Victoria author teams up with father to publish children’s book based on family business

A Victoria author has teamed up with her father, who is based just outside Beaverlodge, Alberta, to release a children’s book that is loosely based on their family business. 

Nevada and Kreg Alde co-wrote the book Lucy the Divco about how life can offer second chances to anyone and anything. 

The Alde family owns and operates Broken Tine Orchard in Alberta, and is becoming well known for its haskap berries across western Canada. 

Their family has farmed there since 1926 on what was their original homestead land. 

Their haskap orchard has around 20,000 plants which are harvested and turned into wine, mead, ice cream and most recently, a new product of the Alde’s—Friceys Prairie Fruit Pops. 

But the endeavour undertaken by the Aldes that inspired this children’s book was the purchase of an old, rusty Divco milk truck and their efforts to restore it. 

The Aldes found the Divco truck and purchased it in 2021 with the vision to fix it up to use as an ice cream truck. 

“I wanted something vintage and classic to carry our Friceys ice cream bars around to events and markets in the summer,” said Kreg. 

“The Divco that I bought was last used for a company called Portage Creamery out of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. The truck had been sitting in a wrecking yard for many years and was in rough shape.” 

According to Nevada, the engine and drivetrain needed to be replaced, and they used parts from her brother’s old truck, named Lucy, which was how the Divco got its name.

The Divco inspired something in Kreg specifically, and he started asking Nevada about writing about it in some way, shape or form before the Divco was fully finished. 

While Kreg still works the family farm, Nevada moved out to Victoria in 2017 to pursue writing after attending the creative writing program at UVic. 

“He started asking me more and more about the publishing world—traditional vs. self-publishing, editors, illustrators, etc.,” Nevada explained. 

“I told him if he wrote a children’s book, I’d happily edit it for him, and we’d figure out the rest later.”

After taking a look at the original draft and editing, Kreg offered his daughter the opportunity to co-author the book alongside him. 

“That gave me more freedom over the story, which I ran with and came back to him with my notes,” said Nevada. 

“It went back and forth like that for a while. It was a beautiful thing to work on together as a father-daughter duo.”

After getting the story of Lucy the Divco sorted, they chose Brandon Koepke as their illustrator, who they thought was best suited to bring Lucy the Divco to life. 

“The artwork is awesome, and there’s a colouring page at the end,” said Nevada. 

Lucy the Divco is best suited for children between ages three and nine. 

The story follows a vintage delivery truck discovers that the end of one chapter can be the beginning of something wonderful.

Once a hardworking milk delivery truck, Lucy finds herself alone in a wrecking yard. Just when she begins to wonder whether she still has a place in her community, an unexpected opportunity gives Lucy a chance at a whole new life.

“We hope the readers will feel the hope that Lucy felt as she was given a second chance and the opportunity to heal, as well as the importance of family and close friends through difficult times,” said Nevada. 

“It’s also a little nudge to support your local producers, which is something the adults will hopefully connect with and understand.”

Nevada added that she and her dad feel it is so important to show up for neighbours’ businesses, especially in today’s tariff climate.

Lucy the Divco is being sold locally in Victoria at Bolen Books in Hillside Mall and Books & Shenanigans in Cook Street Village. 

The book may also soon be in local libraries as it has been submitted to the Greater Victoria Public Library’s Emerging Local Authors Program. 

It can also be ordered directly from FriesenPress’ website, as well as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Indigo.

For those who want to try Friceys ice cream pops, which is what is sold on the real Lucy the Divco, they are available at The Happy Time Truck in Esquimalt and Millstream Market in Langford.