The Occipital Mouse

"The Occipital Mouse" is a character-driven exploration of life, conflict, creation, essence, and grace. At its heart is Sky, a young woman walking between two cultures, navigating education and contemporary struggles while shaped by her community's wisdom. Her journey intersects with other enigmatic figures like Kate, a survivor who embodies strength, and Charlie, a confused man seeking meaning from his past. The novel unfolds with symbolic resonance, exploring how individuals—whether raised in communal love or the harsh realities of war—grapple with identity, the consequences of their actions, and the unseen forces that guide their lives. Through the threads of these interconnected lives, the story delves into themes of spiritual growth, personal transformation, and the human capacity for both destruction and healing. Philosophical reflections permeate every chapter, offering readers a contemplative space to question and find solace, while providing difficult answers.

Back cover:

Bison Skulls are good. Their goodness informs all they touch. But the touch can be a mystery.

Living tried to leave a bad mark on Kate. But after a rough start up to Lame Deer, there was instilled a goodness in this little girl. The rest of living found her leaving good marks on all the lives she took, and on the lives she did not take:

A confused little boy, observing her blood on the grass; making a bad man good again; reminding Frank of a mare's way in his local remuda; earning Jay's respect; and showing John what family really means.

Kate walked with grace upon Earth. That was Kate.

She knew how to live, how to kill, and how to die. And thanks to Kate, Sky was not the limit. Sky was just the beginning of who knows what?

We must wait and see. That'll happen when parts are missing; we must do what mystery tells us to do, and wait for those parts to come back. Kate knew the Law of Recognition, the Law of Blood, the Rule of Honor, and the Natural Rule; but most of all, Kate knew patience. Kate was good.

Calderwood Burnham and his wife, Amy, live on a river in the Rocky Mountains. He travels down to the Great Plains on occasion. His son loves home but is off to college, starting his adventures in life. Amy, a potter, painted the watercolors at the beginning of this novel.