Thank you to my siblings and their partners for all their support: Nandia and Mike; Shaun; and Nandini and Robert.
To my wonderful friends: Cathy; Colleen; Lori; Nancy; Sandy, Ellen and Tammy; and Carol.
To my Daysland school teachers: Mrs. Tylosky, who set me on this path in grade two, and Mrs. McCarroll, who made me feel the power of words.
To my editor Michael Kenyon, who said the words every writer wants to hear: “my changes are only suggestions.” Thank you for the fantastic suggestions, Michael. You made this work stronger.
To my mentor Margaret Macpherson, who took a piece of me and helped me finesse it into something of which I am proud. And to the Writers’ Guild of Alberta, who brilliantly paired me with Margaret through their mentorship program.
To the wonderful people at Thistledown Press who gave me words of encouragement when I needed them the most and guidance through this sometimes daunting process.