The Night Wanderer (28 page)

Acknowledgments

A
S WITH MOST literary creations, regardless of their origins or substance, books are seldom born in a vacuum or desert. Like alchemy, there are many different elements that go into the caldron to synthesize what you hold in your hands.

Therefore, there are many people I would like to thank who have offered me the ability to write a story such as this. Since Pierre L'Errant and Tiffany Hunter have been kicking around for almost fifteen years, its only fitting to go back to the beginning.
The Night Wanderer: A Native Gothic Novel
began as a play,
A Contemporary Gothic Indian Vampire Story,
commissioned by Young Peoples Theatre in Toronto and originally produced by Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon.

From there it lay dormant for a substantial period of time. I always felt it never really metamorphosed into what I had imagined. Perhaps even then I knew the story needed a bigger reality, a bigger universe to exist. Then Annick Press came knocking on my door about a different project. But you can't keep a good vampire down, it seems (or a good Ojibwa teenager, for that matter). Both Pierre and Tiffany raised their hands, saying, “Hey, what about us? Don't forget us!”

Fast-forward a year and I find myself sitting in the mountains, at Cabin #4 of the Leighton Studios at the Banff Centre for the Arts. If you ever get the chance, come here and write a book. You'll love it. No vampires and very few Ojibwas prowl these woods. The recommendor grant from the Ontario Arts Council also helped foster the creative process.

As for the actual compiling and creation of the book, there are several people who provided valuable research assistance. The success of this book is as much to their credit as it is to mine. First of all, Trish Warner, who provided me with various medical details. And Tara Redican, who gave me a good boost by providing some vital early research. A special and fabulous thank to Janine, who put as much heart and soul into this book as I did. This novel could not have been created without her patience and passion.

Speaking of passion and patience, a special thank you to my editors Barbara Pulling, Pam Robertson, and Heather Sangster, who helped to make me a better writer. I would also like to thank Anita Knott for her assistance with several of the Ojibwa phrases. And, of course, I offer a hearty thanks to my mother, who through the simple action of birth allowed me the opportunity to write this book. And to all the Anishinabe/Ojibwa people in the world.

And to a lesser extent, all the vampires in the world. You know who you are.

—
Drew Hayden Taylor

About the Author

D
REW HAYDEN TAYLOR is an author, columnist, filmmaker, lecturer and a playwright. He is a member of the Curve Lake First Nations in Central Ontario, and he writes about his world travels from the Aboriginal perspective and with a healthy dose of wit and humor. His acclaimed plays have been produced across North America and include
Someday, Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth
,
Girl Who Loved Her Horses,
and the award-winning
Toronto at Dreamer's Rock.
Taylor lives in his community of Curve Lake and travels extensively as writer in residence and lecturer.
The Night Wanderer
is his eighteenth book and his first novel for young people.

Visit his website at
www.drewhaydentaylor.com

© 2007 (print), © 2010 (ebook) Drew Hayden Taylor

Annick Press Ltd.

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We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund (CBF) and the Ontario Book Publishing Tax Credit (OBPTC) for our publishing activities.

Edited by Barbara Pulling and Pam Robertson
Copy edited by Heather Sangster
Proofread by Melissa Edwards
Interior design by Vancouver Desktop Publishing Centre
Cover photos: (owl) ©
istockphoto.com
/Cat London;
      (owl icon) © Irvin Cheung
Interior illustrations: © Irvin Cheung

eISBN 978-1-55451-320-8

Cataloguing in Publication
Taylor, Drew Hayden, 1962–
      The night wanderer : a native gothic novel / Drew Hayden Taylor.

ISBN 978-1-55451-100-6 (bound)
ISBN 978-1-55451-099-3 (pbk)

      I. Title.

PS8589.A885N53 2007      jC813'.54      C2007-901402-X

Visit our website at
www.annickpress.com

Visit Drew Hayden Taylor at
www.drewhaydentaylor.com