Perry Johnson
Holyoke titled in Perry Johnson’s newest children’s book
Children’s book author Perry Johnson of Sterling debuted his newest book, “The Foiled Holyoke Limited Train Robbery,” at Overland Trail Museum’s Christmas open house, Thursday, Dec. 21.
A mystery set in the late 1800s, the story recounts the tale of Sterling’s legendary lawman Marshal Hal and how he unexpectedly thwarts a plot to rob the Holyoke Limited train. Marshal Hal makes his way to Holyoke to bring the cattle-rustling Barnaby brothers to trial.
Lucinda DeSeet, with whom Marshal Hal is smitten, lives up to her name as somehow the marshal’s nemesis, Sand Hill Sam, always knows where Marshal Hal will be.
Unbeknownst to Sand Hill Sam, who planned the robbery, the judge presiding over the case became ill and the trial was postponed. Marshal Hal ended up on the train heading back to Sterling, foiling Sand Hill Sam’s attempted robbery.
Johnson noted that he used Holyoke in the book not only for the local connection, but also because he has always loved the name. In addition, he has visited Holyoke and thinks it’s a wonderful town, he added.
Johnson moved to Sterling in 2005 after he was laid off from IBM in Boulder. Although he intended to remain in the information technology field, he took a job at the Overland Trail Museum in 2007. Johnson said it’s not as lucrative as IT work, but he finds it fun, interesting and rewarding.
He pointed out that he has always loved history and has been interested in writing children’s books for some time. Securing the part-time job at the museum afforded him time to write, and he published his first book in 2010.
This newest edition is his seventh book to be published. Johnson pointed out that all of the previous books came alive with animal characters, but this is his first book to feature all human characters.
“The Foiled Holyoke Limited Train Robbery” is written for children ages 8-12 and can be purchased at Amazon.com or at the Overland Trail Museum gift shop, open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.