Children’s book first-time effort by Fergus author
Main character modelled after her daughter, 'a very extroverted and confident kid'
FERGUS – Flying dragons, a magical tiger and one confident little girl form the basis of Lauren Fowler’s children’s book Evelyn Starrow and the Mystery of the Shimmering Woods.
Evelyn stumbles into a strange land and embarks on a fantastical journey finding her way home while forming meaningful friendships on the way.
This is no Wizard of Oz, but it shares some overtones and comes to a similar conclusion: confidence and problem solving are what makes us resilient, and we are all valuable creatures, so value yourself.
This is Fowler’s first published book, although she published a collection of short stories around a decade ago. She had set aside her creative writing aspirations as work and life and having a child moved into centre stage.
The Fergus woman said her daughter, Hope, who is five and a half, and her husband, Jefferson, came up with two dragon characters called Redwing and Bluewing, and would constantly make up stories involving the duo, though the adventures usually involved trips to the grocery store or the dentist.
“We do a lot of storytelling in our home. Hope was born during lockdowns so there was a lot of time with just the three of us. Reading and telling stories is an important part of our family dynamic,” Fowler said, adding the characters formed her book.
Evelyn, the protagonist, is based on her daughter.
“A very extroverted and confident kid,” she said.
“My daughter is like my husband. I’m the opposite,” she added with a laugh.
Fowler said she has always written, and recalled using her parents’ old typewriter.
“Eventually I moved to a computer and still have some of my old work on a floppy disk,” she recalled.
Writing this book has scratched her creative itch, however, and she hopes Evelyn Starrow will evolve into a series.
This book certainly lays the groundwork for future adventures among the friends.
Evelyn Starrow and the Mystery of the Shimmering Woods is self-published under the pen name L.A. Mac.
The illustrator, Lorelei S., is also a local artist using a pen name.
It’s geared to readers aged six to 10 and provides an introduction into fantasy chapter books.
It’s available at Magic Pebble and Cordial Clove, both in Elora, at BookLore in Orangeville, and on Amazon.
