Dan Chabot's Blog
September 17, 2018
"Like a mouthful of warm Christmas cookies..."
Talk about a perfect Christmas book. This novel is full of Christmas spirit, absolutely ideal for a quiet evening under a blanket, preferably with a fireplace quietly crackling in the room, subtle Christmas lights and an oversized mug of super creamy hot chocolate. In fact, this book is like a hot chocolate in paper (or Kindle?) form.
The story isn't epic or amazing, it is nostalgic and warm tale of several generations and one house, with some really interesting and well written characters. They gather in an old house that is about to be demolished and we read about their memories that they formed in that house. This book left me very satisfied, it is like a mouthful of warm Christmas cookies that you stuff in your face as a kid. Lovely story, really, check it out, especially during this time of year, I am sure I am not the only one that will be left smiling after reading it.
---Sanjin, on Amazon>
The story isn't epic or amazing, it is nostalgic and warm tale of several generations and one house, with some really interesting and well written characters. They gather in an old house that is about to be demolished and we read about their memories that they formed in that house. This book left me very satisfied, it is like a mouthful of warm Christmas cookies that you stuff in your face as a kid. Lovely story, really, check it out, especially during this time of year, I am sure I am not the only one that will be left smiling after reading it.
---Sanjin, on Amazon>
The Last Homecoming
Publishers Weekly
Likes "The Last Homecoming"
Dan Chabot. Yellow Wahee Publishers, $16.95 trade paper (404p) ISBN 978-1-5480-2601-1
"A generation-spanning homecoming is at the heart of this captivating novel from Chabot (Godspeed: A Love Story). More than just a venerable landmark in Haviland, Mich., the grand old house at 401 Barnhill Road has been the cherished home of four families over the course of the last 90 years. With the house set to be demolished soon to make way for a new highway and bridge, the home’s current owner, Nettie Tannehill, sends out invitations to the surviving members of the other three families for a final Christmas Eve homecoming. On Christmas Eve, newspaper owner Willow Summerhaven, former baseball player Nick MacAlinden, and 90-year-old Sister Theresa Renwick—all troubled by pressing financial woes—reunite one last time in the house that had once provided them with shelter and security, little realizing that the answer to their problems lies within the house’s walls and under its floorboards. Although Chabot lovingly depicts a Rockwell-esque image of small town Americana, his memorable characters are shaped by less rosy issues like alcoholism and suicide. Though the pacing is a little slow, the detailed prose and dynamics between the characters makes this a worthy, inspiring novel." (BookLife)
--PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Likes "The Last Homecoming"
Dan Chabot. Yellow Wahee Publishers, $16.95 trade paper (404p) ISBN 978-1-5480-2601-1
"A generation-spanning homecoming is at the heart of this captivating novel from Chabot (Godspeed: A Love Story). More than just a venerable landmark in Haviland, Mich., the grand old house at 401 Barnhill Road has been the cherished home of four families over the course of the last 90 years. With the house set to be demolished soon to make way for a new highway and bridge, the home’s current owner, Nettie Tannehill, sends out invitations to the surviving members of the other three families for a final Christmas Eve homecoming. On Christmas Eve, newspaper owner Willow Summerhaven, former baseball player Nick MacAlinden, and 90-year-old Sister Theresa Renwick—all troubled by pressing financial woes—reunite one last time in the house that had once provided them with shelter and security, little realizing that the answer to their problems lies within the house’s walls and under its floorboards. Although Chabot lovingly depicts a Rockwell-esque image of small town Americana, his memorable characters are shaped by less rosy issues like alcoholism and suicide. Though the pacing is a little slow, the detailed prose and dynamics between the characters makes this a worthy, inspiring novel." (BookLife)
--PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
September 7, 2013
High praise from "Florida Weekly"
Phil Jason, writing in Florida Weekly:
"...a totally authentic setting populated by a group of richly drawn characters who really are “characters.” ...In graceful, evocative prose, Mr. Chabot rolls out an inspiring love story that transforms into personal tragedy and then into gradual recovery from loss."
See the full review at:
http://naples.floridaweekly.com/news/...
"...a totally authentic setting populated by a group of richly drawn characters who really are “characters.” ...In graceful, evocative prose, Mr. Chabot rolls out an inspiring love story that transforms into personal tragedy and then into gradual recovery from loss."
See the full review at:
http://naples.floridaweekly.com/news/...
July 6, 2013
Kindle Book Review
"How can a lie be wrong when it makes so many people feel so good? You'll want everyone you know to read this beautifully crafted tear-jerker and today's feature novel. It currently has an impressive 4.6 star rating with 13 reviews."
--The Kindle Book Review
--The Kindle Book Review
July 4, 2013
So far, so good...
Godspeed: A Love Story is a semi-finalist in The Kindle Book Review's contest for Best Indie Book... The contest is co-sponsored by great book sites like Kindle Boards, Digital Book Today, World Literary Cafe, Kindle Nation Daily, Author Marketing Club, and Free-Bookz.com...
April 13, 2013
Two more nice reviews
"This is an amazing story that will take you on a rollercoaster of a journey. You'll laugh, cry, and you may even wonder, "Do I appreciate the people in my life enough?"'
--Melissa's Midnight Musings
"…A very different book than I have read ever… The entire book, sweet and a great read, did make me think about life and what we do… Recommended for anyone who has a heart, who has been in love, or who has ever genuinely cared for someone…"
--Dalene, A Date With a Book
--Melissa's Midnight Musings
"…A very different book than I have read ever… The entire book, sweet and a great read, did make me think about life and what we do… Recommended for anyone who has a heart, who has been in love, or who has ever genuinely cared for someone…"
--Dalene, A Date With a Book
April 3, 2013
Here lies an obituary tale
Here lies Johnny Yeast
Pardon me for not rising
--Inscription on an
actual tombstone
When you do research for a novel, you never know what you might run into.
While researching background for Godspeed: a love story, which deals with the touching and surprising events streaming from a disastrous and humiliating funeral service, I learned all kinds of interesting (and sometimes humorous) things about the funeral industry and its history.
For example, a lot of people, like Johnny Yeast above, have used their obituaries or tombstones to spell out last wishes, settle some old scores, or even leave with a burst of whimsy or humor.
The obituary of one man asked that as a memorial, readers write their congressman and demand the repeal of Daylight Saving Time, which he hated. Comedian Jack Benny stipulated that after his death a single rose be delivered to his widow every day as long as she lived. A woman provided that her Pacemaker be transferred to her dog. One man insisted that after he died the mortician should arrange it so that he could stand up during the three-day wake at his home. And Gene Roddenberry, creator of the Star Trek franchise, successfully arranged to have his remains shot into space.
Many people take advantage of this one last opportunity to get in the last word, or a last laugh. There are many instances, for example, of people whose headstones read, “I told you I was sick.” Another famous epitaph reads: “What a way to lose weight!” The tombstone for a coal miner in Wales reads, “Underground now for good.” And a man named John Penny provided that his tombstone read:
Reader, if cash thou are in want of any
Dig 4 feet deep and thou wilt find a Penny
Some other whimsical tombstones:
Here lies the body/of Jonathan Blake/stepped on the gas/instead of the brake
Here lies Ezekial Aikle/Age 102/The Good Die Young
Here lies Ann Mann/who lived an old maid/but died an old Mann
The dust of/Melantha Gribbling/Swept up at last/by the Great Housekeeper
First a cough/Carried me off/Then a coffin/They carried me off in
And think about this one:
Sacred to the memory of Major James Brush, Royal Artillery,/who was killed by the accidental discharge of a pistol by his orderly/Well done, good and faithful servant
My own favorite line, which made it into my book, isn’t from a tombstone, but from the headline on an obituary in an Old West newspaper. It described the demise of a cattle rustler, who had just been hanged. “Jerked to Jesus,” the headline said.
And an actual headstone in the Boot Hill Cemetery in Tombstone, Arizona says,
Here lies Lester Moore
Four shots from a forty-four
No Les, No More
Funerals and obituaries might seem like a strange background for a love story. But art imitates life, and the humiliating central incident behind Godspeed: a love story actually happened to a friend of mine.
He was engaged to a lovely young woman who was struck down suddenly by cancer. It fell to him to make funeral arrangements, but dazed by remorse and grief, he turned the service over to an irresponsible funeral home and then watched helplessly as they made a travesty of her last rites.
That got me to thinking about how anyone could possibly cope with a tragic situation like that. How my newspaperman hero coped with it makes up a good portion of the book. He turns to writing obituaries, hoping he can somehow atone for his guilt and failure by writing beautiful, touching tributes to others, but eventually decides that even that isn’t enough. What he does about it makes for an astonishing turn of events.
Research for the story took me down many roads, back into history, and how deaths have been treated in American newspapers over the years. They began as brief announcements in pre-Revolutionary days, gradually evolved into longer pieces, especially for prominent citizens, and now have faded back to brief announcements again, unless you are famous, or infamous, or willing to pay for an extended small-print death notice (not to be confused with obituaries).
Obituary styles have changed, too, over the years. At one time newspapers seemed preoccupied with the gruesome details of every death, sometimes describing in extended gory detail the exact clinical causes behind the deceased’s demise. Later, they backed away to the other extreme, becoming reluctant to even use the terms “death” or “dead,” preferring instead a long list of euphemisms. Newspapers of the early and mid-20th century were full of references to dearly departed who had “Crossed the Great Divide” or “Climbed that Golden Staircase” or “Went to Meet his Maker.”
Through all my research I came to one conclusion about death and dying, subjects none of us will ever escape, so we might as well face it. My conclusion is that if you want to leave a nice obituary, do it yourself. That doesn’t mean you have to write it yourself (although the funeral home would be very happy if you did), but you should at least leave a detailed written record of your life for your survivors. This is far superior to relying on a grief-stricken spouse or other distraught relative to come up with your biographical details at the last minute while they are under extreme duress.
Likewise, leave instructions for the kind of service you would like to have. Do you have a favorite Bible reading or a verse or passage from a favorite book? Do you have a favorite song or songs you want played at the service? Do you want someone in particular to give a eulogy? Spell it all out on paper and leave it for your survivors. That way, you can look down (or up!) from your final home and be assured that you left in style, just the way you wanted it, with the details all correct.
Have your heirs tuck the final obituary away in the family Bible or some other safe place, where it will become part of your family history and family tree. Here in one place are all the details about your life and family -- names, dates, events -- that will help later generations reconstruct a picture of who you were and where you fit in the family tree.
Modern technology has brought new twists to the obituary. Now you can leave a video obit, much like Art Buchwald did some years ago. In the opening frame the newly-deceased 81-year-humorist looks at the camera with a giant grin and says, “Hi, I’m Art Buchwald, and I just died.”
And for some people, Facebook has become a lasting memorial. Facebook lets you convert an account into a permanent memorial, where friends and relatives can continue to leave warm, nostalgic messages. And there are even cases where personal sites have stayed active long after the death of the holder, where friends can continue to post sentimental comments.
If all this is too grisly to contemplate right now, keep in mind that 100 years from now everybody who ever knew you will be dead, too, so a nice obituary at least will tell others in that far-off time that you were here and meant something to somebody. You can’t live forever, but the next best thing is an obituary, which is going to be around for a long time.
And if you leave a zinger on your tombstone, they’ll know that you had a sense of humor, too. Like this guy:
Here lies an atheist
All dressed up and no place to go
Pardon me for not rising
--Inscription on an
actual tombstone
When you do research for a novel, you never know what you might run into.
While researching background for Godspeed: a love story, which deals with the touching and surprising events streaming from a disastrous and humiliating funeral service, I learned all kinds of interesting (and sometimes humorous) things about the funeral industry and its history.
For example, a lot of people, like Johnny Yeast above, have used their obituaries or tombstones to spell out last wishes, settle some old scores, or even leave with a burst of whimsy or humor.
The obituary of one man asked that as a memorial, readers write their congressman and demand the repeal of Daylight Saving Time, which he hated. Comedian Jack Benny stipulated that after his death a single rose be delivered to his widow every day as long as she lived. A woman provided that her Pacemaker be transferred to her dog. One man insisted that after he died the mortician should arrange it so that he could stand up during the three-day wake at his home. And Gene Roddenberry, creator of the Star Trek franchise, successfully arranged to have his remains shot into space.
Many people take advantage of this one last opportunity to get in the last word, or a last laugh. There are many instances, for example, of people whose headstones read, “I told you I was sick.” Another famous epitaph reads: “What a way to lose weight!” The tombstone for a coal miner in Wales reads, “Underground now for good.” And a man named John Penny provided that his tombstone read:
Reader, if cash thou are in want of any
Dig 4 feet deep and thou wilt find a Penny
Some other whimsical tombstones:
Here lies the body/of Jonathan Blake/stepped on the gas/instead of the brake
Here lies Ezekial Aikle/Age 102/The Good Die Young
Here lies Ann Mann/who lived an old maid/but died an old Mann
The dust of/Melantha Gribbling/Swept up at last/by the Great Housekeeper
First a cough/Carried me off/Then a coffin/They carried me off in
And think about this one:
Sacred to the memory of Major James Brush, Royal Artillery,/who was killed by the accidental discharge of a pistol by his orderly/Well done, good and faithful servant
My own favorite line, which made it into my book, isn’t from a tombstone, but from the headline on an obituary in an Old West newspaper. It described the demise of a cattle rustler, who had just been hanged. “Jerked to Jesus,” the headline said.
And an actual headstone in the Boot Hill Cemetery in Tombstone, Arizona says,
Here lies Lester Moore
Four shots from a forty-four
No Les, No More
Funerals and obituaries might seem like a strange background for a love story. But art imitates life, and the humiliating central incident behind Godspeed: a love story actually happened to a friend of mine.
He was engaged to a lovely young woman who was struck down suddenly by cancer. It fell to him to make funeral arrangements, but dazed by remorse and grief, he turned the service over to an irresponsible funeral home and then watched helplessly as they made a travesty of her last rites.
That got me to thinking about how anyone could possibly cope with a tragic situation like that. How my newspaperman hero coped with it makes up a good portion of the book. He turns to writing obituaries, hoping he can somehow atone for his guilt and failure by writing beautiful, touching tributes to others, but eventually decides that even that isn’t enough. What he does about it makes for an astonishing turn of events.
Research for the story took me down many roads, back into history, and how deaths have been treated in American newspapers over the years. They began as brief announcements in pre-Revolutionary days, gradually evolved into longer pieces, especially for prominent citizens, and now have faded back to brief announcements again, unless you are famous, or infamous, or willing to pay for an extended small-print death notice (not to be confused with obituaries).
Obituary styles have changed, too, over the years. At one time newspapers seemed preoccupied with the gruesome details of every death, sometimes describing in extended gory detail the exact clinical causes behind the deceased’s demise. Later, they backed away to the other extreme, becoming reluctant to even use the terms “death” or “dead,” preferring instead a long list of euphemisms. Newspapers of the early and mid-20th century were full of references to dearly departed who had “Crossed the Great Divide” or “Climbed that Golden Staircase” or “Went to Meet his Maker.”
Through all my research I came to one conclusion about death and dying, subjects none of us will ever escape, so we might as well face it. My conclusion is that if you want to leave a nice obituary, do it yourself. That doesn’t mean you have to write it yourself (although the funeral home would be very happy if you did), but you should at least leave a detailed written record of your life for your survivors. This is far superior to relying on a grief-stricken spouse or other distraught relative to come up with your biographical details at the last minute while they are under extreme duress.
Likewise, leave instructions for the kind of service you would like to have. Do you have a favorite Bible reading or a verse or passage from a favorite book? Do you have a favorite song or songs you want played at the service? Do you want someone in particular to give a eulogy? Spell it all out on paper and leave it for your survivors. That way, you can look down (or up!) from your final home and be assured that you left in style, just the way you wanted it, with the details all correct.
Have your heirs tuck the final obituary away in the family Bible or some other safe place, where it will become part of your family history and family tree. Here in one place are all the details about your life and family -- names, dates, events -- that will help later generations reconstruct a picture of who you were and where you fit in the family tree.
Modern technology has brought new twists to the obituary. Now you can leave a video obit, much like Art Buchwald did some years ago. In the opening frame the newly-deceased 81-year-humorist looks at the camera with a giant grin and says, “Hi, I’m Art Buchwald, and I just died.”
And for some people, Facebook has become a lasting memorial. Facebook lets you convert an account into a permanent memorial, where friends and relatives can continue to leave warm, nostalgic messages. And there are even cases where personal sites have stayed active long after the death of the holder, where friends can continue to post sentimental comments.
If all this is too grisly to contemplate right now, keep in mind that 100 years from now everybody who ever knew you will be dead, too, so a nice obituary at least will tell others in that far-off time that you were here and meant something to somebody. You can’t live forever, but the next best thing is an obituary, which is going to be around for a long time.
And if you leave a zinger on your tombstone, they’ll know that you had a sense of humor, too. Like this guy:
Here lies an atheist
All dressed up and no place to go
March 22, 2013
"An amazing story, a rollercoaster of a journey"
A review from Melissa's Midnight Musings:
"Derry and Amedee's relationship is really what glues the story together. Their relationship moves quickly,(but not insta-love quickly). It is tender, sweet, and true. They just fit very well together. They have some extremely tender moments with each other that were enough to move me to tears. I can't say much about what happens with them without ruining the story. But I will say that I like how everything comes full circle in the end.
"This is an amazing story that will take you on a rollercoaster of a journey. You'll laugh, cry, and you may even wonder, "Do I appreciate the people in my life enough?"
"Derry and Amedee's relationship is really what glues the story together. Their relationship moves quickly,(but not insta-love quickly). It is tender, sweet, and true. They just fit very well together. They have some extremely tender moments with each other that were enough to move me to tears. I can't say much about what happens with them without ruining the story. But I will say that I like how everything comes full circle in the end.
"This is an amazing story that will take you on a rollercoaster of a journey. You'll laugh, cry, and you may even wonder, "Do I appreciate the people in my life enough?"
February 22, 2013
Pour a nice glass of wine and curl up with "Godspeed"...
Another nice review, this one from Lori at her book blog, Escape With Dollycas Into a Good Book:
("Godspeed") is a love story of an enduring love, told in an ingenious way that really leaves the reader solving a bit of a mystery. A rich, tender story filled with emotion but tempered with humor and uplifting moments that balance out what could have turned this into a very heavy story.
There is a message - an inspirational one - but this really is a story about life and how one man deals with the cards he is dealt.
Beautifully written, clever characters and the stories within the story, the testimonials, really moved me...
Have some tissues handy, pour a nice glass of wine and curl up with Godspeed. It is a love story you will truly love.
http://www.escapewithdollycas.com/
("Godspeed") is a love story of an enduring love, told in an ingenious way that really leaves the reader solving a bit of a mystery. A rich, tender story filled with emotion but tempered with humor and uplifting moments that balance out what could have turned this into a very heavy story.
There is a message - an inspirational one - but this really is a story about life and how one man deals with the cards he is dealt.
Beautifully written, clever characters and the stories within the story, the testimonials, really moved me...
Have some tissues handy, pour a nice glass of wine and curl up with Godspeed. It is a love story you will truly love.
http://www.escapewithdollycas.com/
January 8, 2013
Two more nice reviews
From Martha's Bookshelf book blog:
"This is an emotional love story that experiences great, happy highs and a deep, sad low. But it is also a story that affirms love and life for 'ordinary', every-day people.
"Although there is tragedy and sadness, the author entertains with passion, humor and a very uplifting and positive message. The story is very well written with good characters, strong descriptions and great empathy shared in the funeral testimonies.
"I would recommend this to anyone who likes warm, emotional stories and especially to anyone who might need encouragement. If you think that your life, or others around you, are not each of great individual worth and importance, please read this book."
--Martha’s Bookshelf
see the full review at...
http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com
This one is from Amanda Capper, reviewing for GenReview Fiction:
"Godspeed: a love story is the story of Derry Danaher, a very likable but disturbed young man. When faced with heartbreak, Derry handles the situation in a very unique fashion; and it works for him. Eventually he realizes he cannot continue with his exceptional plans for rehabilitation because, even if he is helping himself and others, and has the best of intentions, what he is doing is wrong.
"The author handles this twist in the story very well. It is believable, interesting, and readers may find themselves thinking,'What’s wrong with doing that?' Each reader would have their own answer to that question and it would make for a good ethical debate.
"The friends and family helping Derry through his rough times are staunch in their love for him, which is a good thing, but very prone to puns, which was fun at times, tedious at others. These characters radiate a continual feel-good vibe but often come across as one-dimensional.
"This is not a book for those prone to cynicism. Godspeed is sweet and sentimental. Nor for those who love a good villain. There aren’t any. The conflict in Godspeed is the inner struggle of Derry and his coming to terms with circumstances beyond his control. All in all, an uplifting book, suitable for readers searching for a smile."
"This is an emotional love story that experiences great, happy highs and a deep, sad low. But it is also a story that affirms love and life for 'ordinary', every-day people.
"Although there is tragedy and sadness, the author entertains with passion, humor and a very uplifting and positive message. The story is very well written with good characters, strong descriptions and great empathy shared in the funeral testimonies.
"I would recommend this to anyone who likes warm, emotional stories and especially to anyone who might need encouragement. If you think that your life, or others around you, are not each of great individual worth and importance, please read this book."
--Martha’s Bookshelf
see the full review at...
http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com
This one is from Amanda Capper, reviewing for GenReview Fiction:
"Godspeed: a love story is the story of Derry Danaher, a very likable but disturbed young man. When faced with heartbreak, Derry handles the situation in a very unique fashion; and it works for him. Eventually he realizes he cannot continue with his exceptional plans for rehabilitation because, even if he is helping himself and others, and has the best of intentions, what he is doing is wrong.
"The author handles this twist in the story very well. It is believable, interesting, and readers may find themselves thinking,'What’s wrong with doing that?' Each reader would have their own answer to that question and it would make for a good ethical debate.
"The friends and family helping Derry through his rough times are staunch in their love for him, which is a good thing, but very prone to puns, which was fun at times, tedious at others. These characters radiate a continual feel-good vibe but often come across as one-dimensional.
"This is not a book for those prone to cynicism. Godspeed is sweet and sentimental. Nor for those who love a good villain. There aren’t any. The conflict in Godspeed is the inner struggle of Derry and his coming to terms with circumstances beyond his control. All in all, an uplifting book, suitable for readers searching for a smile."
