the undersong
Some stories float on the surface. Others move quietly below.
The Undersong is an illustrated children's picture book for ages 5–8, set along the shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene in the Inland Northwest.
The story follows a young girl whose curiosity leads her beneath the surface of a familiar lakeshore, where she discovers a world of roots, plants, water, wildlife, and stories held within the landscape.
Through her journey, she begins to see the place she calls home with a deeper sense of wonder, connection, and care.
Why I'm Writing This Book
I've lived in the Coeur d'Alene region for 26 years, and much of my relationship with this place has deepened through getting to know the native and non-native plants. Their patterns, scents, seasonal changes, and relationships with other life have opened my eyes to the many connections that shape a landscape.
Children often pick up on these things instinctively. Partly because they explore with their whole bodies, paying attention to small details that adults often pass by. What’s more, their curiosity often extends beyond what they can see. Anyone who's spent time with a young child knows how quickly a simple question can lead us into the unknown.
My own daughter has been one of my greatest teachers in this. Through her questions, her observations, and her way of meeting the world, she's helped me learn to listen for the undersong—the quieter stories of a place that are so easily missed.
Lake Coeur d'Alene and its surrounding watershed are a beautiful and much-loved part of our region.
But there's more to its story than what we see on the surface.
Some of those stories begin to reveal themselves when we ask questions and listen to those who have known this place longer than we have. And not all of them are human. The plants, animals, and waters have much to tell us, if we learn to pay attention.
What happens on the land moves into streams and rivers, carrying traces of what came before. At the bottom of the lake, heavy metals from generations of mining upstream remain in the sediments.
I wrote The Undersong to invite children and the adults reading alongside them to become genuinely curious about the stories of the places they call home, including those that aren't immediately visible.
I believe this kind of curiosity is where a relationship with place begins, and where our desire to care for it can grow.
My Hope for The Undersong
I imagine The Undersong as becoming part of the place it depicts.
A book given to a child growing up here,
discovered on the bookshelf of a lakeside vacation rental,
returned to summer after summer by a family who loves this place,
or picked up years later by someone who once called this watershed home.
My hope is that it becomes a kind of touchstone for the Coeur d'Alene and Spokane River watersheds, carrying some of their stories, relationships, and beauty with it.
Beyond publishing the book, I'd like to make it available to school and public libraries throughout the region. From the Silver Valley, to St. Maries, Worley, Rathdrum, and into Spokane.
I'm hoping to secure grant funding to provide copies at no cost, so children and families across the watershed have an opportunity to discover the story, regardless of their ability to purchase it.
I am now bringing the story into visual form.
The manuscript for The Undersong is complete, and I'm now working with a local artist on some of the first illustrated spreads.
We're exploring how the landscape, characters, and quieter elements of the story might be expressed through images.
There's still much to do before the book is ready for publication, and I'm looking forward to sharing glimpses of the creative process as it unfolds.
Be part of the story
As The Undersong moves from manuscript to illustration, a portion of every Lapis Sky in person plant immersions, somatic movement offerings, herbal product sales will help fund the book's creation.
There's something meaningful to me about the plants of this region helping bring a story rooted in the same landscape to life.
Our First Milestone: Two Illustrated Spreads
Our first goal is to raise $1,000 to help cover the cost of two full-color illustrated spreads and the professional scanning needed to prepare the artwork for printing.
The illustrations are already underway, and each purchase helps move us a little closer to this first milestone.
I'll share updates as the artwork develops and the book takes shape.
Follow the Undersong
The Undersong is still taking shape, and I'd love to share the journey with you.
Sign up for occasional updates, including glimpses of the illustrations, stories from behind the scenes, and news as the book moves toward publication.
Acknowledging the First Stewards of This Place
The Undersong is rooted in the ancestral homeland of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, whose relationship with this land and its waters extends back countless generations.
As I continue learning about the history and ecology of this watershed, I recognize that much of its knowledge and stories have been carried by the people who have lived here since time immemorial.
I offer this book with respect for that enduring relationship and with the understanding that there is always more to learn about the places we call home