The Fandom Rising Page 24
I reach across the table and pull Alice into a hug, weeping into her cherry-blossom hair and whispering my thanks. She holds me tight, and I can tell she’s crying too. After a few minutes, she gently unpeels me from the embrace and fixes me in her inky-blue gaze. ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t write you a happier ending.’
My hand automatically lands on Nate’s shoulder. ‘It was happy enough,’ I reply.
Some endings are black. Some endings burst with colour. My ending, like the city in which I lost my darling Katie and left my one true love, sits in shades of grey.
Nate rests his hand on my own. ‘Come on. It’s time to give the power to the Fandom for real. Who wants to do the honours?’
‘We do it together,’ I reply.
I position the arrow and look hopefully at my three friends. One by one, they place an index finger over mine.
‘Go,’ I say. Together, we hit the publish button.
Something — a shadow or a distant laugh — pulls my gaze beyond the window and across the street to a solitary figure. His head is lowered and the passing traffic causes his shape to flicker in and out of view, but I recognise him all the same.
My heart soars. Laughter pushes from my lips and my body starts to shake as it floods with joy. Of course. The President crossed into our world; the tunnelling process works both ways. How did I not think of this before?
Nate gasps, following my gaze. ‘Is that . . . ?’ he asks.
But only as the figure raises his head, allowing a glimpse of those bluer than blue eyes do I dare to whisper, ‘Yes.’
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I have so many wonderful, supportive people to thank. Until I was published, I never realized quite how many people it takes to get a book on a shelf –
it really is a team effort. So, here goes . . .
My darling children, Elspeth and Charlie. You have filled my life with love, laughter and joy. You are the centre of my universe and I am blessed to be your mum.
Simon Rainbow. Words can’t express how happy I am to have you back in my life. Every day you amaze me with your love, kindness and inner strength. I didn’t even need to transdimensional tunnel to realize that ‘the one’ is not a thing of myths. Bonus! May we always be like peas and carrots, Sweetheart.
Mum and Dad. I really do have awesome parents. Dedicating this book to you seems like such a small gesture when compared to the love and support you have given me my entire life. Thanks, guys!
Before I thank this person, I feel I need full disclosure: her name should be on the front cover too! Kesia Lupo, you are a star. Thank you so much for helping shape my messy, amorphous ideas into a novel. You are always so lovely, helpful and supportive, and you always see things so clearly. I absolutely love writing with you, thank you.
Chicken House Publishers, you really are a little book family. Special thanks to Barry Cunningham, for always being so supportive and believing in me as a writer, and to Rachel Leyshon for her faith in Alice and my ability to do her justice on the page. Huge thanks to Jazz Bartlett for her amazing publicity ideas and her sheer Fandom-enthusiasm, and a big thank you to Fraser Crichton, who I think may have a small planet for a brain; respect for understanding this plot better than me! And finally, huge thanks to Elinor Bagenal, who I maintain is a magical book-selling wizard – thank you so much for all your hard work both with The Fandom and The Fandom Rising; my writing has been translated into more languages and sold in more countries than I ever dared dream. Helen Crawford-White and Rachel Hickman, your covers are just beautiful, thank you so much for creating not one, but two, stunning book jackets.
My lovely readers, not just for all your advice and support, but for being such fantastic people: Isobel Yates, Heather Thompson, Jenny Hargreaves, Helen Spencer, Shanna Hughes, Lucy Fisher, Gill and Len Waterworth (aka Mum and Dad). And to Liam Gormley, for reading an early draft and reassuring me it was worth persevering.
The Big idea and the Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction competitions. Both of these competitions have enabled me to fulfil my dream. And thank you to Angela McCann for coming up with such a great concept for The Fandom, without which this book would not exist — I really hope you enjoy this sequel.
Over the past couple of years I’ve made some lovely writer friends; the writing community has been so welcoming and supportive. Thank you to all the wonderful authors, librarians and booksellers who have supported me. An extra big shout out to Melinda Salisbury, who I like to think of as Fandom’s godmother, and to Shanna and N. J. Simmonds for their constant support and enthusiasm.
I wish I could thank every blogger here who has supported The Fandom, please know that just because I haven’t mentioned you by name doesn’t mean you aren’t hugely appreciated. Across the globe, you have given your time, enthusiasm and support for zero fee, and I am so extremely grateful to you all. Thank you so much. Special shout out to the Northern Book Bloggers – thank you so much for your general awesomeness!
The foreign publishing houses and all the lovely people I’ve worked with over the past couple of years. I wish I could thank you all by name – please know that you have all helped build my confidence and courage to continue the Fandom story.
My fantastic niblings – Isobel, James, George and Alice Yates. You never fail to put a smile on my face. And a big thank you to Dr Dave Yates and Dr Helen Yates (aka sis) for their consultation around hospital and medical issues, and to Len Waterworth (aka Dad) and Alan Gronner, my lovely uncle, for their computer know-how.
And a final big thank you for reading this far, you’ve definitely earned a cup of tea!
Published by Scholastic Australia Pty Ltd
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Sydney • Auckland • New York • Toronto • London • Mexico City
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First edition published by Chicken House, 2019.
This electronic edition published by Scholastic Australia Pty Ltd, 2019
E-PUB/MOBI eISBN: 978-1-74383-468-8
Text © Anna Day 2019
From an original idea by Angela McCann
© The Big Idea Competition Limited
Cover and interior design by Helen Crawford-White
Barbed wire © Karina Vegas/Arcangel
Anna Day asserts her moral rights as the author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher, unless specifically permitted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 as amended.