Victor Treutel recently released his latest book, “When the Dogwoods Bloom.”
Just in time for the arrival of spring and the Appalachian Trail Celebration, local author Victor Treutel’s newest book, “When the Dogwoods Bloom” is now available. Treutel, who serves as president of the Nantahala Hiking Club, will lead a hike that follows part of the AT story in his book and present a program as part of the Macon County Public Library’s “Walking with Spring” series in April.
The cover and title of the book were inspired by the scene from Treutel’s deck during the pandemic lockdown in 2020.
“I have 30-plus days of taking a picture from the exact same spot waiting for that dogwood to bloom,” he said. “So, when the dogwood bloomed, and this was a sunrise, it was just magical.”
The flowering tree that signals the beginning of spring also lent itself to the story of loss and love told within the pages of his book.
“Here the dogwoods start spring. When the dogwoods bloom is a lot about life starting over and the creation of it,” Treutel said. “And so, we go from the gloomy dead trees to this blast of color and beauty.”
One of the main characters in the book, Charley, has lost his wife, and according to his late wife’s wishes he will spread her ashes on the mountain when the dogwoods bloom. As part of his grieving process, Charley ends up on the Appalachian Trail, and he meets a young woman, Mouse, who is dealing with her own personal issues.
“That seems to be a common theme on the Appalachian Trail,” Treutel said. “A lot of people who hike it are looking for something.”
Charley and Mouse become good friends, and as they hike the trail, he tells her the history of the area and his family – he is a descendant of the legendary Cherokee leader, Tsali.
“In reality – if it wasn’t for him there wouldn’t be any Cherokee here,” Treutel said of Tsali.
“So, he starts telling her the story, and together they kind of heal their wounds, but the story became much bigger than that,” Treutel said.
Most of the book takes place in Macon County and Western North Carolina. Locals will recognize the descriptions of the scenery along with locations such as Cowee Valley, Wayah Bald and Standing Indian Mountain.
Treutel said he had been working on an idea for a story, but it had not fully come together yet. Then as he and his wife were traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway, he saw the street name “Tsali” as they were driving through Cherokee.
“So, we stopped for breakfast, and I looked it up. And I thought wow, I didn’t know anything about this character and what he did.”
Treutel said he wrote the first draft of the book in about nine months, but at that time the Cherokee history was a minor part of the storyline. He had the book finished in March 2020, but then the pandemic shut down the publishing industry.
“I took it as a sign or an omen to keep working,” he said. He continued researching, reading and visiting museums to learn more about Tsali and the Cherokee story. The book went through 21 re-writes over three years.
“As I started writing, the Cherokee story and the history of the Cherokee here became bigger and bigger,” Treutel said. It started for me, when I was writing the story, it was a secondary thing, but it grew into a huge part of the story. There is a lot of history here, and it’s not all good.”
Treutel said that the book is historical fiction based on actual people and actual events, but he fictionalized how they happened. He said the extra time spent working on the book from that first draft in 2020 made it a more powerful story.
“I think my first draft was just a mediocre book, and I think now it is a story that grabs people. And not just people here,” he said. “There is a lot of sadness to the story, but also a lot of happiness. It takes people through a lot of the ups and downs, which is life. Nobody’s life is easy. Everybody goes through chaos.”
In addition to the Cherokee history, Treutel drew from his experience as a hiker and as a member of the Nantahala Hiking Club, which maintains nearly 60 miles of the Appalachian Trail.
“I’m out there all the time,” he said. “Part of the inspiration for the hiking part of it came really from others that hike the trail and conversations with them.”
Treutel noted that each year 3,000 to 4,000 people attempt the 2,190-mile trek along the AT from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Mount Katahdin in Maine. “That in itself is an amazing accomplishment. The ones that have done it say it is more mental than physical. Their brain has to be in the right place.”
Treutel said when people finish the book, he hopes they will come away with the realization that the average person can make a huge difference in the world and the lives of the people around them.
Author talk and hike
“When the Dogwoods Bloom” is Treutel’s fifth fiction book, and he and his wife, Gayle, co-wrote a non-fiction book.
“This by far is my best story, my best work,” he said.
Treutel began writing in 1996 as a way to pass the time while traveling during his career in the technology field. He spent a lot of time each week flying, and on a two-hour flight would fill a 100-page notebook. He continues to write long-hand using a pen and notebook, rather than typing on a computer.
“The main reason for that is to keep myself from editing while I write. You can’t edit while you write with pen, so you just let it go,” he said.
He gets up at 3 or 4 in the morning to write and finds inspiration as the sun rises and the world awakes.
“We live in such a beautiful area, it’s so rich and lush, and not just the history - the views, the environment, and the spirituality that is here.”
Treutel will discuss his book and writing process as part of the Macon County Public Library’s “Walking with Spring” series. The program will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 13. Copies of the book will be available to purchase.
On April 22, Treutel will lead a hike from Deep Gap to Standing Indian, which is a central part of the book’s story. He will read passages along the way, and participants will enjoy a spectacular view from the summit, and maybe get a glimpse of the winged monster from Cherokee folklore.
The hike is five miles and rated strenuous, with an elevation of 1,100 feet. Meet at 9 a.m. at Westgate Plaza to carpool.
Reserve your spot on the hike by calling Treutel at 407-341-6702.