I would like to thank Bill Manhire, Fiona Wright, Tusiata Avia, Cliff Fell, Laura Kroetsch, Jane Hurley, Samara McDowell, John Sinclair, Anna Livesey, Rebecca Lovell-Smith, Hinemoana Baker, Harriet Allan, Fergus Barrowman, Catherine Chidgey and Anna Rogers. Special thanks to Peter Whiteford for all his help with this collection; it was much appreciated. Thanks also to Mark Bradley, Sally Borrell, James Cleland and Nicki Reed for their friendship and encouragement and to Hannah, Amy and Bri for being fantastic flatmates. I would also like to acknowledge the support given to me by my family; in particular Rosemary DuPlessis, Geoff Fougere, Tonia Novitz, Phil Syrpis, Shelia McClareen, Janet DuPlessis, Clare Simpson, Jim Marshall and Khris and Abanti Mahanty.
Earlier versions of several stories in this collection have previously appeared in issues of Sport and JAAM. I am grateful to the editors of those publications.