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ALPENA -- If you love dogs, hunting, and the outdoors, TK Canyon has a heartwarming true story for you.
The Michigan author will be at Olivet Book & Gift from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday to sign copies of his book, "A River to Goodbye."
"The book is about me as a boy, having the desire to have my own dog," said Canyon, a lifelong resident of North Branch. "Then, it becomes a story of a lifetime of dogs."
He explained why he chose an Irish Setter.
"A couple of things inspired me to pick the breed that I did -- the Irish Setter," Canyon said in a recent phone interview. "Walt Disney had the movie, 'Big Red,' and there was the book, 'Big Red.' So, between those two stories, and being a hunter, having the strong desire to bird hunt, I wanted a good bird-hunting dog. So I ended up picking the Irish Setter."
He noted that "they are a beautiful breed."
"They're jovial, along with being beautiful," Canyon said.
The story talks about growing up in small town rural America.
"I had a beautiful childhood, and now look back and think how blessed I was to live in our country community," Canyon said in an email.
He graduated in 1978 from North Branch High School. He was one of eight children raised by his parents.
"A River to Goodbye" is Canyon's first book. Canyon is a pen name.
"My wife is the one who came up with my pen name," he said in an email. "We considered different pen names and with the potential worldwide release of my book by my publisher, Christian Faith Publishing, Inc., we did want to provide some anonymity for myself and family. So, we used my initials and combined that with one of my favorite places to visit, Canyon Falls in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan."
He described his inspiration.
"The inspiration to actually write the book, it's something that just kept growing in me," Canyon said over the phone. "To tell you the truth, I felt like I was being moved by God to write this book … and be able to share my faith at the same time, intertwined with a lifetime of dogs, and life itself. It really is a story of life, with my dogs by my side … It's a story of life, and the ups and downs, twists and turns. It was nice to have the dogs by my side through whatever was thrown my way."
Canyon said God and dogs surely help weather the storms of life.
"Once I started writing, the story just came out," Canyon said. "It was always there, waiting to be written."
He added that writing a book is a lot of work, but it's worth it, and he thinks he feels another one brewing.
"If you're going to write, be prepared to work hard and edit a lot," Canyon said. "I would say, each chapter was edited no less than eight times."
He hopes to reach people's hearts.
"The message I hope people take away is that life is precious, the river of life is filled with twists and turns that shape you all your life," he said in an email. "Don't resist the growth that comes with time. Understand there is a God who loves and knows you. He will shape you into a much different person with all life's experiences, good and bad, and in the end, you will view life differently than when you were young and somewhat naive to the world."
The cover shot of "A River to Goodbye" is the Sturgeon River that leads to Canyon Falls.
"If you have never been there, I would consider Canyon Falls a must-see if you love nature," he noted. "We always stopped on our way to Copper Harbor, Michigan."
He added that dog owners will understand where he's coming from.
"Those who have come home to a greeting of a bouncing, excited barking pooch who treats you as though you are the most important person in the world every time you enter your home," he said in an email. "The kind of companion who does not forget you even after long periods of absence. Always on alert, always waiting and forever loving their people. If you enjoy a beautiful dog story, this is it, but be prepared that it is a true story and it includes the heartbreak of saying goodbye to our lifelong companions along the way."
The book took around two years to complete from concept to publication.
"This book represents a beautiful life journey with my dogs and all I love in this life," he said. "I felt it was what God wanted me to do at this stage in my life. I believe he wants me to use the winter of my life to serve him full-time in a capacity to reach the world for Christ. He wants me to write in a way to draw people closer to him."