‘Granite’ tells story of Butcher’s champion trail dog

by Jill BurkeANCHORAGE, Alaska — She was known for her tireless journeys to the end of every finish line, and now a children’s book will also be part of four-time Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race champion Susan Butcher’s lasting legacy.Butcher died last August from a long battle with leukemia. “Granite,” which was co-authored by Butcher’s husband, Dave Monson, was published just one month ago and tells the story of her greatest lead dog of the same name.Granite was a pup that didn’t start out as much in life, according to the book, but as Monson explains, Susan believed in him and the rest is history. From obstacles on the trail like blizzards and moose to an illness that nearly killed him, Granite always made it through and on to championship after championship. His story, Monson says, is one of inner strength and courage, lessons Butcher lived her life by, and lessons her family believes are worth sharing.”It just goes to show if someone believes in you and you believe in yourself anything is possible,” Monson said.Monson says he and Butcher were working to turn Granite’s adventures into a children’s story before and during her illness. He completed the book after she died.