Grows That Way (17 page)

Acknowledgments

I would not be able to pursue my passions of writing and riding without the support and encouragement of a community of people, at the core of which are my family and friends.

Thank you to Randal Macnair and Christa Moffat at Oolichan Books, and to my wonderful editor, Alison Acheson. What a pleasure it is to work with nice people.

I am very grateful to the young women with Turner Syndrome and their families, for sharing with me, either directly or so candidly on their blogs and YouTube.

For information about the sasquatch I am indebted to
The Discovery of the Sasquatch: Reconciling Culture, History, and Science in the Discovery Process
by John A. Bindernagel. 2010. Beachcomber Books, Courtenay, British Columbia.

Thank you to the readers of early drafts: Anna Elvidge, Seiko Marton and Kim McCarley.

There are many people who have assisted me over the years in my adventures with horsemanship. Thanks to Dave Bowron and Pat Bowron for starting me off, and finding that essential first great horse for me. Thanks to Norah Ross for honing my jumping skills. Thanks to Ralph Mortimer for showing me there's a whole other way to ride. Thanks to Gina Allen for keeping me straight in the saddle. Thanks to Alexi Buffalo for help with the barrel horse. Thanks to Pam Asheton for reminding me of some magic.

Thanks to Michael Collins at The Broken Spoke Bicycle Shop for strategies on transforming Pinky.

Thanks to Isobel Springett for another wonderful cover photo, and to Baylee Kivela and her pony, Elodon McCrae, for being such willing and truly perfect participants in the photoshoot.

Thank you, Cassie Hobenshield, for allowing me to borrow Dudette.

Thanks to Lollipop and Huckles, for ensuring I get my butt out of my garret and down to the barn.

Thank you, Shadow. (He knows why.)

And Mike, thank you for tolerating the clutter, for bringing me coffee just the way I like it, listening carefully to draft after draft, and laughing in the right places.

Enjoy the funny misadventures of the dauntless Sylvia in the first two books in the
Born That Way
series.

“I love Susan's tone - there's lots of angst, but no self-pity, lots of humor…the love and respect for horses is actually rather overwhelming. We should all thank Cloudy, Lollipop and the other equines that inspired; it's a rather unique YA text.”

~ Kieran Kealy, Professor Children's Literature, UBC

Susan Ketchen was born and raised on Vancouver Island. She has successfully pursued an alarming number of educational paths and professional careers, including over a decade in the field of marriage and family therapy.

She can sometimes be found out standing in her field, and always on the web at
www.susanketchen.ca
.