✨ Why This Book? Why Now?

Marcia Lee Laycock has spent more than three decades writing stories that reveal the extraordinary in ordinary life. Her readers know her as a gentle storyteller, a devotional writer, and a spiritual companion who helps us “take off our shoes” because “every common bush is afire with God.” 

Now, as she celebrates her 75th birthday, we want to honour her legacy with a special publication:

📘 A collection of Marcia's Yukon stories — tender, wild, faith‑infused reflections drawn from the years she lived near the Arctic Circle.

She has lived remarkable chapters:

• growing up on an island in Lake Huron
• running away to Alaska and the Yukon
• experiencing a life-changing “road to Mayo” spiritual awakening
• living a mere few miles south of the Arctic Circle in Dawson City
• later serving in Papua New Guinea and throughout Western Canada

These stories deserve to be preserved — and shared. We're doing that here with some of her Yukon tales.

🌟 Why Crowdfunding?

Publishing a book well (editing, design, layout, printing, launch) requires both resources and community.

As a boutique publisher, Siretona Creative usually asks authors to invest financially in their publications, especially for their first couple of books. Marcia is a seasoned author, and many people see her as a writing matriarch. She still has several other books in her imagination, and we want to take care of the publishing details in order to free her for writing and speaking, two of her favourite things to do.   

Crowdfunding gives readers and friends the chance to:

• help bring this legacy book to life
• support Marcia as she continues writing
• celebrate her 75th with a meaningful gift
• join a community that has been gathering around her work on Substack (234+ subscribers and growing)
  [substack.com]

4. What the Funds Support

Clear, transparent breakdown (you can adjust amounts later):

• Professional editing (structural + copy edits)
• Book design + interior layout
• Cover design
• Printing the first run
• Launch event for Marcia's 75th birthday
• Fulfillment costs

Note: shipping is extra, based on each sponsor's location.

Stretch goals:

• Stretch goal #1: Draws for unique items: 
  • This stretch goal requires almost no additional funds, just a minimum number of sponsors per reward level. 
  • Yukon Memories: a minimum of two sponsors at this level, will unlock the draw for the "Warm Companions" decorative plate by Dominion China. 
  • Fireside Zoom Chat: a minimum of two sponsors at this level unlocks the draw for a Ted Harrison book plate: "Saskatchewan, Northwest Mounted Police" from O Canada (Kids Can Press, 1992).
  • Patron: a minimum of two sponsors at this level unlocks the draw for an 8x10 Robbie Craig print of their choice (includes shipping)
• Stretch goal #2: Audiobook recording ($1000)
  • The gift of Marcia telling these stories in her own voice.
  • Once we've reached our first goal, we will begin to raise funds towards producing an audiobook version of Flecks of Gold.
• Stretch goal #3: Republishing Spur of the Moment as Every Common Bush ($4000)
  • If we raise the funds for Flecks of Gold in three formats — ebook, print book, and audiobook — we will work on collecting funds to republish Marcia's longest-standing and most popular devotional book. 
  • Spur of the Moment began as a weekly column in the newspaper in Ponoka Alberta, which Marcia published as a collection. She tells the story in her memoir, Pond'rings.