A Yahk resident has just published his first novel, which is now on sale in Cranbrook.

Richard Lee Rose's "Flame and Feather," is a labour of love for the author. "I began thinking about it in 1989," Rose said, "and started writing it (shortly after)." The writing process was off and on due to time constraints, but more recently Rose sat down and finally polished it off.

"Flame and Feather" takes the main character - and the reader - on a trip through time into the early 20th century in B.C.

In 1994, Jason Miller sets out to burn down an old dilapidated cabin on his land in the B.C. Interior, but as the flame touches the old building he is transported back in time 75 years, to 1919. Needless to say, he has difficulty persuading the locals that he owns the land they are on. That's only the beginning of his troubles.

"He has to live with what he finds there," the author said. "And he doesn't know how to get back.

"He tries to change the world, but proves to be not very good at it - in fact, he proves to be not very good at coping."

As well, Miller has serious concerns about the "chaos effect," how his actions in the past he now finds himself in will affect his present, should he ever be able to return to it.

Miller, obliged to live with a pioneer family, experiences the full range of their prejudices, hatred, disdain, friendship. He knows the future, but is powerless to change their lives. That is, until a crisis occurs about which he does know something about, which allows him - if he dares - to change the future of thousands of people.

"Flame and Feather" is available at Lotus Books in Cranbrook.