The Finder’s Keeper
Olaf and Edda are thrust into a struggle shaped by the dark force of the Vansi clan. Driven by persistent self-reflection and curiosity,
Edda transforms from being a victim of her fears, to conquering them. Edda’s quest unfolds across a frozen wilderness and ancient secrets, revealing a fragile balance between two worlds — the hidden Arctic realm of the Stórmenska, and the ever-expanding South, driven by the desire for material possessions and wealth.
As their worlds collide, Edda is determined to save Stórmenska and must decide what kind of future is worth fighting for — one that preserves the wisdom of the wild North, or one that risks losing it forever.
Author Bio
Leon Kildea has worked as a senior secondary teacher, High School Principal, and in education administration. More recently, he was a Founding Director of a company that is passionate about improving the standard of education and support for students and young adults. He lives in Wangaratta, Victoria, with his wife.
Leon has spent much of his available free time traversing remote wilderness areas on skis in the Australian Alps, Norway and North America. as well as a skipper on numerous voyages sailing around the coast of Australia, the Southern Ocean, the South-West Pacific and the Mediterranean Sea. Other outdoor activities Leon has pursued include rock climbing, mountaineering and orienteering – providing lived experience to inform the adventures of this novel’s protagonists.
Leon’s volunteer work in the past has included assisting in search and rescue for lost and injured cross-country skiers and hikers in mountain areas. Leon is enthusiastic about furthering a better understanding of the environment, the future of the planet and their related social issues. He was responsible for the development and writing of the Victorian Certificate of Education course in Outdoor Education for Year 11 and 12 students, as well as a companion publication for teachers on how to structure and implement the course in the classroom and the outdoor environment.
In this coming-of-age story, Leon uses his background in teaching young adults, and his experience in ocean and mountain wilderness, to explore the protagonist’s dilemmas in finding out the kind of person she wants to be and the sort of world she wants to inhabit.
A new voice in young adult literature, this is Leon’s first fiction novel.
