Bestselling Book

Wait, is this really real?

This fun, little passion project became a surprise bestseller overnight. It is a radical re-purposing of the hiking guide format telling fantastical alternate history stories. The challenge was creating an immersive entertainment experience that blurred the lines between what's real and what's not.

What if Seattle Had a Hidden History?

The true history of Seattle's east side is filled with amazing stories—sunken towns, hidden caves, strange occurrences, and more. If you know where to look, you can hike to the locations where these unusual events took place and their find clues.

The Power of Voice

The book is authored by a fictional character, Jim St. James—Warden & Protector of the Snoqualmie Territory. The goal was to write in such an unwavering voice that the reader would be forced to wonder if the unbelievable tales were real. Here's an excerpt from the introduction...

        The Snoqualmie Territory is a landscape soaked in The Strange. Here the boundaries the polite world are worn thin and frayed. Things that science can’t yet see or understand manifest with ease. Shape shifters and large beasts roam freely. Time flows in unusual ways, and subtle, enchanted worlds seep into this one at many points on the map.
         The other Wardens are right about one thing; revealing this information to the world has consequences. Choosing to explore the Strange is an act of rebellion. It’s a rebellion against a culture whose paltry version of “reality” is defined only by what it can measure, sell, and consume. It is a rebellion that asks you to trust the sovereignty of your own witness over the vested opinions of “expert” authorities. And it’s an act of rebellion that comes with certain dangers.
        You may encounter beings that others cannot directly perceive. Your position in the flow of time may wiggle and shift. Your life might change in ways you do not expect, and your heart may find a love you never sought. Most dangerous of all, your understanding of reality may slip outside of the mainstream consensus...

...One last thing. The lawyer advised me to say that I made all of this up. So, if you ask I’ll tell you, “None of these stories are real—except of course, the ones that are." Now, go forth and see for yourself.

A Magical, Hands-On History

In 1903, a terrible transformer oil fire scorched the hydroelectric plant hidden in a chamber deep within the rock behind Snoqualmie Falls. The book directs hikers to the bottom of the Falls, and Warden Jim explains what "really" happened that night...

         The oil inferno sucked the air from the chamber. Jarl dropped his hammer. He dove for the tailrace flow. The rushing water shot him towards the exit. From the pool, outside, he watched the silhouette of the firedrake escape through the same flame filled tunnel. In the open air, the firedrake stumbled onto the south shore and reared to its full height. Its massive body dripped with oil and flame. It screamed at the night sky. A slurry of transformer lubricant poured from the cave. It spun downstream in a reckless flaming waltz. The beast snaked its horned head around and caught sight of Jarl bobbing in the pool. It glared at him and splashed forward. Jarl dove deep, seeking the protection of the Falls. He surfaced on the far side. The wurm circled the pool, hunting. The cliffs surrounding the cataract flickered yellow and orange. The Spirit of the Falls wrapped her skirts around Jarl and kept him hidden.
Enhancing the Illusion

The Snoqualmie Strange website complements the book. It's Strange Tools page provides color photos of the special Warden equipment listed in the book's appendix. There, Jim St. James provides detailed explanations of the gear he carries when he patrols the Snoqualmie Territory...

         ...Every map is a conspiracy between the cartographer and the land. The two spend long, intimate hours together and learn each other’s mysteries. Like a lover, the map maker gently traces the lines and curves of a place. When they are together he finds he is charmed by all her shy features and her shining glories. In soft, quiet moments they whisper to one another about which secrets they will reveal and which ones they will hold hidden...
         ...The most powerful thing you can do is make a map of your own. Every new Warden does. This practice strengthens their bond to the land and enhances their abilities there. That magic is available to anyone willing to make the investment in time. Try it, and you’ll understand. When anyone else looks at a map they see little more than a helpful navigation tool, but when a map’s creator looks at it, his heart stirs in the same way it does when he finds and reads an old bundle of love letters.
Strange Success

Within a week of publishing, Snoqualmie Strange: Mist Gate sold more than 1,000 copies on Amazon, and earned the rank of it a Best Seller. Online and in-store sales remain strong. The book enjoys a 93% 5-Star rating on Amazon.

My Role:
Creative Director, Copywriter, Researcher, Author, Photographer, Designer
Self-Published, 2017
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