Bob Johns, writer? Who knew?
The Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society member, best-known as a musician and organizer of some of the wonderful musical festivals at Waterwheel Park, has some deep-seated talents as a writer dating back to the early 2000s that are being rekindled.
His book, The Children of Wondria, was actually published in 2002 and stemmed from a visit to his granddaughter’s school in the Edmonton area.
“She’d have been about seven years old then,” Johns explained. “They liked parents or grandparents to go in the schools and read. I thought I’d write a little story and read it to them.”
The abbreviated version whetted the kids’ appetites so he couldn’t leave it at that.
“I thought I’d better finish it off so the kids could see how it ends,” Johns noted.
He moved from Sherwood Park later that same year and always intended to write a sequel.
Since the opening of the Askew Creek Book Shop in the new Chemainus Public Market, Johns has appeared as the writer in residence there the last two Mondays and will continue on Mondays each week.
He’ll be featuring his children’s book there. People are urged to bring along their children, take a look at the book and buy a personal copy.
There are lots of books by other Chemainus authors in the store and a vast selection of used books for sale, truly something for everyone.
“The bookstore has got me going again,” Johns said. “I got to work on the second book about the same kids.
“The books will stand independently of one another, but you can follow on with the same people.”
The same granddaughter whose class Johns attended to read the story’s roots is featured in the book as Becky. Rebecca Johns is 26 now and “she still likes the book, though,” he said.
Her starring role might have something to do with that. Rebecca’s brother, Nick Johns, known as Nicky, is also in the book and the character of Sammy comes from Bob Johns’ nephew’s girl, Samantha Buryn, from Cochrane, Alberta who’s currently living and studying in Sweden.
Becky, Sammy and Nicky meet strange people in faraway lands, as the childrens’ amazing horses take them on an astonishing journey.
Nephew Duane Elverum completed the family affair by doing the cover and illustrations. Kids and adults will appreciate the large type for easy readability.
Johns self-published the book under the name of Sherwood Press - as in Sherwood Park, Alberta. He figures it cost him less than $2,000 at the time for 1,000 copies.
“Once I got my money back, I relaxed,” Johns chuckled.
“Publishing’s different in the last 18 years. It’s changed. These days I guess you can do a lot of stuff on-line. I’ll have to do some investigating.”
Tom Masters organized the group at the bookstore and that’s piqued John’s interest in doing more writing so we’ll surely see more work from him in the future.
“I’ve always liked writing and I took some classes in writing,” said Johns.
