Tyrell Johnson grew up reading his older brother害羞草研究所檚 fantasy novels.

But when trying to write a fantasy novel of his own, the format didn害羞草研究所檛 quite fit.

害羞草研究所淲hen I was getting my master害羞草研究所檚 of fine arts degree in creative writing I was attempting to write these fantasy novels and it wasn害羞草研究所檛 quite working out,害羞草研究所� said the 30-year-old Kelowna resident.

Johnson害羞草研究所檚 first novel, The Wolves of Winter, is set in a post-apocalyptic world. A young woman and her family survive in the Yukon, wondering if they are the only humans left on earth.

The novel was released Jan. 2 with a signing scheduled for Jan 6. from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Mosaic Books downtown.

After turning to the post-apocalyptic genre, Johnson found he could create his own worlds while keeping his voice in the present tense.

害羞草研究所淢aybe there害羞草研究所檚 something romantic about not having (materials) and finding each other again outside of all the technology,害羞草研究所� he said.

Moving around B.C. and the US could have had an influence on his draw to the genre.

害羞草研究所淢aybe it害羞草研究所檚 every time we moved so often, I look at the stuff and say 害羞草研究所榡ust get rid of it all, I don害羞草研究所檛 want to lift it again,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 he laughed. Johnson lived in Kelowna before, then moved back to Washington and then to Langley before settling in Kelowna again.

He immersed himself in the genre for his book by reading Station Eleven, the works of Margaret Atwood and Dog Stars.

He compiled the first draft for the book in four months, working at his mother-in-law害羞草研究所檚 office in a horse barn as he juggled freelancing, writing the novel and family life with his wife and two children.

害羞草研究所淚 sort of write obsessively and I have to get it all down on paper. If I害羞草研究所檓 excited about an idea I want to write about it and use that excitement and momentum,害羞草研究所� said Johnson.

Ideas for characters came from his own mind.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 sort of a conglomeration of people I know and people I害羞草研究所檝e read, I wasn害羞草研究所檛 too worried about what came before, I didn害羞草研究所檛 want to get bogged down about what came before,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淏ut there are definitely elements of my novel that people compare to the Hunger Games which I害羞草研究所檓 fine with.害羞草研究所�

Writing in the barn also allowed for peace and quiet 害羞草研究所渦nless the donkey starts acting up, then it gets kind of loud,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚f I害羞草研究所檓 in the house and the kids know I害羞草研究所檓 in the house it gets chaotic for everyone.害羞草研究所�

While the draft only took a number of months, preparing for publication was a two-year process. Johnson害羞草研究所檚 goal was to write the best book he could.

The author hails from Bellingham, Washington and has a Master of Fine Arts from the University of California.

The novel can possibly be turned into a series, he said, but also works well as a stand-alone.

To report a typo, email: edit@kelownacapnews.com.

carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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