Evolution of the Desert Rainbow Story

William Boone Douglass

Karen, my wife, had never hiked into Rainbow Bridge by way of Forbidding
Canyon from the waters of Lake Powell. I had been to the Monument numerous
times, including a mid-1970’s trip with my father. After tourist season, Karen and I kayaked from our ski boat as far as the water level allowed, then hiked the rest of the way to the Rainbow of Stone.

The photo above is on a plaque at the base of the Monument, honoring the
Expedition that “discovered” Rainbow Bridge. On the long hike back to the
kayaks, to pass the time, we made up a story about the young boy in the lower
right-hand corner of the old photograph.

I thought the story we made up, combined with what would be spectacular
cinematography, would make a great movie. I decided to write a screenplay
(apparently no experience necessary). The screenplay received some attention
in Hollywood but was ultimately not optioned. Covid hit and I decided to write the story as a novel. It recently won an Excellence in Writing Award from the
Colorado Author’s League. I sincerely hope you enjoy reading about the
adventures and the love story of Chooli and Roy.

Rainbow Bridge
Butterfly at Rainbow Bridge
Scott & Karen Bowman at Rainbow Bridge