"It really is a true story," Hicks, of Oregon, said Monday in a telephone interview. "My daughter (Lindsey), when she was very young, heard about her uncle and knew about him climbing. Her cousin had asked her how to draw a star. Lindsey said it's easy: 'You just think of my Uncle Charlie.'"
As demonstrated in "Mountain Star," Hicks' first children's book, even very young children can draw a star by following Uncle Charlie "Up the mountain," down it, and from side-to-side.
 About the book: “Mountain Star: A Story About a Mountaineer That Will Teach You How to Draw a Star!” 25 pages, $18.95 Published by Mountain World Media, LLC Telluride Author: Ginny Fowler Hicks Illustrator: Anjali Sawant Designer: Daiva Chesonis Contributors: Lindsey Hicks, Damon Johnston, Olivija Berry Photographs from the Charlie Fowler collection Events Reading with the author, 3 p.m., March 29, Wilkinson Public Library, Telluride Book signing and release party, 4 - 6 p.m., March 29, Between the Covers Bookstore, Telluride Reading Frenzy at Mountainfilm Festival, 3 - 5 p.m. May 25, Ah Haa School, Telluride Book tour throughout Colorado and Oregon in July; dates and locations TBA Advertisement |
Fowler died in late 2006 when an avalanche swept him off of Genyan Massif peak in Sichuan Province, China. Killed with him was his climbing partner, Christine Boskoff, who owned Seattle-based Mountain Madness and lived with Fowler in Norwood.
Their bodies were recovered months apart, after a massive search directed by friends from Telluride Mountainfilm and Mountain Madness.
The idea of a book bloomed at Fowler's memorial celebration last January in Telluride. Hicks, unsure of what to say, told the star story.
"I told the story of how Charlie was the bright and shining star in a lot of our lives. Afterward, a lot of people, mainly women, came up and said they were very touched by that story and they were going to teach their children how to draw a star," Hicks said.
One person who heard the story was Olivija Berry, daughter of Fowler's friend Daiva Chesonis. Chesonis and Fowler were both involved with Telluride Mountainfilm.
Hicks taught the girl how to draw a star using the Uncle Charlie method. Olivija later produced an eight-page booklet, "How to Make a Star," for her 2-year-old cousin.
Hicks returned to Telluride in May for the film festival, where a cash prize had been established in Fowler's memory. This time, she said, people told her the star method worked.
"I kept hearing over and over again this was a meaningful story for people. I decided I would write a children's book," said Hicks, a former teacher and current principal, who has more than 30 years in education.
"It was kind of the combination of people talking with me and Olivija making the little book that made me think: 'Yeah. I should do this.'"
The book is also intended to showcase other peoples and cultures, she said.
"When you write from the heart, it always turns out better. It was basically a pretty easy story to write. Daiva (Chesonis) really connected with the story."
Chesonis was the book's graphic designer and also selected the photographs from Fowler's collection that accompany Sawant's illustrations.
"It's not just a regional book about Charlie," Chesonis said. "It's hopefully going to go big. It just was a natural thing to do."
A release party is planned for this coming weekend in Telluride (see related info box). Hicks said proceeds from the book, after expenses, will be contributed to the Charlie Fowler Climbing Film Award to help the fund reach its $25,000 goal.
Not a day goes by that she doesn't think of her brother, but Hicks said she also thinks of the many ways he is being remembered.
"My mother is particularly happy we did a book," she said. "She was a public librarian for many years. Charlie, I think, developed his love of reading and books from her.
"She's very pleased I chose this way to honor Charlie."
• Be respectful of others, the writer and the subjects in the story.
• Be relevant. Keep your comments on point.
• See the guidelines for TalkAbout. Perhaps your comment is best for that community forum, available from the home page, instead of commenting on a particular story.
Comment posters are responsible for the opinions they express and the accuracy of the information they provide. We urge comment writers to treat this as a public forum where manners matter. We encourage a collegial, non-insulting tone. All readers comments must be approved by our staff before posting to the Web site. Be aware, in accordance with the Communications Decency Act and provisions upheld in judicial appeal, that you are responsible for comments posted on this Web site. Montrose Press is not liable for messages from third parties.
DO NOT POST:
* Potentially libelous statements or damaging innuendo.
* Obscene, explicit, or racist language.
* Personal attacks, insults or threats.
* The use of another person's real name to disguise your identity.
* Comments unrelated to the story.
Opinions, advice and all other information expressed in montrosepress.com's reader comments represent the individual's own views and not necessarily those of the Montrose Press. Montrose Press does not endorse and is not responsible for statements, advice or opinions offered by anyone other than authorized Montrose Press spokespersons.
Thank you for your comments!