Every day since Jan. 1, 2017, Sarah Papple has headed out into nature, photographed the small fairies she’s created and posted them to her website with a piece of prose.
The fairies seemed to take on a life of their own, but, really, they’re vessels carrying Papple’s story.
“I knew I wanted to do something that was a 365-day project,” Papple said, noting she was a working mom pursuing a master’s degree. “I wanted to keep writing in a way that was accessible to me.”
Her project earned her a significant following online, mostly from those outside of this area. She’s hoping that following will grow now that she’s published a book.
Sarah Apple: Volume 1 includes a year’s worth of fairies. She has plans to publish subsequent volumes.
The fairies Papple creates appear whimsical, but the words she includes below the photos cover the good, bad and ugly of her life experiences.
“The wording is about life. I use the fairies to distract from that. I’ve used them as a focal point for people to look at,” she explained.
“It’s about the joys and anguish of life. It’s really honest, raw emotions that I’m masking through fairies and a lot of metaphor. Any strong emotions that I’ve had about anybody are in this book.”
Having the book published has been an interesting experience for Papple, who is director of children and youth services at the Orillia Public Library.
First of all, the book is not intended for children, as it does include some strong language and delves deep into the author’s emotions.
Putting all of that out there in a book was “difficult.”
“It’s not ephemeral anymore. It’s something people can hold and read over and over again,” she said.
Despite some of the darker themes detailed through poetic prose, the overarching message is positive. There’s a reason Papple takes close-up photos of the tiny fairies in natural settings.
“We all could be reminded that if you just look closely enough, you can find magic and love wherever you are,” she said.
That’s what she hopes people will take away from Sarah Apple: Volume 1.
“I want people to be inspired to be unapologetically themselves,” she said. “My deepest hope is that people will stop for a second and look around and notice how incredible it is to be in this world, regardless of the circumstances, and to see how magical life is just because it exists.”
There is a limited number of copies available. A Kickstarter account raised enough money for Papple to print that limited number. It was a costly endeavour, as it’s a 370-page, full-colour book.
She is selling them at cost — $100 each — and is not making a profit. The book can also be borrowed from the Orillia Public Library.
To purchase the book, or to check out some of Papple’s creations, visit her website.
