Anne-Marie Jennings
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jul 20/98) - There's an old saying that says when it rains, it pours.

If you ask novelist-playwright-substitute teacher Richard Van Camp, he would have to agree.

"I'm ready to work," he says. "I need to be working on four or five different stories at a time."

In addition to the new children's book which is set for release, Van Camp is working on a sequel to The Lesser Blessed, his highly acclaimed novel; an anthology; a collection of short stories; and he's also working as a substitute teacher in the community of Bella Bella.

"I'm lucky I have the chance to do something I love to do."

In his new children's book, xxxWhat's The Most Beautiful Thing About Horses, Van Camp has once again teamed up with illustrator George Littlechild to produce a story which must be read in order to truly be understood.

Van Camp is also celebrating the production of a specially commissioned radio play, which was originally aired on Victoria Day on CBC Radio One and is scheduled for re-broadcast in most regions of Canada on August 7. Van Camp says he is not certain CBC North will be participating in the re-broadcast.

The radio play, entitled Mermaids, is the story of a young pyromaniac named Torchy who meets "the most amazing girl" in Yellowknife. This girl changes his entire life.

Van Camp himself has made some changes in his life, having moved out of Fort Smith and relocating to Bella Bella.

"It's everything Fort Smith is, but there are no bugs," he says. "It's the perfect marriage between land and ocean.

"Every other day is gorgeous."

He adds that he has been able to find new inspiration for his writing -- but not only from his new surroundings. Van Camp has been involved in the electronic writers-in-residence program, which allows students from across Canada to submit their work to published authors for criticism and suggestions of how the work could be improved.

"I've read probably 200 stories. At that age, the stories are honest. They know the many shades of green, and they haven't learned the structures yet which can make writing seem boring."

As for his other projects, Van Camp says that he is still in the midst of writing the sequel to xxxThe Lesser Blessed. He says he is fortunate that his publishers are willing to wait until the book is ready, and that there has been no pressure put upon him to finish his novel by a certain date.

"It's a dream come true. They have said this is world-class; I think they see it as their trophy," he says.

And while he has moved away from the territories and the Town of Fort Smith -- where he was born and raised -- Van Camp has severed all ties with the North. He says he hopes he can find reasons to return and perhaps one day continue to work in the NWT.

"I would love to come back and try and promote courses throughout the NWT, perhaps at Aurora College. I think that maybe the literacy council could take this on."

But until there is something which brings him back to the North, Van Camp says he is content with the way things are going.

"I don't feel as if I'm writing in a hole. We're having a lot of fun, and it's nice to have a light at the end of the tunnel."