The Sasquatch Hunter's Almanac (44 page)

I'm also hugely indebted to my sister-in-law, Astrid Vidalón Shields, and to my mom, the best grandma in the world, for watching my kids with so much love and care despite their own busy schedules, and for being there for me emotionally when things got weird (my MS diagnosis). Friends and family, including the Conways, Rupperts, Tenolds, Yahnes, Sonia Gustafson, Aileen Luppert, Linda Carlson, DarAnne Dunning and Corbin Schwanke, Sorensons, Zoeanna Mayhook, Colin Manikoth and Amber Williams, Gayle and Greg, Roewes, Welckers, Greiners, J. Robert Lennon, Jason Johnson and Liz Rognes, McLains, Lisa Heyamoto and Todd Milbourn, Suzanne Mulvey, Katie Thompson, Elaine Madigan, Debby and Jesse Mills, Jon Mills, Jeremy Smith and Crissie McMullan, J.P. and Astrid, Dad and Mom (and probably scores of others I'm forgetting to mention here), all brought food, cared for my kids, played host and/or hostess, walked with me in my first MS walk, and, most importantly, gave verbal support when health issues became overwhelming. Thank you to countless others who sent kind messages and good wishes my way. Thank you to my dad for answering questions about rifles and Mount Saint Helens, and to David Renwick for fielding inquiries regarding Super 8mm film processing. I also want to give a shout-out to stellar literary organizations like Humanities Washington, Autumn House Press (and Michael Simms), Artist Trust, Washington Library Association, Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association, and Late Night Library (and Paul Martone), who all do an awesome job of getting debut authors recognized.

It's a good idea to marry your best friend or your best editor, and I managed to do both. Sam: I LOVE YOU. It's amazing to have such a fearless partner; you make me a better writer, a better mom, a better person.

And to my young children, Henry and Louise: You are the first thought in my mind, always and forever. Mommy loves you kids so much.

 

A
LSO BY
S
HARMA
S
HIELDS

Favorite Monster

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

S
HARMA
S
HIELDS
holds a BA in English literature from the University of Washington and an MFA from the University of Montana. She is the author of the short story collection
Favorite Monster
and the winner of the 2011 Autumn House Fiction Prize. Her work has appeared widely in such literary journals as
The Kenyon Review
and
The Iowa Review
and has garnered numerous awards, including the Tim McGinnis Award for Humor and a grant from Artist Trust. Shields has worked in independent bookstores and public libraries throughout Washington State and now lives in Spokane with her husband and children.

 

 

THE SASQUATCH HUNTER'S ALMANAC

COPYRIGHT © 2015 SHARMA SHIELDS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

FOR INFORMATION, ADDRESS HENRY HOLT AND CO.,

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EBOOKS MAY BE PURCHASED FOR BUSINESS OR PROMOTIONAL USE. FOR INFORMATION ON BULK PURCHASES, PLEASE CONTACT MACMILLAN CORPORATE AND PREMIUM SALES DEPARTMENT BY WRITING TO [email protected].

THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS HAS CATALOGED THE PRINT EDITION AS FOLLOWS:

SHIELDS, SHARMA.

    
THE SASQUATCH HUNTER'S ALMANAC: A NOVEL / SHARMA SHIELDS.—FIRST EDITION.

            
PAGES ; CM

    
ISBN 978-1-62779-199-1 (SOFTCOVER)—ISBN 978-1-62779-200-4 (EBOOK) 1. CONFLICT OF GENERATIONS—FICTION. 2. SASQUATCH—FICTION. 3. ANIMALS, MYTHICAL—FICTION. 4. DOMESTIC FICTION. I. TITLE.

    
PS3619.H5429S27 2015

    
813'.6—DC23

2014020085

FIRST EDITION: JANUARY 2015