The Witch of Babylon

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Credits

The Assyrian empire, seventh century B.C. (Dino Pulera, Artery Studios, Toronto)

The Royal Game of Ur (The Trustees of the British Museum)

Alchemy Archives website, masks from left to right (Ella’s Design, 2010, Used under license from Shutterstock.com; Arthur Tilley, 2010, Used under license from JupiterImages.com; Volk65, 2010, Used under license from Shutterstock.com; Rui Vale de Sousa, 2010, Used under license from Shutterstock.com; Studio 37, 2010, Used under license from Shutterstock.com)

Planetary symbols (Dino Pulera, Artery Studios, Toronto)

Stone panel from the southwest palace of Sennacherib (The Trustees of the British Museum)

Melencolia 1, Albrecht Durer (public domain, Wikipedia Images)

Woman of Babylon, Albrecht Durer (public domain, Wikipedia Images)

Ishtar’s eight-pointed star (Dino Pulera, Artery Studios, Toronto)

Atalanta Fugiens, Michael Maiers, p. 81 (University of Glasgow Library, Department of Special Collections)

Mushmahhu—The Snake Dragon (Dino Pulera, Artery Studios, Toronto)

Acknowledgments

Setting out to write The Witch seemed to me much like embarking on a journey, one I would take in my imagination, alone. What I discovered along the way was how false a notion that turned out to be. A book is the product of many people working together, and numerous welcome fellow travelers joined this journey as it gathered steam.

I’m immensely grateful to my literary agent, Denise Bukowski, whose superlative talents and international reach have made it all possible.

Much appreciation goes to Penguin Publisher Nicole Winstanley and Commissioning Editor Adrienne Kerr for that first exciting sale. Adrienne, you have been instrumental in shaping the book—thank you so much for your insight and great ideas.

It requires a very talented team to take a book from the early manuscript to the bookstore shelf and I’ve been really fortunate to work with some of the best in the business: Karen Alliston, Mary Ann Blair, Barbara Bower, Daniel Cullen, Marcia Gallego, Yvonne Hunter, Lindsey Lowy, Mary Opper, Lisa Jager, Don Robinson, and Katherine West.

I will never forget the thrill of learning that The Witch of Babylon was shortlisted for the Crime Writers Association (U.K.) Debut Dagger. That one milestone gave me the confidence to carry on and the professional support every debut author needs. Equally, my fellow writers who make up Crime Writers of Canada have been admirable tutors on the art and business of writing, as well as great friends. Winning the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Unpublished Novel was another memorable step in the journey.

My sister, Ellen, and daughter, Kenlyn, have been my steadfast anchors through both the peaks and the troughs. As well, many thanks to Stephen Mader and Dino Pulera of Artery Studios in Toronto for such excellent work in bringing the illustrations to life; to Robert Rafton for his photography; and to Helen Heller for her sage advice.

This novel is a work of fiction but one grounded in historical facts, and I’m indebted to Dr. Paul-Alain Beaulieu of the University of Toronto Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations for his help with ancient Assyrian culture and terminology.

It was, of course, impossible for me to do “research on the ground” in Iraq, so I’m very thankful to the many journalists, bloggers, and photographers whose first-hand accounts proved so valuable.

Special gratitude goes to my friends and colleagues who’ve been so generous with their support and lent a much-appreciated critical eye: Max Allen, Cathy Astolfo, Pat Armstrong, Jan Armstrong, Joanne Bernstein-Cohen, Liz Brady, Jane Burfield, Melanie Campbell, Donna Carrick, Vicki Delany, Ron Dixon, Cheryl Freedman, Joseph Glazner, Madeleine Harris-Callway, Peggy Hughson, Alan Lennon, Lee Lofland, Judy and Fred Martin, Nancy McQueen, Charlotte Morgan, Eudora and John Pendergast, Jan Raymond, Linda Smith, Christine Von Aesch, Basil, Rob and Caroline Wall, and Richard Wright. As this book went to press, I was most saddened to learn that Dr. Donny George Youkhanna had passed away and would like to recognize his remarkable contribution to illuminating and safeguarding the magnificent legacy that Iraq and the Assyrians have given to the world.

The Witch and I thank you all.

 PENGUIN CANADA

THE WITCH OF BABYLON D.J. (DOROTHY) McINTOSH is a former co-editor of the Crime Writers of Canada newsletter, Fingerprints. She divides her time between her cottage on the shores of Lake Huron and Toronto, where she indulges in two loves: live music and museums. She is a strong supporter of