Paradise Paradise California

Carolyn wrote the song "Paradise" (California) for the Gold Nugget Days Melodrama where it was performed for many years. Later, she taught her Paradise Elementary Chorus the song and they performed it each year at the Gold Nugget Queen Contest held at the Paradise Performing Art Center. On November 8th, 2018, a destructive wildfire named the Camp Fire destroyed the majority of Paradise. After the traumatic event, Mika Yerman-Rane reached out to Carolyn for permission to illustrate her beloved song. This book reflects back on Paradise's history and visits the early mining days, the gold rush, gold nugget days and town traditions.

Carolyn has been a proud resident of Paradise since 1986 where she's been a teacher and an active community volunteer. She and her husband Scott have raised three children (now adults) and have two beautiful grandchildren. Currently she's teaching music at three Paradise elementary schools. She enjoys singing with a trio called "The Classigals", clog dancing, rowing, and songwriting.'

Carolyn wrote the song "Paradise" for the Gold Nugget Days Melodrama where it was performed for many years. Sandy Miller (#4) and Carolyn (#5) sang and tap danced to the song on stage. Years later, Carolyn taught her Paradise Elementary Chorus the song and they performed it each year at the Gold Nugget Queen Contest held at the Paradise Performing Art Center. Mika Yerman-Rane was born in Paradise and moved away with her family at the age of four. Her family moved a lot and the one place that felt consistent was Paradise. Every summer was spent swimming at her grandparent's pool, dying her hands with black berry juice, and sleeping under the stars. Paradise is her happy place.

Mika's parents moved back to Paradise to be close to family in 2015 and it allowed her to visit even more frequently.

Mika studied advertising and design, but always found herself drawing and making things late into the night. That's when she started committing more of her time to illustration. She is always testing out new mediums, her desk is covered in multiple projects. Mika has illustrated 2 children's books, branded multiple small businesses, and always eager to start a new project.