By Kate Hill
Staff Writer
This summer, Cazenovia resident and fine artist Robert L. Kasprzycki will release his first novel, “The Talisman” — a story about a Native American family who migrates from Alaska to British Columbia, Canada in pursuit of a better life.
“The Talisman” will be self-published and available in print Aug. 30 at bookbaby.com, amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Ingram and other locations.
Set deep within the British Columbia wilderness, the novel follows John and Marie Eagleton, a couple in possession of a mysterious gift sculpted from ivory centuries ago.
While John believes in the legend of the talisman and is adamant that its presence never be revealed, Marie is far more skeptical and impulsive. When Marie forsakes her Native American past and discloses the object’s existence to an outsider, a series of fateful events begin to unfold.
Ten percent of the profits from the sales of the novel will be donated to a select number of reputable Native American charities.
According to Kasprzycki, it was a love of nature that attracted him to the setting and subject of his book.
“I have always been drawn to wilderness settings in nature, enjoying travel, hiking, the scenery, photography, and using photos as content for my paintings, especially the regions out West and the Northwest, since these areas seem most untouched,” he said. “I have found that Native Americans or First Nations’ Peoples of all cultures are most closely tied to nature due to their beliefs. I respect their persistence, resilience and courage.”
In preparation for writing the book, Kasprzycki spent a year researching Inuit myths, beliefs, plant lore and way of life. He attended Native American events, read Native American fiction and history, visited museums and spoke with Native American individuals.
Kasprzycki hopes that by presenting his story from a non-white point of view, his readers will gain a greater appreciation for Native Americans and their cultural perspectives.
“So many narratives and stories [that include Native Americans] provide a one-sided account of their story, namely from a white cultural point of view, which often isn’t very favorable,” he said. “Although this is fiction, the characters’ point of view I think is plausible. John and Marie Eagleton struggle with their identities, their past, present and future . . . The ending is quite different than most novels about Native Americans.”
Born in Connecticut, Kasprzycki moved to Central New York in the 1980s and has resided in Cazenovia since 2007.
He holds several degrees from Syracuse University, where he received his first instruction in art.
He has since completed a number of commissioned works; exhibited in galleries and festivals; become an Associate Member of Oil Painters of America; and established Kasprzycki Artistry (2018) in Fayetteville.
An exhibit of his original artwork will be on display at the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts, Blue Mountain Lake, NY from November 9 through December 6.
Kasprzycki’s preferred media for his landscape and still life works are oil paints and acrylics. He also uses digital media techniques to produce unique and highly realistic renderings of classic cars.
In addition to an artist and writer, Kasprzycki is a retired industrial designer and manager, who also worked in the training development and instructional design field and served as a United States Army Reserve Officer.
Writing a novel has long been a creative goal for Kasprzycki, who has written hundreds of training materials for corporations on both generic and highly technical topics and illustrated a children’s book.
“The Talisman” focuses on the Inuit culture, which, according to Kasprzycki, is a broad term for a number of indigenous peoples in the Norwest region of North America from Alaska through British Columbia.
Although the characters in the novel are fictional, the locations — including the Peace River, Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, the Bella Coola region, Dawson Creek and Prince George — are real.
To learn more about Kasprzycki and his work, visit kasprzyckiartistry.com.
