Former RR man authors kids book

Ken Johnston

A former Rainy River man has authored his first children’s book, “A Taste of Soda.”
John Bouchard, 38, of Dodge City, Kansas, is a grade 5 school teacher full-time and author on the side. He said he started writing the fiction several years ago when he was attending college in Bemidji, MN. and his wife Sara was in Thief River Falls, MN. “We were 90 miles apart, so I decided to email her a paragraph or two of a book each day.”
From there it took on a life of its own. The book is the story of a school aged boy who becomes friends with one of the most popular girls. But Ricky Marsh’s troubles do not stop when Sara Casey decides to be his friend; they in fact double. Ricky does his best to win in the game of teenage politics.
Bouchard said he has a sequel coming out later this year called “Tunnel Hill” and a third book in the works. When asked what he based his books on he said, “There will be some events that are loosely based on things familiar to residents of Rainy River in the third book. People will recognize the café (Ozie’s) and other items that are mentioned in the book. I try to base a lot of my writing on the experiences I have had...so occasionally there may be something that jogs a RRHS student’s memory.”
Bouchard said the sales of the book have been brisk and he has even appeared on a local t.v. station promoting it.