An author who has used Rainy Lake and the Borderland area as inspiration for her literary pursuits will be at the Fort Frances Public Library next Wednesday to share her newest creation from a real-life experience with local children.
Mary Cassanova, of Ranier, Mn., was inspired to write her latest picture book “One-Dog Canoe” after a canoe excursion on Rainy Lake.
She tells the behind-the-scenes story about the experience on her Web site.
“One day when I was on a writers’ retreat, I decided to take a break from my laptop and went canoeing with my friend, Phyllis Root,” writes Cassanova.
“Halfway across the small bay, I looked back. Bror, the cocker spaniel, was following us from the island. We pulled over to a rock and let him hop aboard.
“On we paddled, and around the next bend, a golden retriever stared at us from the end of a dock,” she continues. “He hung his head and seemed to ask, ‘Can I come, too?’
“‘No,’ I said aloud, ‘it’s a one-dog canoe,’” she recalls. “I glanced back at Phyllis and said, ‘I think there’s a story here.’ I went back to my cabin and quickly jotted down the ideas.
“Many drafts later, the story sold.”
The picture book is about a young girl canoeing with her dog on Rainy Lake and all the other animals who want to share their journey.
“We’re quite honoured she’s considering us her local library,” said Andrea Avis of the Fort Frances Public Library. “She’s doing it free of charge for us.”
Cassanova will be at the library next Wednesday (Aug. 20) at 2:30 p.m. to share her picture book (which features illustrations by Ard Hoyt).
Avis said the author will read the book and act as a mentor to a group of young writers taking a writing class on Monday.
The library is holding the Kids Write workshop on Monday starting at 2 p.m., and local teacher Heather Campbell will be on hand to teach the children writing and composure techniques before getting them to write some of their own stories.
Avis said the children then will be encouraged to visit the library on Wednesday to share their stories with Cassanova.
“The students will share their stories with an accomplished writer,” Avis said of the goal of the meeting, adding it’s a good way for the students to “get practice with what they learned last year in school.”
The author visit next Wednesday is open to the public and isn’t a requirement for the students of the Kids Write workshop, but Avis said the kids will be encouraged to attend.
“We thought it would be good to have a real author come for the kids,” she noted. “She’s really done some great things and worked very hard from northern Minnesota.
“She’s got quite an extensive collection of children’s book,” Avis added, saying some of Cassanova’s books are the first ones she’ll turn to when trying to find something good for children who aren’t interested in reading.
Anyone interested in registering their child in the Kids Write workshop must pre-register by calling the library. The class capacity is only 15 students.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
