‘Carter Bluebottle the Dragonfly!’ will be available at the Christmas Craft Market on Thursday, Nov. 16 at the auction market.
Carter Bluebottle the Dragonfly! has taken flight, thanks to a writer raised in Fort Macleod.
RJ Friesen drew from his small town upbringing and family outings to farms and the outdoors to craft his first children’s book.
“It was always in the back of my mind, to write Carter Bluebottle the Dragonfly!,” Friesen said in n interview. “Back several years when our kids were young I had made up a few stories, usually when we were on holidays. I would make up the stories, as my dad had done before when my brothers and cousins, were growing up.”
Friesen will be selling his book at the Christmas Craft Market at the auction market from 4-9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16.
Friesen, 63, lived in Fort Macleod from 1960-’80, graduating from F.P. Walshe school in 1978.
Friesen, who now lives in Lethbridge with his wife Lori, has been retired for a year after a 40-year career with Fortis Alberta.
“Now I have the time to write a few children’s books,” Friesen said.
Carter Bluebottle the Dragonfly! is targetted for children aged four to six years.
The 28-page book, which is available in hardcover and paperback editions, centers on exploring, making friends, getting lost and the implications that could happen to a young person.
The idea for Carter Bluebottle the Dragonfly! began when Friesen and his family were at a lake, and he invented a story to entertain his then-young children while watching dragonflies hover over the water.
His children encouraged their father to put the story in a book, and the Friesen family remained supportive throughout the process of writing Carter Bluebottle the Dragonfly! and getting published.
“My family was on board and enthusiastic to see the story take shape,” Friesen said. “In fact, my son and grandsons immediately started to write their own stories!”
Friesen had some experience as a writer, entering a national poetry contest in 2002 and in 2005 buying a creative writing course.
Carter Bluebottle the Dragonfly! began with Friesen simply writing the story, followed by finding a publisher.
Friesen turned to Friesen Press, who provided editing and direction.
“Be prepared to accept your mistakes,” Friesen advised other writers. “This is a tough one, but correcting your mistakes actually helps in the long run.”
Friesen Press also provided the illustrators who created the colourful pictures for Carter Bluebottle the Dragonfly!
Friesen said he was amazed to hold the first copy of Carter Bluebottle the Dragonfly!. The feeling was like nothing he could imagine.
“As a first-time author the whole process has been amazing,” Friesen said.
Friesen will sell his book at the Christmas Craft Market, and it is also available at Amazon.ca, Kindle, Ingram Spark Books nd from Friesen Press.
With one book hot off the press, Friesen is already thinking about more.
“I do have the storylines made up for another few books,” Friesen said. “This present book is for the pre-school and Grade 1 youngsters. I possibly may write the next few stories for an older child market. We’ll see.”
RJ Friesen came to his new vocation later in life, and he encourages other people not to be afraid to write their own books.
“It’s never too late to write a book,” Friesen said. “There is always room in this market for one more great story.”
