Paradise

After the devastating Camp Fire of 2018, Mika Yerman-Rane requested to illustrate Carolyn Steele's song "Paradise" to help people remember Paradise's charm. The book revisits old history, from early mining days, the gold rush, to beloved town traditions.

Carolyn wrote the song "Paradise" (California) for the Gold Nugget Days Melodrama where it was performed for many years. Later, she taught her Paradise Elementary Chorus the song and they performed it each year at the Gold Nugget Queen Contest held at the Paradise Performing Art Center. On November 8th, 2018, a destructive wildfire named the Camp Fire destroyed the majority of Paradise. After the traumatic event, Mika Yerman-Rane reached out to Carolyn for permission to illustrate her beloved song. This book reflects back on Paradise's history and visits the early mining days, the gold rush, gold nugget days and town traditions.

Carolyn has been a proud resident of Paradise since 1986 where she's been a teacher and an active community volunteer. She and her husband Scott have raised three children (now adults) and have two beautiful grandchildren. Currently she's teaching music at three Paradise elementary schools. She enjoys singing with a trio called "The Classigals", clog dancing, rowing, and songwriting.' Carolyn wrote the song "Paradise" for the Gold Nugget Days Melodrama where it was performed for many years. Sandy Miller (#4) and Carolyn (#5) sang and tap danced to the song on stage. Years later, Carolyn taught her Paradise Elementary Chorus the song and they performed it each year at the Gold Nugget Queen Contest held at the Paradise Performing Art Center.