'Tragedy strikes and a gerbil gets a book deal': Telling the tale of a Fort McMurray escape
Newfoundland native Julie Lodge's story of saving her gerbil from the wildfires inspires children's book
Thunder the Great, Canada's most famous gerbil, is the focus of a new children's book.
"You know, tragedy strikes and a gerbil gets a book deal," Julie Lodge, Thunder's owner, told CBC Radio's St. John's Morning Show.
"It's a pretty funny thing,"
Thunder shot to fame when Lodge, who is originally from Newfoundland, was fleeing the Fort McMurray wildfires in May and captured a powerful photo of a woman escaping on horseback, with another two horses following behind.
The photo spread through social media and landed Lodge some interviews, and in each one she mentioned Thunder and how hard she fought to save the gerbil.
Apparently the little creatures are on the no-fly list.
Instead of leaving the animal behind at the airport as was suggested to her — it was assumed someone would adopt Thunder, given the extraordinary circumstances — Lodge rented a car so she could take him with her to British Columbia.
The story spread
Word of Thunder's story got around.
The people of Fort McMurray will continue…but I mean they've lost a lot of beautiful things that mean something to them that they can't get back."- Julie Lodge
"He kind of stole my thunder," she said with a laugh.
In May, Lodge was approached by Gavin Will, publisher of Boulder Publications, who had an idea to share.
"[He told] me that they had this great idea of writing a children's book that would help children who escaped Fort McMurray kind of…relate with what they had gone through themselves," Lodge said.
"They wanted my gerbil and my story to be what the book was about."
A writer and illustrator have been chosen and the book is set to hit shelves in October. Some proceeds from the book will benefit Fort McMurray relief efforts, Lodge said.
"They have big, big plans for this book," she said.
Looking to the future
As for what's next for Lodge, her future is still uncertain. She said she hears mixed reactions from people going back to their homes in Fort McMurray.
"On Facebook I see so many friends are posting that they're going back into their house, their fish are still alive, barely any smoke smell, everything is fine," Lodge said.
"And then I have other friends who, you know …they lost everything. They've lost their children's photos…so many people have lost urns filled with loved one's ashes...just different irreplaceable things."
She is confident in the future of her community.
"The people of Fort McMurray will continue and, you know, they'll rebuild, but I mean they've lost a lot of beautiful things that mean something to them that they can't get back."
With files from the St. John's Morning Show