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The Eagle Lake Giant: The First Summer

by P.K. Winter; Illustrated by P. K. Winter

118 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #07-1640; ISBN 1-4251-4027-0; US$17.00, C$17.00, EUR11.61, £8.78

Adventure and mystery in cottage country. Children outwit witches, battle water orcs, and escape from punkchopgoons, helped occasionally by the Eagle Lake Giant.

About the Book

On the first day of their cottage holiday Patrick, Jenny, and Kristen discover strange things happening in the bush around Eagle Lake. When they rescue some trapped toads, they and their friend Pete must combat the witches who had captured them. Fortunately, they meet Elg - the Eagle Lake Giant - who comes to their aid. Elg appreciates the awe and respect that these city children feel for the wild creatures of the North Country.

Over the next few weeks evil forces target the children. They must outwit witches, battle water orcs, and escape from punkchopgoons. For weapons they utilize whatever they can improvise, including water guns loaded with sea salt and the beautiful music of Mozart. On one occasion the children free a reclusive islander nicknamed The Hulk. On other occasions unexpected help arrives from a mysterious female called Ursula, or from Hughie Graye's dump truck.

Improbably, they find a trace of goodness in three young witches who may - or may not - recover and rejoin the world.

In the ten episodes of adventure and mystery, adults appear to be oblivious to the dangers, but are all them really so unaware?

About the Author

P. K. Winter is a retired IT Director and closet geek who has taken up painting and playing the tenor saxophone. He lives with his wife in Toronto.

The Eagle Lake Giant episodes were invented in the early 1980s during family drives to and from their cottage on Eagle Lake. As they drove, the attentive audience in the back seat listened and had no trouble identifying with the children in the stories. The drives became fun for the entire family.

Years ago the three children grew up and moved away from home into their adult lives. The Eagle Lake Giant stories became faint memories, and most details were lost. Then, in a rare bout of housecleaning in the old house, there surfaced a single sheet of hand-written notes -- the themes of each of the Eagle Lake Giant episodes. From that yellowing link with the past the author reconstructed the stories. Now a grandfather, he dedicates the book to All kids, young and old, who have ever asked, "Are we there yet?"

Excerpts