The Doryman (18 page)

Acknowledgements

This book came about because of the participation of many people. First of all, I wish to offer my deepest thanks to my husband Paul Butler. It is no exaggeration to say that without Paul's encouragement and input this book would not exist.

Thanks are also due to Garry Cranford, Margo Cranford, Jerry Cranford, and everyone at Flanker Press for their keen interest, and unflagging dedication and professionalism; my cousins Colleen Hanrahan, John Abbott, Art and Janice Cheeseman, Anne Spollen, and especially my aunt Jean Hanrahan.

I am deeply grateful to my uncle, Vince Hanrahan, who was story consultant on this manuscript; my late cousins Jim, Steve, and Jerry Abbott; my late father, Patrick; my late aunt Monnie Cheeseman; my late aunt Elizabeth Bruce; and my aunt Bride Piazza; all of whom brought Richard, Steve, Elizabeth, and the rest of the family so vividly into my life for many years through their reminiscences and stories.

I am particularly indebted to my late great-aunt Rachel Hanrahan Abbott and my late grandmother Angela Manning Hanrahan. It was my privilege to hear first-hand from these spirited women the stories of their lives, stories that reached into the 1890s.

I also owe a debt of gratitude and much inspiration to several Newfoundland writers: Cassie Brown, author of
Death on the Ice
and
Standing Into Danger
; the compilers of the
Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador
and the
Dictionary of Newfoundland English
; Otto Kelland, author of
Dories and Dorymen
and the hauntingly beautiful hymn, “Let Me Fish Off Cape St. Mary's”; Dr. Leslie Harris, author of
Growing Up with Verse
:
A Child's Life in Gallows Harbour
and a number of lovingly written articles on Placentia Bay; Percy Janes, author of one of Newfoundland's greatest novels,
House of Hate
; and meteorologist Bruce Whiffen for his fine series of articles on the weather of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Last but not least, I would like to thank the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council, and Word on the Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Maura Hanrahan is the award-winning author of nine books, including Domino: The Eskimo Coast Disaster, Tsunami: The Newfoundland Tidal Wave Disaster—a Canadian Bestseller—and the East Coast favourite, The Doryman. She works as an independent anthropologist on Aboriginal issues throughout Canada. From St. John's, she co-owns HB Creativity, a full-service research and writing company. Maura has a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics.