Pallbearing
Page 18
Many friends and colleagues have helped me with my writing over the years, either by asking how it was going or giving me advice when needed. I thank them all, and would especially like to thank Linda Pruessen, who guided me through the early years of my publishing career, and then the transition to writing, and who also provided copy edits on this book; Janice Zawerbny, who provided advice early on and helped select and improve the stories in this collection; and Jonny Peterson, whose work ethic inspired my own, and who also provided me space in which to work.
And many thanks go to my family. My mom, Edna Melgaard, has been a source of support for my entire life. My partner, Daniella Balabuk, is my first reader. She improved each story before I sent it out, and has saved me much grief by killing my bad ideas before they get out the door. And our kids, Eliot and Charlie. Thank you all.
MICHAEL MELGAARD is a writer and editor based in Toronto. His fiction has appeared in Joyland, the Puritan, and Bad Nudes, among other publications. He has written articles and criticism for the Millions, Torontoist, and Canadian Notes & Queries. Pallbearing is his first book.
HOUSE OF ANANSI PRESS was founded in 1967 with a mandate to publish Canadian-authored books, a mandate that continues to this day even as the list has branched out to include internationally acclaimed thinkers and writers. The press immediately gained attention for significant titles by notable writers such as Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, George Grant, and Northrop Frye. Since then, Anansi’s commitment to finding, publishing and promoting challenging, excellent writing has won it tremendous acclaim and solid staying power. Today Anansi is Canada’s pre-eminent independent press, and home to nationally and internationally bestselling and acclaimed authors such as Gil Adamson, Margaret Atwood, Ken Babstock, Peter Behrens, Rawi Hage, Misha Glenny, Jim Harrison, A. L. Kennedy, Pasha Malla, Lisa Moore, A. F. Moritz, Eric Siblin, Karen Solie, and Ronald Wright. Anansi is also proud to publish the award-winning nonfiction series The CBC Massey Lectures. In 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2011 Anansi was honoured by the Canadian Booksellers Association as “Publisher of the Year.