End of the world novel just in time for Christmas

“I Think We’ve Been Here Before” is the third published novel by Regina-based author Suzy Krause, who grew up in Frontier, Sask.

The past year has been a whirlwind since the release of her new book, with presentations taking her to Toronto, around Saskatchewan, and her hometown of Frontier.

“The Frontier presentation last month was so fun,” said Krause. “My Grade 2 teacher, Mrs. Swarbrick hugged me and told me she was so proud of me. It was great to be surrounded by such support.” 

Krause admits that her rural upbringing has influenced her writing, settings and characters.

In her latest novel, locals to Frontier will recognize a number of references to the village’s landmarks, including the mural at the bowling alley in the Frontier Rec Centre; and, coincidentally, the book ends on page 296 (the Frontier phone number prefix).

“Growing up in Frontier we had a tiny library so I would re-read the same series of books over and over,” she said.

Krause said the series on her childhood bookshelf was ‘Nancy Drew’.

“I loved reading and I wrote a lot. In a small community, I think everyone gets to know more people much better than in the city,” she said. “I knew older people and younger people. You get to study people and their quirks. Some of my characters are inspired by real-life people I knew growing up.” 

Krause shared that one of her favourite characters she’s written to date is from the new novel.

“Petra is a stereotypical, brusque and somewhat abrasive German woman. She’s fascinated by the world ending and feels so lucky to be alive during this time as she thinks about the science and physics of it,” said Krause. “Her reaction is not something I can relate to at all (I would be freaking out), so it’s fun to explore that alternate response through one of my characters.” 

The plot of “I Think We’ve Been Here Before” was inspired by a recurring dream Krause was having about the world ending.

“In the dream, I know that we are all going to die, but I’m surrounded by family, and everything has been settled, and it felt okay,” she said. “A dream analysis indicates that this type of dream is common when a big change is occurring and is really a subconscious way of reassuring you that everything is going to be fine. It may have been telling me that something good is coming.”

Krause said the book is intended to help people examine their responses to the worst possible thing and realize that it’s okay.

She said the book will have broad appeal based on people’s shared human experience of the pandemic and recent political events.

“I think people are looking to make peace with each other and want to explore these hard topics and times we’ve been through,” she said. “My book depicts what could be the worst-case scenario but leaves readers with a sense of peace about all of it.”

The book’s characters each embark on art projects in response to the inevitable ending surrounding them.

“Art-making is a natural human response to big life events and is about connecting with other people,” she said, adding this book may be part of her artistic response to difficult world events. 

“I Think We’ve Been Here Before” is currently being pitched as a TV show or movie by a producer who has the rights to shop it out to actors, studios and other producers. Krause hopes to have further news about that development by the end of the year. 

A long-time participant in the Shaunavon & District Music Festival during her childhood, Krause taught piano before broadening her creativity into a writing career.

Suzy Krause’s new novel is available at booksellers everywhere.

This story was originally published in The Shaunavon Standard . It is republished under a Creative Commons license as part of the Local Journalism Initiative.