for Jane Yolen who showed me how to touch magic and pass it on
The Ivory and the Horn
FATHER, O FATHER, WHAT DO WE HERE
IN THIS LAND OF UNBELIEF AND FEAR
THE LAND OF DREAMS IS BETTER FAR,
ABOVE THE LIGHT OF THE MORNING STAR.
WE ARE ALL IN THE GUTTER, BUT SOME OF US ARE LOOKING AT THE STARS.
Grateful acknowledgments
are made to:
Happy Rhodes for the use of the lines from 'Words Weren't Made for Cowards' from her album
Kiya Heartwood for the use of a verse of 'Wishing Well' from her album
Copyright Acknowledgments
'Waifs and Strays' first appeared in Journeys to the
'Mr. Truepenny's Book Emporium and Gallery' was first published by Cheap Street, 1992. Copyright © 1992 by Charles de Lint.
'The Forest Is Crying' first appeared in
'The Wishing Well' was first published by Axolotl Press, 1993. Copyright © 1993 by Charles de Lint.
'Dead Man's Shoes' first appeared in
'Bird Bones and Wood Ash' is original to this collection.
'A Tempest in Her Eyes' first appeared in
'Saxophone Joe and the Woman in Black' first appeared in
'The Bone Woman' was first published by Triskell Press, 1992. Copyright © 1992 by Charles de Lint.
'Pal o' Mine' first appeared in Christmas Forever, edited by David G. Hartwell; Tot Books, 1993. Copyright © 1993 by Charles de Lint.
'Where Desert Spirits Crowd the Night' first appeared in
'Dream Harder, Dream True' first appeared in
'The Pochade Box' first appeared in
'Coyote Stories' was first published by Triskell Press, 1993. Copyright © 1993 by Charles de Lint.
'The Forever Trees' first appeared in
Acknowledgements
As anyone involved knows, contrary to the belief that artists create in the isolation of their workspaces, the act of creation is not a solitary endeavor. Without the inspiration and support I've received over the years, these stories wouldn't exist, so this time out I'd like to thank:
My wife; MaryAnn, for her help in the genesis of many of these stories and in their fine-tuning, always knowing when and where to say the right thing;
My editors at Tor, Terri Windling, Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Donald G. Keller and Greg Cox, for having enough faith in these stories to request a second volume sight unseen, and for making the publishing process so painless;
My agent, Richard Curtis, for finding me the spaces between novels when I could write these stories;
Altan, Tori Amos, Sarah Bauhan, Lisa Germano, Kiya Heartwood, Maria Kalaniemi, Peter Kater, Jon Mark, R. Carlos Nakai, Johnette Napolitano, Happy Rhodes and Ian Tamblyn, whose music keeps me sane;
All those editors who first asked for the stories collected herein: Kurt Busiak, Richard Chizmar, Pete Crowther, Bob Garcia, Marty Greenberg, David Hartwell, Kit Kerr, Greg Ketter, Andre Norton, John and George O' Nale, Kris Rusch, Darrell Schweitzer, Erik Secker, Carol Serling and Dean Smith.
A few notes concerning individual stories:
In 'The Bone Woman,' the idea of
In 'Where Desert Spirits Crowd the Night' the story of Coyote and the Buzzard is based upon traditional Kickapoo folk lore.
'The Wishing Well' was written for MaryAnn, who wanted to know what was in the well, and for Jane Siberry, for her own 'strange well' of songs. Special thanks to Dr. Sean Costello (a fine author in his own right) for technical advice.
— Charles de Lint
Ottawa, Canada
Waifs and Strays
Do I have to prod;
Reach into your chest
And pull your feelings out?
