According to Nathan Lowell the Welkies and South Coast Shaman captured the imagination of his listeners. Don’t know what Welkies and South Coast Shaman are? You could go and listen to the Trader’s Tales, Quarter/Half/Full Share, or you can kick off your listening experience of Nathan Lowell’s fiction with South Coast.

South Coast is an excellent blend of his delightful character driven fiction and actual plot driven fiction. There’s a trio of stories braided together to create the whole of South Coast.

The first strand, and perhaps most important, is that of the Krugg family, which is comprised of the Shaman Richard, his wife Rachael and their son Otto. Within this section of the story braid you learn about the gifts of the shaman, of Welkies, and more about the Krugg family, and that is a nice bonus if you’ve already listened to Half Share and met Sarah Krugg.

The second section of the story braid is that of the people who run the fishing and livestock corporations that keep the people of South Coast employed. This is where the plot comes in, as quotas are set so high that people are in danger of losing their homes, boats and ability to remain planet side. The initiatives that people take to help meet and overcome outrageous quotas are inspiring and creative.

Since I did call it a braid of stories it only goes that there would be a third section, and there is. Subtle perhaps, but this third piece is the actual coming together of the two main pieces and how the Krugg family as a whole actually helps out with the quota issues.

South Coast is very definitely a story of personal and family growth; of how people can come together to overcome problems and differences. There are subtle lessons in the story that a listener can walk away with. There’s a solution to just about everything and that what you are and do does not dictate that your issue will do things the same way. Tradition is not the only answer and can be changed.

According to Nathan’s site the second novel of the Shaman’s Tales is due out this year in the form of Cape Grace. Herein is where we’ll meet the young Sarah and see what twists the Shaman’s Gift has in store for us this time.

Simply said, I’m on pins and needles waiting for the next stories from Nathan.

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