Karen Baker at the National Railway Museum in York helped me visualize the interiors of railway carriages in 1940.
Matthew McMurray, archivist of the WRVS (formerly Women’s Royal Voluntary Service, and, before that, Women’s Voluntary Service), for his cheerful help in tracking down two of the photos and gaining copyright permission, not to mention answering the awkward question, what color was that Hartnell-designed uniform, exactly? I still can’t believe it’s really green.
The first draft of this book was written almost entirely in my favorite corner of the newly-opened Starbucks in Statesboro in fall, 2006, during my unpaid, self-funded sabbatical. The cheerful baristas diligently kept me caffeinated, and guarded my laptop when I had to go to the loo, which was often, thanks to my drinking too much of the coffee they made. They also supplied me with invaluable consultancy on the vocabulary and behavior of my young characters, and even helped me choreograph scenes so I could be certain that they were physically possible. Most importantly, they cheered me on. What lovely young people you are. Thanks to all of you: Alli, Anna, Ashley, Billy, Chelsy, Drew (1), Drew (2), Emmy, Hayley, Jeff, Jessica (1), Jessica (2), Kathy, Katie, Margo, Michael (1), Michael (2), Miranda, Neal, Q., Raquiyah, Sean, Shay, Stevie, Tovah, and Tina.
Thanks especially to Jessica Richard, a student barista and martial arts trainer, who helped me to understand how kids are taught to use martial arts against adult attackers, and who suggested all the forms of attack that the kids used in rushing to Mrs. D’s defense.
I owe an enormous debt of gratitude and affection to the college students who have participated in TimeShop: Wartime England. I thought TimeShop was a daft idea that I just had to get out of my system before I could return to my more “serious” projects as an historian. How silly. TimeShop turned into the most profound and memorable experience of my career, and it was you who made it so. Thank you, TimeShop Team, past and present, for your hard work, enthusiasm, and incredible loyalty. I am so proud of you all. Adam, Aisha, Alexis, Amanda, Angelica, Ashley, Beth, Brandon, Carla, Carmen, Caroline, Christine, Danielle, Don, Eboni, Edward, Heather, Jackie, Jessica (1), Jessica (2), Josh, Karen, Katie, Kim, Kristin, Lauren (1), Lauren (2), Leila, Lelia, Liz, Mark, Martin, Mary (1), Mary (2) Megan, Melanie, Nick, Niki, Noel, Paul, Paulette, Quintel, Reid, Nicole, Shane, Sheridan, Tameka, Tracy, and Vivien.
And thank you, TimeShop kids, for your giddy embrace of our program. You have been an inspiration. There are too many of you to name, but you know who you are.
I owe a huge debt to all who made my sentimental journey back to England this winter such an emotional and pleasurable experience—and thank you all for your part in making my entire life such an adventure. Cheers to Alan, Angela, Mrs. C., Colin, Heather, John (1), John (2), Joyce, Karen, Katy, and Mrs. S. (who demonstrated magnificently during my visit why she remains one of the most extraordinary and influential characters in my life, whether she likes me saying that or not.) Thanks also to all the many kind strangers who became new friends.
I am very grateful to the kids and adults of all ages on both sides of the Atlantic who read and commented on various drafts. Many thanks to the following: Merritt Skidmore-Hess, Ken and Gloria Skidmore, Alec Ogihara, Lauren English, Megan and Summer Taylor, Tovah Shoup, Ashley Stevens, Cate Godley, Ryan Daigneault, Jack and Joyce Howard, Ellie and Miriam Bryant, Christopher Stephens, Jane Hall, Mary Hadley, Kimber Queen, Bethany Caliaro, Roz Goodson, Loretta Brandon, Sharon McMullen, Joanne Newland, Kristin Marzec, Katie Glorieux, Fielding Keeley, Breanne Dykes, Joyce Harper, Angela Hepworth, Deborah Harvey, Hannah Salway, Katy Gardner, and Brandy Baird.
I didn’t expect to work on this book in a hospital bed, but there you go. A pulmonary embolism in February 2007 was a dramatic reminder to value every moment and every friend. This episode also made it all the more important to me to see this book into print at the earliest opportunity. Thanks to Drs. Branch, Purves, Jain, Harrison, and Cichelli, and the overworked nursing staff at East Georgia Regional Medical Center, for caring for me during the enforced extension of my sabbatical.
The splendid cover design is by my friend and fellow ex-Californian Deborah Harvey. The layout and prep were expertly executed by my friend and former student, Kelley Callaway, who I am sure never expected that I would want to make quite so many changes in the final stages. Ahem. The able and cheery staff of the Eagle Print Shop, led by the lovely Brenda Aytes and Gloria Joiner, printed the innumerable copies of the manuscript that were delivered to readers. Joanne Newland and kids at Sallie Zetterower Elementary gave me lots of great feedback on the cover. Who knew there were so many talented and cool people in a small town in Georgia? I did. Kudos, guys.
In particular, I want to thank three dear friends and colleagues for their encouragement, support, and brilliantly creative ideas, which they shared with me over everything from burritos to cheesecake, not to mention the odd glass of wine. As ever, they got me out of several fixes. I especially appreciated their urging me, in the words of one of them, “not to worry about the P.C. people.” You’re right: The past is not politically correct. I send love and gratitude to Michelle Haberland, Laura Shelton, and Cathy Skidmore-Hess, all fine historians and strong women of character.
Finally, much love and thanks to my ever-patient husband Bryan and my ever-impatient son, Alec. My boys—Whatever would I do without them?
A.L.
P.S. It turns out that there is a Snipesville in south Georgia, something I learned only after the book was written! The real Snipesville is a hamlet near Hazlehurst, and it has nothing to do with the fictional college town depicted in this novel. It goes to show that no matter how silly the material that I dream up, Georgia is always one step ahead of me, bless its heart.
The Snipesville Chronicles
Did you enjoy this story? Would you like to read more about Alex, Brandon, Hannah, the Professor, and their journeys into British and American history?
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Schools, libraries, bookstores: Would you like me to visit and give a talk, or read from Don’t Know Where, Don’t Know When in my funky British accent? Get in touch via AnnetteLaing.com. I will bring genuine artifacts from wartime England for everyone to see and handle. If you’re within driving distance, I’ll come for free if I can. If you’re further away, I’ll come for food, hotel, and gas money or airfare (I don’t demand five star resorts or limousines, by the way.) Visit AnnetteLaing.com for details and to enquire about my availability.
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A.L.
Annette Laing was born in Scotland and raised in southern England. She spent 14 years in California, where she earned a Ph.D. in early American and British history at the University of California, Riverside, before taking an academic position at a university in Georgia in 1996. Annette is a published scholar of early America and the Atlantic World, and the creator of TimeShop, an immersive history program for
children. Annette lives with her husband and son in Southeast Georgia. This is her first novel.
1 This is the lone footnote. I owe the Professor’s discussion of Dame Irene Ward in the Prologue to Christine Hamilton’s Bumper Book of British Battleaxes (London, Robson Books, 1997), 160-163. Great book, by the way, although (listen up, Mrs. Hamilton) if there’s a sequel, I would like to see more of the good-hearted battleaxes like Dame Irene and Bessie Braddock, rather than the mean-spirited sort, whom I decline to name. So much more inspiring.
Table of Contents
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Don't Know Where, Don't Know When (The Snipesville Chronicles Book 1) Page 29