Andy Watt never gave up on me, though I believe I stretched his patience to its limit. As my first reader, he was both kind and truthful, the best help possible.
Susan Brown, without whose reading of — and subsequent enthusiasm for — the first draft of the manuscript, I might have given up, and whose comments were invaluable during the re-drafting the novel: thank you.
Librarians and archivists are the hidden help in the writing process. Between the archivists at both the Yukon Archives & the National Library, I was kept supplied with newspaper microfiche for a year. Jennifer Stephens at the Yukon Public Library, Whitehorse Branch, and Susan Hoffman at the Kitchener Public Library helped with particular questions.
Anne Knittle, Bernadette Bryans, Nancy Zettell-Pope, and Jerry and Loretta Zettell liberally shared their stories, and their home-town knowledge. Patrick, Jim, Jackie and Jerry, and Daniel and John, and the Watts remained fans even when there was nothing to get excited about. Marion Thompson, Sarah Beck, Wendy Smith and Penny Steele have walked with me through all drafts of the novel, and have kept me steady through life’s ordinary and extraordinary events. Laura McLauchlan, Bonnie Thompson, Danny Robinson, Jerome Stueart, Jane Isakson, Russell Colman, Ruth Schneider, Brigitta Buehlmann, Duncan and Chrissie MacEachern, and Kathy Zinger: constant. John Roberts and Fenella Nicholson kept me attached to my garden even when I couldn’t be in it. During several long Cape Breton winters, Bill Nicholson skated with me in Baddeck most Friday mornings. For helping me to keep my heart on the ice: thank you, Bill. The St. Ann’s Bay Book Group, intelligent readers all, sustained me. Tunnel Inn and music consultant: David Papazian. One snowy February afternoon, Carol Kennedy and Deanie Cox shared deeply personal and honest memories of young womanhood. Alistair Watt shared his musing on his 1966 Valiant. Gil Levine and Brian Williamson shared their knowledge of unions. Playwright Bev Brett talked to me about dialogue.
Karen Haughian’s advice throughout has been sage and kind. There would be no book without you. Thank you.
Unless otherwise noted, all newspaper reports are from the Kitchener-Waterloo Record: January 1970 — December 1970. Bobby Orr: My Game (Little, Brown and Company, 1974) by Bobby Orr with Mark Mulvoy was an invaluable resource. I read Searching for Bobby Orr (Knopf Canada, 2006) by Stephen Brunt after I had finished a draft of my novel, which was then called, The Bobby Orr Guide to Becoming a Woman. It proved a wonderful read, and helped me fill out my portrait of Bobby Orr, and to more clearly understand just how complicated a man Bobby remains, and how good a skater and hockey player he was. Proud Past, Bright Future (Stoddart Publishing Co. Limited, 1994) by Brian McFarlane showed that despite this book’s stance, women have played hockey for as long as hockey has been played. I came late to hockey through MAMMAH (Middle-aged Menopausal Mothers Attempt Hockey). All of my teammates inspired me, but special thanks to Heather, Jan, Barbara, and Robin. Although I never did learn how to twirl, Baton Twirling: The Fundamentals of an Art and a Skill (Charles E. Tuttle Company, 1964) by Constance Atwater provided useful information. Sections of Tim Ralfe’s Just Watch Me interview with Pierre Trudeau were taken from Quebec 70: A Documentary Narrative, John Saywell, Toronto University Press, 1971.
I am privileged to live in the community of St. Ann’s Bay in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Through the writing and rewriting of The Checkout Girl, I was encouraged at every step by friends, neighbours and acquaintances. I thank each and every one who said a kind word. I needed them all.
Historical incidents and persons are as accurate as newspaper reports allow, and I beg forgiveness for any errors, or any liberties I may have taken. All other persons and incidents are pure fiction.