Half Lost (27 page)

Acknowledgments

I can hardly believe that I'm writing these words at the end of
Half Lost
, the final book in the Half Bad trilogy. When I started writing
Ha
lf Bad
, the possibility of being a published writer seemed so unattainable that it was too ridiculous to even mention to most of my family and friends, and now here I am (it seems like no time later) with a third book about to go to the printers. There are so many people to thank and I will endeavor to do it in person where possible, as here I can only mention a few people who have helped me along the way. Help comes in many forms, from critical editorial advice to an encouraging tweet, and I really do appreciate it all.

Throughout my Half Bad experience, I've had support, encouragement, and advice from a great team of people. Thanks to Claire Wilson of RCW (always so cool and calm); Ben Horslen, my (perfectly tactful) editor, and all the team at Penguin Random House UK; Ken Wright and Leila Sales, my US editors; and all at Viking in the US. Thanks also to all the editors, translators, and publishers around the world.

Special thanks to all the designers who have created the gorgeous covers in the series and especially for the cover
of
Half Los
t—
Tim Green from Faceout Studio, Deborah Kaplan, Dani Calotta, and Jacqui McDonough.

Thanks to all Half Bad fans around the world; it's great to hear of your love for the Half Bad world. Damien Glynn, @damog7 on Twitter, suggested that Adele's Gift be the ability to turn her skin metal-hard temporarily. Thanks, Damien, and everyone else for their suggestions.

And last but definitely not least: my thanks to Indy for putting up with me when I'm on the computer AGAIN!!!

* * *

The poem “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing” by Jelaluddin Rumi is from
The Essential Rumi
, translated by Coleman Barks.

Ledger's words “There's no truth, only perspective” seems to be a quote from Flaubert, though I misquoted Nietzsche's “There's no truth, only perception” and found I preferred it.

The quote “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing” is most often attributed to Edmund Burke.

* * *

And finally, I've loved writing about the world of Half Bad, Nathan has been a huge part of my life for four years and he probably always will be—but for now I'm going to write about something else.

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