Cathy Marie Buchanan Hosts a Q&A discussion

What inspired you to write about the developement of hydroelectricity and about the historical aspects of it? How did the idea for the book first come to you?

Bonny wrote: "What inspired you to write about the developement of hydroelectricity and about the historical aspects of it? How did the idea for the book first come to you?"

When I set out to write my first novel, setting is where I started. I do think starting with setting was the result of me coming for a place with such a storied past. Niagara lore is endless─the Maid of the Mist and her canoe, Sir Isaac Brock and the War of 1812, Blondin and his tightrope, Annie Taylor and her barrel, William “Red” Hill and his daring rescues, Sir Adam Beck and hydroelectricity… Add into the mix, the staggering beauty of the falls themselves, and I don’t think starting with other than the setting of Niagara Falls was ever a possibility.

To begin I turned to books surveying Niagara’s history. What I was seeking, as I read, was the time period and narrative that best showcased Niagara’s wondrous and quirky past. The story of William “Red” Hill, Niagara’s most famous riverman, came up time and again. I’d grown up seeing the rusted-out hull of the old scow that’s still lodged above the falls and knew he rescued the men marooned there in 1918. I’d heard about the spectacular ice bridges of yesteryear−one of which is pictured here. I knew about the ice bridge tragedy of 1912 and Red Hill saving a teenage boy that day. As I read, those bits of lore ignited, and I became more certain my main male character would be loosely based on Red Hill.

Once, I'd made that decision it set the time frame of teh book as the period when the Queenston power plant was buing built. It was easy to see the conflict that would exist between my river-loving Tom and the power companies that would forever change the river. So it was after I decided to write about a riverman that the development of hydroelectricity became central to the book's plot.

Fantastic!! I had just finished reading the book, when we went to Niagar-on-the-Lake for a conference last September. As we went there to visit the Falls on evening and then especially as we toured over the Falls by Helicopter the next day, the book became alive for me. Most particularly when we saw the tracherous Whirlpool.

Thank you for such a wonderful book!

Bonny wrote: "Fantastic!! I had just finished reading the book, when we went to Niagar-on-the-Lake for a conference last September. As we went there to visit the Falls on evening and then especially as we toured..."

That is cool. I have never done the helicopter ride if you can believe it. We once took my husband up over Toronto for Father's Day and it was a bit of a disaster with one of my kids vomiting. It kind of put an end to any more helicopter trips.

Hi Cathy;

The helicopter ride we had was a sort of romantic package. We even got a bottle of champagne - a throwback to the heady days of Hot Air Ballooning. Made it quite special. We asked for the longer tour and had a really good time.

Maybe you can try again when your children are a bit older? It's a truly wonderful experience!

Bonny