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A Jasper booklover turned her hand to writing and has published her debut book, Solitude.
Cecile Czobitko, a retired banker who now works casually at Jasper library, took inspiration from our Rocky Mountain scenery as she put pen to paper to tell the story of indecisive Daniel, who goes to live as a hermit and finds the meaning of life.
鈥淚 never thought I would write a book,鈥� said Czobitko.
鈥淚 had an idea that kept haunting me so I had to put it down on paper.鈥�
And Czobitko said once she started writing, she couldn鈥檛 stop.
鈥淭he ideas kept coming so I kept writing,鈥� she said.
鈥淲hen I was writing, I took a lot of time but I felt good about it and liked the way it made my mind active.
鈥淚 liked having a project and having something to work on.鈥�
Solitude is set 鈥渟omewhere in the mountains of Western Canada鈥� but Czobitko said she took a lot of inspiration from Jasper鈥檚 surrounding scenery.
And the book cover, a photograph of Yellowhead Lake, was taken by her son.
鈥淚t was a joy writing the book,鈥� said Czobitko, who has lived in Jasper for more than 40 years.
鈥淏ut the most challenging part was the editing - making it presentable and changing all the errors.
鈥淚 thought 鈥業鈥檒l never get this done,鈥� but my publisher was great.鈥�
Solitude was published by Christian Faith Publishing, a Pennsylvania-based publishing company Czobitko said was 鈥渧ery nice and helpful鈥�.
The book follows Daniel, a police officer who only sees darkness after the last accident he witnessed.
He decides to take a break from life and, after a talk with his chief, decides to go on a road trip.
Daniel finds a remote property for sale beside a lake and has to make a decision.
Moving would mean leaving his loving family and the police force, but would this place give him the peace he was seeking?
Daniel finds his life completely changes, full of new challenges to overcome and a lot of work to survive day-by-day, and new concepts to learn.
Does he have it in himself to survive? Will he find what he was seeking? Will he find the peace he craves?
The book is 鈥渁 captivating account that will take the readers into Daniel鈥檚 journey of finding everything that he felt missing鈥� and is available at Amazon.ca, Apple iTunes, and at Barnes and Noble in the States.
