The Cabin: Behind the Scenes
Much of what I have written about in my latest children’s book, The Cabin, is true but my lovely critique group suggested a few edits after they read the first draft. They said, “You can't say that in a children's book!” They were right, of course. So, I took the very real story and added and subtracted a few things for young readers! (6-12 yr)
We did build our lean-tos near the cabin and they leaked terribly! The hippies were our friends and the cabin did burn to a rectangle of ash on the forest floor. They did not tell us stories of dragons and far-away lands or feed us on red bandanas, but our relationship felt like we were living a story and they DID feed and nourish us with their presence.
The loss of “our” cabin was palpable for me, and I wish someone had helped me understand this grief. We were heartbroken at the sight of an empty space where the cabin once was. Keith and I found our own way through the loss and it became “a part of the warp and weave” of our summers on the farm. The hippies came to visit every once in a while but never returned permanently to our mountain.
So many things can be lost in a moment: relationships, hopes and dreams, a favorite stuffed animal, or a pet. Long-held beliefs can be shattered, as well as our mental and physical health. I long for people to explore the ashes of each loss... to linger a while in the dust, get a little dirty, discover surprising treasures, and allow the grief to become a part of their lives. We cannot grow new and surprising life unless we do this. If grief can be welcomed, embraced, and honored, it becomes a cherished friend, and honestly, you will know more of beauty, joy, and freedom as a result.
The Cabin is a book that will help you stay in grief and give you hope! The illustrations are magnificent and will invite you to settle into the story and be curious about your own losses.
P.S. I wish I could find Debbie and Richard, Caleb, Dutch Harris, and the others. They were a part part of shaping my image of myself and my importance and place in the world as a human being. Thank you, wherever you are!