Meet the Author and Learn
About the Inspiration Behind
"Backwaters"

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

Twenty-seven year old, Cherob Opfer, has written the novel "Backwaters,"
where she relates her Christian faith and uses life experiences  and people

she has encountered to develop the plot.

 

"If life is a river, then love is the Backwaters...." so states the synopsis of Cherob Opfer's novel, "Backwaters," set in her rural, native Iowa, where she brings to life the love, heartache, and triumph of two young people who become best friends, but first must find God, and the path he has designed for them.

"I grew up with my father owning an Iowa farm, near the Mississippi River, and how many times have you heard the turmoils of life being compared to a raging river, constantly changing and on the move?" querries Opfer. "But, in order for there to be a river, you must have backwaters, and in order to have backwaters, you must have a river. They go hand and hand. My theory is that if life is a river, then love and our relationships with others are the backwaters, a safe haven that helps you cope with the raging turmoils of life!"

 

 

We "met up" with the twenty-seven year old author, Cherob Opfer, as she went about working at her summer job as a counselor and house director at Holy Highways Girls Home, in eastern Hopkins County, near Pickton. Opfer was reared in Cedar Rapids,  Iowa, and is a 2004 graduate of Iowa State University, where she received a degree in environmental education. However, it was a mission trip that she took to South Africa, the summer before her senior year at the university, that led Opfer to write the book and to find her way to Hopkins County, for the summer.

"I began the story for the book, back when I was about 10 years old, and continued to add to the characters and the plot, as I developed in life," explained Cherob. "But, it was the experiences of accepting Christ into my life, at the age of 19 and going into the mission field, that encouraged me to complete the manuscript and publish the book. Those experiences and meeting people who embraced the ideals in the book are what developed my characters!"

 

Cherob Opfer's love and affinity for horses has served her well as she serves as a counselor at Holy Highways
Girls Home and as she developed the plot for "Backwaters."

 

The setting for the book involves a horse ranch in rural Iowa, and Cherob admits a lifelong love and affinity for horses. "I've always enjoyed riding horses, learning about them, and caring for them, so it was just natural to bring that aspect of my life into the plot," denotes Opfer. "And, ironically, following the writing and publishing of the book, I find myself possibly 'taking-on' some of the aspects of the characters that I developed!"

Major characters in the book are Katreena D. Carlson, an eleven year old girl, whose parents are killed in a tragic car wreck, on an icy and snowy road, leaving her an orphan with no family to take care of her. Tom, an Iowa horse rancher and widower, goes to the orphanage to adopt her, in hopes of putting meaning in his life and continuing his legacy. Meanwhile, living next door to Tom is Aaron, a boy of the same age as Katreena. Aaron has developed a fondness for horses, after receiving tutelage from Tom, and is given the responsibility of helping heal the headstrong, Katreena, through teaching her about the horses.

"The character of Tom is loosely based upon my paternal grandfather," explains Cherob. "He was always a patient and kind teacher and I have fond memories of spending time with him. Then, I'd have to say that the character of Aaron was influenced by one of my best friends and former boyfriend, Gavin. There are many parallels to him and Aaron."

Cherob Opfer, never admitted it, but one must suspect that much of the character of Katreena, would be her own life, as she made decisions, tried and failed, and triumphed in settling on a direction in her life!

After completing her education and experiencing the joys of the Christian mission field, Cherob enrolled in the "Youth With A Mission" program in Norway, and learned a vast amount of knowledge about pursing a lifetime of mission work. She then attended the Global Awakening School in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where she completed additional studies, while working and retiring student loans.

After paying off her student loan debt, Cherob made a decision to seek work on a horse ranch, while seeking for where God wanted her to be. That's when she met Larry and Judy Green, through the Global Awakening School. They invited her to visit them in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, in February of 2009, and while she was in their company, she made a trip to Holy Highways Girls Home. She was out looking at the horses on the farm and Judy mentioned that she should apply for a summer job at the home. Cherob applied and found herself arriving in Northeast Texas, in May, as she accepted the position.

 

 

"I like it here in Northeast Texas and will be with the home until November of 2009, when I'll return home to Iowa for Thanksgiving and a deer hunting trip with my dad," explains Cherob. "Then, following Christmas, I'll embark on a mission trip to Impertez, Brazil, in January 2010, with hopes of working with a tribal village, spreading God's word and using my environmental sciences degree to improve sanitation and cleaner drinking water for the people!"

 

"I can certainly relate to Katreena's character in the book as she must
develop patience in waiting for God's plan to unfold in her life," states
author, Cherob Opfer. "But, she's more fortunate than me, as God gave
her Aaron, and he hasn't sent me the cowboy of my dreams, YET!"

 

"God proves his truth, but we are his instruments of taking the gospel to others," continued Cherob. "And, I look forward to being able to pray for people in Brazil and bring them the gospel!"

Proceeds from Cherob Opfer's book, "Backwaters," will be used to finance her trip to Brazil, in January 2010. "I've used the talents that God blessed me with and wrote the book and feel a need to use the fruits of that talent in spreading his love and blessings to others, who don't know him," expressed Cherob. "I'm looking forward to seeing what God has planned for me and the direction He will lead me, while working in that country."

Copies of "Backwaters" are available at the Pickton Mercantile Store, in downtown Pickton, for $15.00 each.

The books takes you on a journey into the lives of two young people, and the influence that God has in their lives, as they overcome the difficulties of life, simply by trusting in Him and each other. You're sure to be inspired by the story and uplifted and strengthened by the message in Opfer's novel.

Additionally, Opfer is a talented musician and songwriter, and has just released a compact disc of songs that she has written and sung. "I attended last Saturday night's Bluegrass Jamboree in Pickton and was 'blown-away' that right here in the small town, where I landed, that they had a bluegrass gathering, once a month," expressed Cherob. "I'm definitely planning on going to each month's presentation and have plans to attend the Bluegrass Festival conducted at South Sulphur River Park on Cooper Lake, in a couple of weeks. It's just too ironic that God, directed me here, just like the characters in my book!"

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