When I first met Fred Carmichael in November 2010, he was seated at a small table in a restaurant in his hometown of Inuvik, Northwest Territories. I shuffled up to him in my bright blue parka, egged on by a new pilot acquaintance who happened to be related to Fred. “You have to meet him,” my friend said. “He’s a legend.” I can’t remember what I mumbled at Fred in my shyness. I was writer-in-residence at Berton House in Dawson City, Yukon, but I was 28 years old and my imposter syndrome was raging. I know I gently placed a copy of my first book on the table as an offering and then probably turned and fled. I don’t even know if I saw the characteristic twinkle in Fred’s eyes that first time, I looked at the floor so much. Luckily my book – For the Love of Flying - made a better first impression, and Fred agreed to talk with me for my research on northern aviation. I don’t think either of us imagined we’d keep in touch so much over the years, and that by 2019 he would let me talk him into creating a picture book about his inspiring life. Even if it was begrudgingly at first. Often in flying circles pilots are known as story spinners, adventure relivers, and even, at times, full-on BS-ers. “Hangar flying,” I’ve heard it called. But Fred was different. He had been a pioneer of aviation, business and leadership in his community and Canada. But he was humble, careful, and, it turned out, naturally shy like me. So it took some prodding from his amazing wife, Miki, and me, a whole lot of meals (and desserts) together, a memorable dogsledding trip, and many, many checks of the picture book text to make sure it was flight-worthy. Fred paid the book the same care he paid every time he went up in his 70 years of flying, doing his walk arounds, checking fluid levels, and triple-checking his instruments. That attention paid off. Thirteen years later, we have an amazing book to inspire kids to dream big and follow their hearts into the sky and beyond. And this shy southern writer found her warm Inuvik family. Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail is the author of six books for adults and children, including the bestselling picture book Alis the Aviator (Tundra Books). In Fall 2023 Danielle released a co-authored picture book biography called Freddie the Flyer (Tundra Books) featuring the first Indigenous commercial pilot in the Arctic, Fred Carmichael; a paperback edition of Alis the Aviator; and an inclusive paranormal timeslip chapter book called Fever on the Forgotten Coast. Danielle lives in a fog-filled bay in Nova Scotia with her spirited kids, crazy dog, and seafaring husband. www.daniellemc.com Comments are closed.
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