Dogwood [Paperback]

Chris Fabry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 23, 2008

2009 Christy Award winner!
In the small town of Dogwood, West Virginia, Karin has buried her shattered dreams by settling for a faithful husband whose emotional distance from her deep passions and conflicts leaves her isolated. Loaded with guilt, she tries to raise three small children and “do life” the best she can. Will returns to Dogwood intent on pursuing the only woman he has ever loved—only to find there is far more standing in his way than lost years in prison. The secrets of Will and Karin's past begin to emerge through Danny Boyd, a young boy who wishes he hadn't survived the tragedy that knit those two together as well as tore them apart. The trigger that will lay their pain bare and force them to face it rather than flee is the unlikely figure of Ruthie Bowles, a withered, wiry old woman who leads Karin so deep into her anger against God that it forces unexpected consequences.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Chris Fabry has woven these people's lives and this story together in a facinating way, the imagery is powerful and thought provoking." -- Psalm 151.blogspot.com

"Dogwood will captivate you from cover to cover!" -- Reader Reviews.com

"Fabry's plot is intricate and involved with more twists than a backwoods country road. Dogwood is a page-turner that keeps the reader guessing until the end." -- AnE Vibe

"Prolific children's book author Fabry's debut adult novel is filled with twists that will leave readers speechless" -- Romantic Times

"an emotional tale with a startling twist." -- Library Journal

From the Publisher

From Karen Watson, Tyndale Acquisitions Director
"Chris is an insightful and honest observer of people and the human condition. At the outset, Dogwood appears to be a simple story about flawed people. But Chris has imagined a poetic and surprising story about the cost of hidden secrets. This story delivers an emotional jolt that will get fiction lovers talking and we're thrilled to be publishing it."

Product Details

• Paperback: 341 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (July 23, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 141431955X
• ISBN-13: 978-1414319551
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,263 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thanks for stopping by my Amazon page. The new book is out, Not in the Heart. It's what I consider my most riveting, suspenseful, and yet relational book yet. A mystery within a mystery within an addiction. I dedicate this to all who have someone in their life who is addicted.

I was born in West Virginia in 1961. I read a lot, but not very fast, and wrote poems, songs, and transcribed Marx Brothers movies and memorized dialogue.

In 1984 I met Jerry Jenkins at Moody Bible Institute. He offered to help me learn to write and I took him up on the offer. In 1998, Jerry and Dr. Tim LaHaye hired me to help write the Left Behind: The Kids series. After that I worked on several other series for children and then published my first adult novel in 2008. It took more than six years to write Dogwood and find a publisher. It received a 2009 Christy Award.

My next novel, June Bug, drew its themes from the classic Victor Hugo tale, Les Miserables. Then, Almost Heaven released and also won a couple of awards.

In addition to my fiction, I have also collaborated on a couple of best-selling football biographies with Ohio State's Jim Tressel and, most recently, Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints.

I graduated from the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University in Huntington, WV. I have been married to Andrea since 1982. We have nine children. In October of 2008, our family evacuated our house in Colorado, leaving behind all our belongings because of a toxic mold exposure. Since then we have been living near Tucson, AZ in order to get medical help for the mold exposure.

Stop by my website at www.chrisfabry.com to learn more about my writing and radio endeavors, and be sure to sign up for my e-newsletter, the FABRYGRAM. I can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, or you can e-mail me at [e-mail].

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 73 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars heart wrenching character driven tale, August 7, 2008

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dogwood (Paperback)

It has been twelve years since Will Hatfield was sentenced to Clarkeston Federal prison, but he is about to be released in two months. He has a great desire to see the family farm in Dogwood, West Virginia and Karin the only woman h ever loved. When he went to prison, she never answered his letters as she made a new life for herself in a passionless marriage with three children she adores.

When Will comes home, he is not greeted like the prodigal son as most locals believe he should have spent his life in prison for his crimes; even his brother would be happier if he left. The family has been dragged through the sewage due to Will's DUI vehicular homicide of two innocent girls. He is attacked at the place he used to work and the town tries to take the farm away from him due to eminent domain. Karin is coming to learn the truth ABOUT THE SACRIFICE Will made for her.

On the surface DOGWOOD seems like a straight line story with Danny the brother of the dead sisters receiving counseling because he blames himself for their deaths. Karin tries to be happy in her situation while Will shows patience as he waits for Karin to realize the truth. None of the peoples' stories are quite what they appear as the revelations are quite shocking. Chris Fabry has written a heart wrenching character driven tale as each of the key players feels guilt while praying for redemption and a fresh start.

Harriet Klausner

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully Written, August 13, 2008

By 

butchdaulton (Parker, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dogwood (Paperback)

I picked up Dogwood yesterday, and pretty much didn't (couldn't) put it down until I finished this afternoon.

Fabry's writing had me from the first page. I love his wit - not too in-your-face; just enough to keep me smiling throughout. His use of metaphor is flawless. His character development was rich. His theological content was deep without being preachy. And His twists caught me at the end.

Honestly, it isn't the type of book I typically read. However, I thoroughly enjoyed it cover-to-cover. There was a depth, a sweetness, and (for lack of a better term) a melancholy that drew me in and wouldn't let go. Fabulous book!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dogwood Truly Powerful, August 17, 2008

By 

J. A. Cornils "Leodergance" (Ft Worth Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dogwood (Paperback)

It is sad that anyone would read Dogwood by Chris Fabry and refer to it as a Christian novel and that therefore they found it hard to read. Individuals with that reaction are very much the same people that the story talks about, the members of the Christian church that rejects the returning convict without knowing the whole story or members of a community who do not want foreign elements coming back like a cancer, ignoring the cancers right before their very eyes. If that is an indictment of the readers, I must apologize because Will Hatfield, Chris Fabry's protagonist, does not recent the anger he encounters, but rather understands and empathizes with it, while at the same time refusing to accept it. This novel, unlike so many previous "Christian novels" deals with the real world in real world terms that some might find offensive. I did not. Quite the contrary. I found Fabrey's way of handling the realities of life honest and at times lyric, which is what makes it something special.
This is a story of love, of faith, of true sacrifice. It may indeed be pushing it a bit to put this novel on the level of allegory, yet there are parallels between Will Hatfield and Tom Joad, Steinbeck's hero from The Grapes of Wrath. I found it hard to put this novel down, and when I finally got to the weekend and didn't have to put it down, I didn't! I am very proud to see Tyndale publish a novel of this magnitude. I am exceptionally impressed with Chris Fabry's first attempt at an "adult" novel, and I look forward to many more. Anyone wanting a dynamic, powerful, moving novel to read has to pick up Dogwood and read it on its own terms. I am sure that you will not be disappointed.