Rayne Makin was born and raised in Lethbridge, and her family loves hockey.
“We grew up loving the Calgary Flames and the Toronto Maple Leafs. My whole life was going to games, whether it was the Lethbridge Hurricanes games or going to NHL games,” says Makin.
Makin’s first book, Hockey Is My Favourite Season, is being launched this summer.
It’s a rhyming picture book for ages zero to four, which was inspired by Makin’s daughter, her family’s life around the rink and the idea, “even the littlest fans can have the biggest dreams.”
Makin notes the book follows a little girl who cheers from the stands and imagines lacing up her own skates one day. “More than anything, it’s about representation and helping young girls feel like there’s space for them in the sport right from the start.”
Although currently based in Seattle, WA, Makin still calls Lethbridge home and visits her family for part of the year. Makin’s husband coaches in the WHL for the Seattle Thunderbirds.
“I was trying to capture that early love of the game before the skates even go on, before they even realize there’s potential ahead of them,” adds Makin.
According to Makin, her soon-to-be two-year-old daughter, loves going to hockey games. “Whenever we go, she could not be more excited. She lights up every time we’re there. The atmosphere is incredible and getting to see her dad on the bench. I thought it would be a neat story to include a little girl at the centre of a hockey book.”
“I’ve tried so hard to find a book at her range or even a little bit older with a girl, as the main point of view in hockey,” says Makin. “I was excited to fill that gap, and bring a little girl into the story and hopefully inspire other little girls one day.”
Makin never grew up playing hockey, and she didn’t realize it was something she could do at the time. “I feel like back then I didn’t know any girls who played hockey. It felt like girls were kind of in the stands. I think I would have enjoyed playing hockey. I think that’s something I’d probably been more drawn to.”
“I definitely wanted to fill that gap raising a little girl now in a hockey world. I don’t think it was well-known back then, girls could play,” Makin adds.
With the Kickstarter campaign starting this week, Makin hopes to recoup some of the costs associated with self-publishing the book.
“It’s quite expensive to self-publish from editing support, illustrating, printing and distribution. Kickstarter acts as a pre-order option for people to support the book early on and receive a first edition signed copy in return,” says Makin. “They’re not just supporting my book launch. They’re really just believing in me. It’s pledging to bring the book to life.”
Originally, the book was written to be a birthday gift for Makin’s daughter’s second birthday, which is next month. “I knew she would absolutely love it. It continued to evolve into so much more.”
Hockey Is My Favourite Season will be self-published through an online platform that will get it out to Amazon in August. The book will also be available on Makin’s website, and in local bookstores.
(Photo submitted)
