ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Versions of these stories appeared in: The Fiddlehead; PRISM international; Grain; The Dalhousie Review; Event; Beloit Fiction Journal; and Coming Attractions 12. I thank the editors of these fine publications for their support.

I am indebted to the dynamic power-pack of Matt Bowes and Claire Kelly, and to Paul Matwychuk, Kate Hargreaves and everyone at NeWest Press for trusting in this book and crafting it into being. Additional thanks to my editor, the effervescent and ever-honest Nicole Markotić, whose critical eye is as sharp as it is kind.

Many thanks to Mark Anthony Jarman for his indelible faith, being the first to believe in these stories; I owe him a cold one. To Zsuzsi Gartner for the Tlell Fall Fair conversation that turned a manuscript into a book and a lucky meeting into friendship; I owe her as well. And to Julie Paul and Sarah Selecky for excellence in path-pointing in the early days, in living rooms and coffee shops, on candled staircases, and beyond.

A group of immeasurably talented people deserve special mention: Matthew Miller, Caite Dheere, David Stewart, Holly Romanow, Frankie Blake, Danielle Janess, Barbara Campbell, Shelley Turner, Noah and Anouk. They are generous and wise scaffolders, and without their friendship this book wouldn’t exist. I hold each of them close to my heart. Extra thanks to Caite for her breathtaking, collaborative artwork: one encaustic painting for each story in this collection. I am honoured.

A deep well of appreciation to Stephanie Jeffries for teaching me how to literarily run a marathon; to Dave “Monster” Hornsey for the socks (both pairs) and the stranger-than-fiction inspiration; and to Rod Deacon, the best of friends, for everything else. Wherever you are, Rod, I know you are the biggest champion, a constant guardian, and the most excellent wisecracker in the joint. We miss you.

I also owe a great deal to: Ron, Julie, Clark, Marg, Elaine, Keith, Zander, Hannah, Matt, Meesh, Sam, James, and Tim. I could not engineer a more supportive family if I tried. Thank you to my amazing children, Kenzie and Marlon, for being the inspiration in my life, the reason I strive to do more, and for withstanding extensive ridiculousness at the keyboard. They make me proud, every day, in ways I cannot measure.

And finally, I am eternally grateful to my astonishing and beautiful wife, Maria “Manasweetie” Wilkie. Hers were the first and last eyes on everything in this book and her spontaneous wit, journalistic instinct, and scope of knowledge make me appear much wiser than I actually am. Her strength is a bonfire for everyone around her, especially me. She is the love of my life. She takes me weird ways.