Report on Rowan in the Beginning … Book 1 by Kasey Kulas

End times in Barry’s Bay as “imaginator” with local roots pens apocalyptic novel

kasey-kulasHave you ever imagined where you would take refuge if the world as you knew it was coming to an end? Author Kasey Kulas (see photo) has, and she thinks Barry’s Bay would be ideal in an apocalypse, or at least, that’s what Rowan, the titular character of Kulas’ first novel, thinks. Rowan is part one of a series Kulas calls In the Beginning.

When a deadly virus reaches Ottawa, civil society collapses rapidly and Rowan, a massage therapist with Ottawa Valley roots, draws on inner strength and traditional knowledge to lead a group to safety in Barry’s Bay, the village of her childhood. Meeting with adventure and misadventure Rowan’s “gang” travel on foot and horseback via abandoned bits of the Opeongo Line, old rail beds and ATV trails to avoid detection.

While they don’t get as far as the Bay in the first novel (that occurs in part two), it is definitely Rowan’s intent to reach Barry’s Bay and the Madawaska Valley. Kulas says,

This area would be a great place to be in an apocalypse because people here still know how to do things the old-fashioned way like heating with wood, fishing and hunting. I also think that people here would band together to help each other and even strangers.

This may sound familiar as the Madawaska Valley has long been a haven for hippies, back-to-the- landers, preppers and religious folk – some of the latter who believe MV will be protected by God in a time of tribulation.  Rowan’s publication, however, may be the first time the area has been highlighted as such in fiction. In Kulas’ creation, this area is also protected: she researched the geological history of the Valley and found that these here hills are remnants of some of the oldest mountains on the planet. In Rowan, it is their unique geological properties that make the area a safe haven.

Kulas’ protagonist is a strong woman. “Rowan grew up in a small town and learned survival skills and traditional ways from her parents. I think she is very empowering for women,” says the author. Her lesbian identity, however, sets her apart from other heroines in the apocalyptic genre. Kulas believes this will not be an issue for readers. “She is just a person. In this day and age, people will see her for who she is: a leader, and an asset to the community.”

Kulas, who is also a visual artist, has always been creative and believes she has inherited this trait from her parents, Mike and Patsy, whom she thanks for their unfailing support:

They always encouraged me to be as creative as I could and provided opportunities for me to do that.

painting-kasey-kulas

Painting by Kasey Kulas (All photos submitted)

Just after announcing her book on social media, Kulas contacted her former English teacher, Mary Jane Elmslie. In high school Kulas, was a bit intimidated by Miss Elmslie and actually changed her courses to avoid having her, but by the last semester of Grade 13, she had no choice. Kulas remembers the first day of class:

She came up to my desk, leaned over, smiled and said, ‘I’ve got you now.’ Turns out she was an amazing teacher. She was enthusiastic and that was contagious. She really inspired me.

Kulas was saddened to learn of Elmslie’s death: “Just a few days before we were talking about getting together and launching my book. ‘Let’s do a book launch,” Elmslie said, ‘I want to be part of it.’”

Kulas considers herself an “imaginator” not a “writer” and attributes this self-designation to her former teacher. “I thought I was a horrible student, because my grammar wasn’t the greatest, but MJ knew the importance of good storytelling and imagination.” Kulas describes her writing process as an “amazing imaginative adventure. I thought I had things to say, but then the characters took over and told me the story.”

Noting that Rowan is inspired directly by current events and indirectly by the Book of Revelation, Kulas points out that her work is not religious.

It is not so much about end-times as it is about building something new and staying strong by working together. It is a positive message about nature and human nature.

According to Kulas, what surprised her most about the writing process was the realization that she loved her childhood and ancestral home.

I had no idea I had so much passion for this area and its people. That’s what I got out of this.

Rowan: In the Beginning … Book 1 is available in hardcopy and Kindle editions through Amazon.ca

 

Featured image: amazon.ca

3 Comments

  1. Patricia Thurston

    I too have always felt this area of Ontario is an ideal haven for riding out the possibility of hard times caused by unexpected events in the outer world. I am looking forward to reading “Rowan: In The Beginning”.

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