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Elgin's Don Stephens pens 'Bearkiller' tome
12/25/2003 12:44:00 PM
by D. J. (Don) Stephens
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| D. J. Stephens interview with Chicago Suburban Newspaper |
Elgin's Don Stephens pens 'Bearkiller' tome
By Rhianna Wisniewski
STAFF WRITER
Reincarnation, American Indians and bear attacks are among the integral plot points of Bearkiller, the new book by Elgin resident Don Stephens.
A computer salesman by day, Stephens said that the idea for the book came to him after a "deja vu" experience, the sense that he had been someplace before. He tied that idea into his love for hunting, and Bearkiller was born.
The story begins with Jack Barkil, the main character, hunting elk alone in the Rocky Mountains. Jack is mauled by a bear, and although he kills it, he's rendered a bit delirious. He passes out and wakes up with no idea where he is or how he got there, and instead of a man in his 40s, he is now a teenager being nursed back to health by a tribe of Blackfoot Indians.
The reader is witnessing a past life of Jack's, watching as he experiences this life. The book ends with a battle during which he receives wounds in the same place as those from the bear. Jack wakes up in the present time speaking fluent Blackfoot, being rescued by a doctor of Blackfoot descent.
"The inspiration for the story came from deja vu," Stephens said, "feeling like I had been to that place before, even though I had not."
But the rest of the story could have been inspired, as well. Being part Sioux himself, Stephens said that he has always been interested in American Indian culture.
"I have had a fascination with Indians all my life," he said.
Stephens came up with the idea for Bearkiller a few years ago but he spent a few years researching before he could begin the writing process. After beginning the book, he felt the story just fell in place.
"The story just took on a life of its own. I knew I wanted a person to go back in time, so that's where I took it next," he said.
With a few years worth of spare time sunk into this book, Stephens eagerly awaited the book's release on Dec. 17. He told himself he wouldn't write anymore until this one was published. True to his word, he has begun a second novel, based on a Special Operations parachute jump. Stephens has experience parachuting and spent time in the military during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Berlin Crisis. Much of his experience in the military helped to inspire the second book.
Bearkiller can be pre-ordered through online book stores and is available through the publisher, Publish America, at www.publishamerica.com. Information about the author and the book can be found at www.bearkiller.com.
12/25/03 
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