Steven Hunter will introduce his first novel The Cameron Ridge Conspiracy with a book launch this Thursday, June 20 starting at 5 p.m. in the Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Centre.
The centre is located next to city hall.
The book is a work of fiction set in the very real history of the Cariboo on the gold rush trail in 1859.
A young Secwepemc girl witnesses the tragic deaths of her brother and sister at the hands of three miners.
The story follows the girl, her family and her village as they seek healing and justice in the midst of the chaos of the goldrush and the British crowns early measures to colonize their territory.
Steve and his wife Basha Rahn have lived at Big Lake Ranch since 1991.
For 30 years Hunter worked for the Ministry of Children and Family Development as a social worker, social work supervisor and regional manager.
“My work took me to most corners of the province over those years,” Steve says.
The provision of services to Aboriginal people and their communities was an important part of his job in all the various positions and locations he worked.
In his last position he was the Regional Aboriginal Services manager for the Thompson Cariboo Canyon and Chilcotin area.
“All that is in the past having left that career behind five years ago,” Steve says.
“I began writing fiction, about this time of year in 2010, something I had never dreamed I would do.
“Now, three years later here we are on the eve of the launch of my first novel.
“I also write humorous short fiction for BC Outdoors magazine.”
Steve says he also recently completed a draft of a second novel called Strings.