AVERIL ROBERTSON

When I say I love books, I mean the whole book. For me, that includes the acknowledgements from the author. I always read them. And while some are a fairly dry laundry list of people significant to the book’s production, and kind words towards the author’s family, many these days are an opportunity for us to get to know – just a little – the person behind the book we have just finished reading. And I am a total sucker for the story behind the story.

Some authors offer the origin story for their book: what led them to write what they did. Some authors use the space to get political, or to present facts and figures relating to the fictional scenario they portrayed. Some authors speak directly to us, their readers, thanking us for choosing their work. Most authors thank the book production team, from the commissioning editor who took on their work through to the proofreader and marketing team. Nearly everyone thanks their family and close friends, and whoever acted as a sounding board for their book.

The best acknowledgements are the ones that show the author’s personality and writing journey at full strength. Kylie Orr’s acknowledgements in The Eleventh Floor made me laugh but also saddened me (she writes of trauma and the difficulties facing new mums). Anna Downes’ acknowledgements in The Shadow House gave us insight into how hard it was for her to write amid covid lockdowns and all the trauma that came (and still comes) with that time. Kiwi writer Gavin Strawhan in The Call name-dropped ‘Jacinda and Ash’ as though they’re all besties, and not a writer thanking the Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Sir Ashley Bloomfield for throwing New Zealand into lockdown, which gave Gav the time to write. 

One stand-out topic that’s nearly always present is the mention of who gave the author the confidence they needed to write in the first place, and/or to keep going when they hit hurdles. In this sense, author acknowledgements are often a list of how many people it took to convince the author to keep writing every time they wanted to quit because it was too hard (and reader, it is really, really hard). All writers need those people. But we all also need to remember to be that for ourselves. To have the confidence to keep trying. Author acknowledgements are therefore not just the opportunity for the author to thank those around them, but also to congratulate themselves for pushing through. For keeping going. In other words, acknowledgements are a big kia kaha (stay strong) to all of us trying to do this writing thing.