Nelson author Sara Louise Butler has released an adventure thriller novel, The Wild Heavens.
The book follows the journey of a Catholic seminary student who discovers a mysterious set of tracks during a snowstorm in B.C.’s Interior in 1920.
As the tracks start to become covered by the freshly fallen snow, the student must decide if he wants to follow the footprints through a giant cedar and hemlock forest.
Butler said two major influences inspired her to write the book.
“In terms of the ‘wild’ part, I grew up in a rural place in the the 1970s and ‘80s when kids were outside all of the time,” said Butler. “I started to become interested with anything that had to do with the natural world. I would even get excited if I saw a salamander outside.”
“The ‘heavens’ part plays with the idea around the beliefs we’re given as children. Some of those beliefs turn out to be fairytales while some of them can be things you’re expected to keep believing in. The book sprung out of me wanting to find connections between those two opposing influences.”
Working a full-time job and raising a child meant it took Butler almost 10 years to write the book, which was released on March 21.
Butler hopes the book inspires people to pay more attention to the nature around them.
“I hope this book inspires people to look around a little more when they’re outside the community they live in,” she said.
“There’s so much quiet joy that comes from really paying attention when you’re outside. The more you pay attention, the more interesting it gets because you start to recognize the plants, birds and everything around you. It starts to feel so natural to appreciate all of that.”
The book is available through Touchstones Museum and Otter Books in Nelson.
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