Chapter 1 of Sandy Bexon's first novel, Moving Mountains – Secrets, Romance & High Tea in the Canadian Rockies, begins with heroine Aspen looking up from the pastry table to see “yet another reporter approaching her tea house.”
The opening scene setting is not fiction. Bexon did make this trip to a tea house when she was on assignment for a Calgary newspaper, and she did meet the owner.
But that is where the non-fiction of Moving Mountains ends. The book, which is published this month under Bexon's maiden name Sandy Kelly – is not another attempt by an experienced journalist to produce yet another all-too-typical hard-hitting steamy tale designed to arouse the base instincts of readers. Thankfully, what we get here is much more: a gentle, lighthearted imaginative story – accompanied with gorgeous water colour illustrations from Olds artist Jan Haugen -- about a mountain woman named Aspen who has a unique relationship with a mysterious lady called Foa. Yes, there is a romance angle, and there is a journalist involved too – a hero name Sam - but it's all woven together cleverly, and certain to capture the imaginations of many readers who won't mind spending time being engaged by a special story that is outside the box, as far as a tale spun by an established journalist.
Bexon was first seized with the idea for Moving Mountains 25 years ago when she hiked up a three-kilometre trail from Chateau Lake Louise to Lake Agnes Tea House. The Banff National Park trail is usually busy with hikers and tourists but on this day it was oddly quiet. When Bexon did reach the tea house she did encounter a woman there who was raising a young daughter. This moment, along with the spectacular setting, set the stage for a 25-year literary journey for Bexon, who is better known in Central Alberta as the communications officer for the Chinook's Edge School Division.
Her first idea was to create a story for children called Hill Fairy, and the result was a manuscript that earned high praise, including being shortlisted for the Writing for Youth Competition through the Alberta Foundation for the Literary Arts.
But that was not the end of it and Bexon came back to the basic story idea several times over the next two decades, and it evolved from a children's book into a story for adult women.
“Maybe it took this time to have the story where I wanted it to be,” said Bexon of her efforts to have Moving Mountains published. “The thing that kept me interested in finding a home for this story for the last 25 years is the setting. I love the mountains and it matters to me that the setting was captivating to everyone whom I shared it with. The mountains are so intriguing for people.”
And so are the characters in Moving Mountains. Aspen is the heroine of the story and she runs the tea house by herself. She has long protected the mysterious Fao but then Sam arrives at the tea house. He is a once world-travelled photojournalist, recuperating from a mountain climbing accident, who has been assigned to go to the mountain to get the story on Fao. At first he's not too happy about this assignment, known in the trade as “fluff”, but it's his opportunity to get back into the big time of covering wars and other major headline grabbing events. Nevertheless, he heads to the mountains. Sam pursues his one lead to Fao and that is Aspen who runs the tea house.
The story starts at the tea house, Sam with camera and notepad in hand, slightly agitated about the triviality of his mission. Moving Mountains then takes the reader through a journey with plenty of twists and turns, and yes, romance, towards an ending that is sure to produce plenty of smiles.
To finally finish Moving Mountains after 25 years is also the end of an extraordinary literary journey for Bexon.
“It feels like I have climbed a real high mountain, and I have planted a flag and I can say I am done. This particular story has stayed with me for a really long time,” said Bexon. “To have it in my hand and see it in other people's hands and sharing this idea I had all those years ago, it is really an exciting time.
“I just hope readers find pleasure in following this very quick, fast-paced, lighthearted story from beginning to end. It is a small story. They will hold it and say, ‘it took her 25 years to write this',” she said laughing. “There is nothing complex about it. It is a nice snowy afternoon by the fireplace under the quilt kind of pleasant story. That is what I hope readers feel.”
Bexon will be at Olds' Pandora's Boox & Tea, located at 5009 – 51 St., for a book signing on Nov. 30 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Moving Mountains is available through bookstores and gift shops throughout the region.
For more information about her work go to her site www.sandykellyauthor.com
