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Into the Darkest Valley
Into the Darkest Valley
By Ashley Degraaf - Cowichan News Leader Pictorial Published: March 13, 2013 6:00 AM
Novelist Rick Dewhurst has lived in Cowichan for 45 years and has spent about half that time developing The Darkest Valley, his fictional exploration of the darker side of the community's personality.
Sometimes all it takes is for one person to step forward to start difficult discussions.
In essence, that's exactly what local author Rick Dewhurst is doing.
Dewhurst recently fine-tuned and published a draft of a book he wrote nearly 23 years ago on which features many heavy topics, including what he says is simmering racism between whites and First Nations in Duncan.
The fictional piece called The Darkest Valley sees the lives of a Christian pastor, Cowichan News Leader editor, and First Nations teen intertwine to paint a dark picture of lingering racism and cultural and religious barriers.
"It's the story of the Cowichan Valley,"; said Dewhurst, also a pastor at Duncan's downtown City Gate Church. "And this is a story that needed to be told, just one observing Cowichan's culture.";
Dewhurst's been living Cowichan life for 45 years - 18 of those in his current role as the pastor of City Gate Church, and previous years as a News Leader Pictorial reporter.
He wrote the first draft of Darkest Valley in 1990.
"The issues were front-and-centre for me then,"; said Dewhurst, noting, ironically the topic of racism is still very much prevalent today.
Dewhurst submitted the first go at Darkest Valley to publishers not long after he wrote it, but after rejection, decided to toss it aside and move on.
Meanwhile he published three other works - the mystery genre novels Bye Bye Bertie (2010), My Fear Lady (2010), and The Good Book Club (2011).
But Dewhurst couldn't let Darkest Valley fade to black.
And just as he couldn't let his thoughts of the local racism go either, he picked up the stagnant draft and revived it.
"It felt sort of cold and distant, so I added some life to it and added more depth to the character Will,"; he said of the First Nations teen and converted Christian who fears being "grabbed"; by his Tribe and initiated into longhouse ceremonial rituals.
"There's much more heart in it now,"; said Dewhurst.
Darkest Valley takes a much heavier tone than Dewhurst was used to writing, as well as a third-person, stream-of-consciousness writing style.
"Back then, in 1990, I was very much into James Joyce and Virginia Wolfe,"; said Dewhurst, explaining his experiment in tense. "I just loved it.";
Dewhurst digs deep into the minds of main characters Pastor Tom, wife Ruby, Christian convert Will and editor Jesse.
"Each character has their own view points,"; Dewhurst explains. "It's their story and together it's a story of a community. It's not a preach.";
The main message from the book, is found in a sermon the fictional pastor gives about forgiveness after much grief due to his congregation deciding to get rid of him, and the revelation his wife Ruby holds a secret.
Forgiveness reflects as well on Dewhurst's racial and religious anecdotes.
"There must be forgiveness all around and there also must be authentic discussions, not the phony ones, the ones with personal agendas,"; said Dewhurst, now connecting Darkest Valley's theme with his own personal dilemma on opening the gates on community discussions.
Dewhurst self-published Darkest Valley and is currently in the works of planning a local launch party.
He's also dropped off copies with Cowichan Tribes Chief Harvey Alphonse and Duncan Mayor Phil Kent, but hasn't received any reaction from either yet.
Regardless, Dewhurst maintains his motives in delving into the controversial topics - not just racism and First Nations cultural practices, but also a stagnant church and its stuck-in-their-ways sheep - isn't to stir the pot or to get books sales, it's to start "authentic"; conversations.
He also ensures characters in the book aren't based on real people, and thus any similarities seen are purely "coincidental.";
Local hotspots featured in the book include the Cowichan Theatre, Maple Bay Pub, the former Totem Cafe, and the old downtown Cowichan News Leader office.
Darkest Valley is available at the Christian book store, Volume One Books, Gallowglass Books, and through Amazon.com and Amazon Kindle.
By Ashley Degraaf - Cowichan News Leader Pictorial Published: March 13, 2013 6:00 AM
Novelist Rick Dewhurst has lived in Cowichan for 45 years and has spent about half that time developing The Darkest Valley, his fictional exploration of the darker side of the community's personality.
Sometimes all it takes is for one person to step forward to start difficult discussions.
In essence, that's exactly what local author Rick Dewhurst is doing.
Dewhurst recently fine-tuned and published a draft of a book he wrote nearly 23 years ago on which features many heavy topics, including what he says is simmering racism between whites and First Nations in Duncan.
The fictional piece called The Darkest Valley sees the lives of a Christian pastor, Cowichan News Leader editor, and First Nations teen intertwine to paint a dark picture of lingering racism and cultural and religious barriers.
"It's the story of the Cowichan Valley,"; said Dewhurst, also a pastor at Duncan's downtown City Gate Church. "And this is a story that needed to be told, just one observing Cowichan's culture.";
Dewhurst's been living Cowichan life for 45 years - 18 of those in his current role as the pastor of City Gate Church, and previous years as a News Leader Pictorial reporter.
He wrote the first draft of Darkest Valley in 1990.
"The issues were front-and-centre for me then,"; said Dewhurst, noting, ironically the topic of racism is still very much prevalent today.
Dewhurst submitted the first go at Darkest Valley to publishers not long after he wrote it, but after rejection, decided to toss it aside and move on.
Meanwhile he published three other works - the mystery genre novels Bye Bye Bertie (2010), My Fear Lady (2010), and The Good Book Club (2011).
But Dewhurst couldn't let Darkest Valley fade to black.
And just as he couldn't let his thoughts of the local racism go either, he picked up the stagnant draft and revived it.
"It felt sort of cold and distant, so I added some life to it and added more depth to the character Will,"; he said of the First Nations teen and converted Christian who fears being "grabbed"; by his Tribe and initiated into longhouse ceremonial rituals.
"There's much more heart in it now,"; said Dewhurst.
Darkest Valley takes a much heavier tone than Dewhurst was used to writing, as well as a third-person, stream-of-consciousness writing style.
"Back then, in 1990, I was very much into James Joyce and Virginia Wolfe,"; said Dewhurst, explaining his experiment in tense. "I just loved it.";
Dewhurst digs deep into the minds of main characters Pastor Tom, wife Ruby, Christian convert Will and editor Jesse.
"Each character has their own view points,"; Dewhurst explains. "It's their story and together it's a story of a community. It's not a preach.";
The main message from the book, is found in a sermon the fictional pastor gives about forgiveness after much grief due to his congregation deciding to get rid of him, and the revelation his wife Ruby holds a secret.
Forgiveness reflects as well on Dewhurst's racial and religious anecdotes.
"There must be forgiveness all around and there also must be authentic discussions, not the phony ones, the ones with personal agendas,"; said Dewhurst, now connecting Darkest Valley's theme with his own personal dilemma on opening the gates on community discussions.
Dewhurst self-published Darkest Valley and is currently in the works of planning a local launch party.
He's also dropped off copies with Cowichan Tribes Chief Harvey Alphonse and Duncan Mayor Phil Kent, but hasn't received any reaction from either yet.
Regardless, Dewhurst maintains his motives in delving into the controversial topics - not just racism and First Nations cultural practices, but also a stagnant church and its stuck-in-their-ways sheep - isn't to stir the pot or to get books sales, it's to start "authentic"; conversations.
He also ensures characters in the book aren't based on real people, and thus any similarities seen are purely "coincidental.";
Local hotspots featured in the book include the Cowichan Theatre, Maple Bay Pub, the former Totem Cafe, and the old downtown Cowichan News Leader office.
Darkest Valley is available at the Christian book store, Volume One Books, Gallowglass Books, and through Amazon.com and Amazon Kindle.
Submitted on June 10, 2013 in By David.
