This book would not have been possible without the support of a Creation Grant from artsnb (The New Brunswick Arts Board) in 2018.
It would have been less plausible without work on memory by such writers as Matthew Frise, Daniel Schachter, Greg O’Brien, Annette Markham, Lise Aagaard Knudsen, Ian Farr and the essayists he collected, Frances Yates, and even Montaigne.
Its fictions rely on the firm roots of genuine historical research and writing by such Charlotte County people as David Sullivan, Ronald and Diana Rees, Kenneth Leslie, Willa Walker, and John Gilman, as well as the many people who told me stories or pointed me somewhere when they found out I was writing a book set in St. Andrews. More general historical background on the Commonwealth Air Training program and the base at Pennfield Ridge was provided by F.J. Hatch and G. Chris Larsen. Every one of the many distortions of these diligent historical researches is my own.
What little understanding I may have been able to bring to what Penelope and Matt are going through is thanks to events of so-called real life.
Heartfelt thanks to Marc Côté for the wonderful opportunity of a Cormorant reunion, to the talented team of Sarah Cooper, Sarah Jensen, and Barry Jowett for nurturing this book through to publication, to Marijke Friesen for the stunning cover (by which I hope the book might be judged) and typesetting, and to Attila Burki and Gillian Rodgerson for their sharp eyes and excellent questions.
Finally, thanks to Sheila, always.