Page 112 - Song Maps - A New System to Write Your Best Lyrics - Simon Hawkins

THANK YOUS
I wish I could mention everyone who has helped me on my journey writing this book, but there simply isn't space. Without a doubt, my incredibly supportive family in England and my 80 wonderful co-writers from all over the world deserve to be listed here.
Special thanks to my wife Sandra, who is not only an amazing wife, mother, and teacher of my three beautiful children, but also a never- ending source of encouragement and common sense. She comes up with the best song ideas (I am not kidding). I wish I could write a book about how she does that.
Thanks to my children, who are an inspiration to me in so many ways they will never realize–to Poppy, who came up with the term "Song Maps" before I did (you are so much more of an author than I am). Monty, who can feel deeply the power of a big ballad like no other 11 year old I know (you have so much music in you). And to Barty, the only 7-year old I know who can rock the Vatican in Rome with his rendition of Figaro (but based on how much practice you get at home, my beautiful boy, I'm not surprised).
Thanks to my mother, Molly Hawkins, who was my #1 fan before I knew what fans were. And to my late father, Norman Hawkins, who I know would love to have read this book. He would be very happy that the songs he brought home from the US all those years ago inspired me to do anything like this.
Thanks to Sue C Smith and Holly Zabka for signing me to my first staff publishing deal in Nashville at Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing (now Universal/Capitol CMG Publishing). I am so grateful to you. Much of this book is down to the journey on which you helped me take the first few steps.
Thanks also to my wonderful co-writers (I still learn so much from each song we write) and extended family in Nashville and at WAJ, who were guinea pigs for much of the material presented in this book in my Lyric Strategies class. You have given back so much more than you know.
Thanks to Pat Pattison and Andrea Stolpe at Berklee Music School, without whom I would never have gotten signed as a staff songwriter in the first place.
Finally, special thanks also to my exceptional editor Harry Althoff and brilliant designer Ida Fia Sveningsson, who have both been fabulous to work with. Thanks too to Mike Bryant, who has been a brilliant writing buddy. Also, thanks to Chandler, Ramy, Emily and Sean and the rest of my new family at SPS.
Thank you. You are all genuinely awesome people.