Snow ghosts warm children's hearts

Local author's new book brings Montana staples to life

Whitefish author Patti Hirst managed to make a snow ghost named Blizzard warm and friendly in her new children's book, "Rocky Mountain Snow Ghosts."

Never seen a snow ghost? Just open the book for a sighting via her husband William Hirst's photos of the specter-like, snow-covered trees on Big Mountain.

Turn another page to see how Whitefish artist Abigail Folk's illustrations bring Patti Hirst's charming characters into view with a family portrait.

There's Summit, Blizzard's father, who stays at the top of the mountain watching over all the snow ghosts, and his mom, Alpine, a soft and matronly spirit, who keeps an eye on the little ghosts frolicking on the north side of the mountain.

"I love that picture of the family," Hirst said with a smile.

She said it brings back memories of her first enchantment with the enormous snow figures populating the winter wonderland of the Rocky Mountains. Inspired by their amazing shapes, she penned the first draft about 10 years ago.

Hirst finally had the time to pursue her goal of publishing her snow ghost tome after retiring from teaching three years ago. To polish her tale, she drew on years of teaching and reading to children in several countries.

Her doctorate in special education opened many opportunities.

"I taught school in the Philippines, Myanmar, Beijing," Hirst said. "I also taught in Memphis and New York and the last six years in Columbia Falls."

Over the years, her students ranged from first- and second-graders to middle and high school students. Hirst noted one common denominator - they all enjoyed books with lots of pictures.

And she loved sharing the stories with them.

"I always enjoyed reading books to children and talking about the characters," she said.

One of Hirst's other favorite activities was having her high school special education students create and illustrate their own children's stories. Then she took her students to schools where they could read their stories to younger children.

"It gave the special ed students an opportunity to shine," Hirst said.

She said those experiences fueled her interest in writing her own children's story. Hirst knew she wanted to write something involving skiing that children would enjoy reading.

"I wanted it to have an educational element and the fun part of skiing as a family unit," she said. "I wanted to show snow ghosts as friendly, helpful characters."

Her first stories involved a child getting lost and being helped by the snow ghosts. But after some consideration, Hirst decided she really needed to write something that introduced snow ghosts in general.

Her final write became an engaging combination of the two, with a little snow ghost becoming lost and struggling through deep snow on the way to Grandfather Olaf's house for a treat of huckleberry ice cream.

She worked skiing into the plot by having sharp-clawed but soft-hearted Mother Grizzly lend little Blizzard shed moose antlers to tie on his feet. Turned pointing down they were snowshoes, but when the snow ghost turned them up, he invented skis.

Along with Mother Grizzly, Blizzard meets and receives help from Mr. Wolf and Mr. Eagle, providing teachable moments for the author to share interesting facts about these creatures, like the eagle's amazing eyesight and characteristic call.

"It allows parents to talk to their children and explain about animals," Hirst said.

She spent a lot of time researching on the Internet to pinpoint facts, like a description of the eagle's call. Her computer also proved a valuable resource for other aspects of the book, including the central characters.

"I learned about snow ghosts on the Internet - how they're formed of snow and rime-heavy drops of ice," she said.

Wind and sun act as nature's sculptors, blowing and melting the snow-encased trees into fanciful shapes.

Hirst also spent a lot of time in the library looking at other children's books to get a feel for the vocabulary and the other books available. She was pleased to find many good selections.

She also noted hopeful signs that youngsters still want to read.

"It's wonderful to go to the library and see children walking out with five or six books under their arms," Hirst said with a smile.

She finished the transcript last June and began the search for an illustrator. On the recommendation of artist and art instructor John Rawlings, Hirst got together with Abigail Folk.

"She does illustrations for a children's catalog [called] "Magic Cabin," and she also does private illustrations for people," Hirst said.

Folk and Hirst began working through the story, page by page, last September. Folk would do an illustration then the two would sit down together to tweak it to the words, if necessary.

The process consumed about six months.

"There are 30 pictures in it," Hirst said. "In a children's book, pictures are a large part of the book."

In February, she sent the book to Pine Orchard Publishers for printing. "Rocky Mountain Snow Ghosts" came out in May and began appearing in bookstores and gift shops in June.

According to Hirst, tourists enjoy buying books as gifts to take back to their children and grandchildren. The subject of snow ghosts lends particular appeal.

"It's selling very well," she said.

Hirst finds the reports about children's reactions particularly satisfying. She said a woman who reads to children at the library each week called to tell her how her book went over.

"They wanted her to read it again and made her promise to read the story again later," Hirst said. "That's a true test of a children's quality book."

Many local outlets now have the book available, including Borders, Books West, the Hockaday Museum of Art, Bookworks, the Huckleberry Patch, Imagination Station, Voyageur Books and Bad Rock Books.

She also has the book in stores in other areas, including Missoula and Great Falls. If sales continue at this pace, Hirst may have a second printing.

As an advocate of Montana, skiing and children, she couldn't be happier with the warm reception of Blizzard's huckleberry ice cream adventure.

"I'm getting really good feedback from parents," she said. "They like the idea that it's about Montana."

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com