many people continued to work and try their best during a pandemic was inspiring and humbling. Publishing a book is a team effort, and I am a part of the best team there is.
Thank you to my readers and Flamethrowers, who have told me they’d read anything that I wrote. I clung to that as I unexpectedly began writing Frankenstein fan fiction. I hope you all meant it. Allowing me to have this incredible job is something I am grateful for, every day.
These last few years have had some wonderful moments, including the movie adaptation of my first book, The Hating Game, being released worldwide. But I have also cried an ocean of tears, and I finally understand Angelika completely.
I lost my horse on November 7, 2021. Louie, my special boy, to save you I would have bled myself dry. I have done some really astonishing things trying to turn back time. I hope you’re a star above my house.