My heartfelt thanks to...

... Ma for giving us the love of reading; to Dadda for teaching me the value of discipline and excellence; to Lerato for having hope when there wasn't much around (how many manuscripts did you print and bind again?); to Tom Stilwell for showing genuine interest in my very first stories; to Marlene Jennings for her patience and helpful critique; to Dan Witters for his brutally honest editing; to Sarah Udoh for introducing me to Dan; to Ntsiki for her enthusiasm (sorry I didn't change Cash Tshabalala's shoes!); to K for reading White Wahalla in one night (yes, he couldn't put it down) and for encouraging me to tell the "other" stories; to all the publishers who turned down my work... you've made me a much better writer; to my banking colleagues for their understanding; to Moky for her guidance and candid assessment; to Katharine Ampomah and Leigh Reynolds for being early believers; to Andrea Nattrass and the team at Pan Macmillan for believing too; to Alison Lowry for so graciously opening doors I thought were hidden; to Robyn and Windsor for doing all they could to get my work 'out there'; to Carolyn Meads and everyone at NB Publishers for taking a chance on me with Yellowbone; to all the bookclubs out there who support my work and do so much to foster the love of reading. A big shout out to Between the Covers Book Club for being such enthusiastic ambassadors and friends; to Nathan and Noemi for being refreshingly blunt (you inspire me); to my family all over the world for their unconditional love; to Larry and Annie for being there every single day for Thando; and to Thando herself (1980 - 2012), for her undying love and encouragement and finally to Bridget for loving me so wholeheartedly - you are the best!