Two things are going to happen when you start to read David Ward-Nanney's novel - Powder Dreams. First, you're going to be sucked into a no kidding, no bull, running description of a typical ski bum existence so quick you won't want to put the story down.
Second, you're going to realize it's obvious David Ward-Nanny didn't pull the hero Bo and his years of ski bumming out of thin air - how much is Bo and how much is David. Not that it really matters how autobiographical the novel might be except that Ward-Nanny gets it so right.
If you did time in the ski bum trenches you know it ain't all blue bird days in thigh deep powder. David knows and so our hero Bo goes through it all - the geographical cures for bad jobs, better snow and broken hearts, even the money stash in a backpack lining.
It all leads to that day of reckoning for Bo and all ski bum when the choice is to be forever knee deep in powder and forever homeless and poor or join the rat race where all the old friends are making money and living well.
Bo rides the ski bum dream for eight years, even squeezing in a college degree and heads to ski bum Nirvana - to Europe - and he is in Chamonix when his day of reckoning comes. I'm going to tell you now Bo flat out sells his skis and gear and heads off to join the business world in Chicago.
End of the story, close the book - no way. The powder stops here - or does it - but Bo finds himself in the blizzard of high finance and thigh deep in money, intrigue, not to mention in love, in therapy and, in the end is that Jackson Hole coming into focus?
Powder Dreams, published by Mud Season Publishing, is out on the market this month and available at Powder Dreams so you'll have plenty of time to read it before the powder flies.
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Powder Dreams © Mud Season Publishing
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