Snow Day: A Novel [Hardcover]

Billy Coffey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 11, 2010

In this debut novel, Peter is a simple man who lives by a simple truth--a person gains strength by leaning on his constants. To him, those constants are the factory where he works, the family he loves, and the God who sustains him. But when news of job cuts comes against the backdrop of an unexpected snowstorm, his life becomes filled with far more doubts than certainties.
With humor and a gift for storytelling, Billy Coffey brings you along as he spends his snow day encountering family, friends, and strangers of his small Virginia town. All have had their own battles with life's storms. Some have found redemption. Others are still seeking it. But each one offers a piece to the puzzle of why we must sometimes suffer loss, and each one will help Peter find a greater truth--our lives are made beautiful not by our big moments, but our little ones. (2010)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a gentle read and a sure bet with its even pacing, descriptive language, and humor. Look for more by this talented author in the future." (Library Journal 2010)

"SNOW DAY is the kind of book you savor, then read again. Simple, yet profound. Spare, but beautiful. I loved this book." (Mary DeMuth, author of the Defiance Texas trilogy and Thin Places 2010)

"Everybody needs a snow day! To slow down and take a breath of what really is important." (Don Mattingly, 1985 American League MVP 2010)

"With SNOW DAY, Billy offers further proof that the blogger-turned-author is a trend we've barely touched on. Honest, insightful, and packed with the writing people fell in love with online, SNOW DAY makes me proud to be a blogger." (Jonathan Acuff, author of Stuff Christians Like 2010)

"Billy Coffey has a way of writing that draws you into his story, which then allows you to find yourself in it. In this book he'll encourage you to pay attention, to laugh, and to wonder." (Vince Antonucci, author of I Became a Christian and All I Got Was this Lousy T-Shirt 2010)

"Author Billy Coffey weaves a poignant and poetic tale of a man rediscovering his faith and purpose. Told with charm and humor, SNOW DAY reveals how unexpected detours, 'chance' encounters, and everyday experiences lead to life's most valuable insights." (Laura Cross, author, screenwriter, and writing coach 2010)

"Set against a Blue Ridge Mountain backdrop, peopled with a colorful cast, and seasoned with small-town Southern charm, Billy Coffey's SNOW DAY will make readers want to live aware--to discover the divine in ordinary places among common folk. Each chapter is a story in itself, a jewel sparkling with wisdom. Strung together, the shimmering strand adorns simple truth: Life may be hard, but God is good. Detours happen by design. One way or another, the road leads home. So pay attention. Laugh. Wonder. And, sweet fancy Moses, don't forget to pick up the bread and milk." (Jeanne Damoff, author of Parting the Waters: Finding Beauty in Brokenness )

"SNOW DAY invites readers to shift into slow gear and engage in people's lives. Through the narrator's charming, disarming personality, I'm reminded how important it is to ask good questions, listen closely, and see beyond the surface talk into a person's heart and soul. Billy Coffey has created a town full of winsome, appealing characters with strengths and struggles, faith and foibles-they're so realistic, I wish I could pick up and move to that fictional town in Virginia in order to get to know them better. But the message of this novel is that no matter where we live, those people and their insights are all around us; meaningful stories are just waiting to be told. All we need to do is slow down enough to pay attention . . .all we need is one good snow day." (Ann Kroeker, author of Not So Fast: Slow-Down Solutions for Frenzied Families )

About the Author

Billy and his wife, Joanne, live with their two children in the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. A product of his small-town locale, Billy counts as assets his rural authenticity, unwavering sense of purpose, and insatiable curiosity--all of which tend to make his front porch a comfortably crowded place. (2010)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: FaithWords; 1 edition (October 11, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446568260
• ISBN-13: 978-0446568265
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 8.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #620,702 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I write about what I see and wrap a story around it, which often results in characters who realize stumbling through life is okay because it's still moving forward. That seems appropriate, I think. In the end we're all doing the best we can with what we have, smiling through the fear we face, and trying to find the beauty in life's sameness. So I watch and I listen, and what doesn't end up in a book will usually find its way to my blog, What I Learned Today.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good day to call in well. . ., September 9, 2010

By 

Mary Ann - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Snow Day: A Novel (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

This first-person novel is closely kin to Phil Gulley's Harmony and Front Porch stories, and compares favorably. The plot develops around a "snow day"--because of excessive weather, life as we know it grinds to a halt, and we are forced to slow down and think in different terms, an unexpected interlude of vacation, a break from normal, with a whiff of excitement at the unexpected beauty and/or challenge. For this family, all these things come true with a vengence because not only does the weather deliver a whammy, but some economic changes give cause for introspection, too.

The tale got off to a slow start and the faith element was a bit heavy-handed. However, it hit a better stride about twenty per cent through, and I could not put it down. The author shows a clever dry wit, too, and I conclude by recommending it highly as engaging, refreshing, and inspiring. I hope the author does not stop with this first novel.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Snow Day will change your heart, September 30, 2010

By 

P. Pollock (CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Snow Day: A Novel (Hardcover)

A couple of years ago, I read a book by Donald Miller called Blue Like Jazz. That book was so radically different from any books I had read before that I couldn't put it down. It approached faith in a new, interesting and REAL way which I had never encountered before - and it has become one of my favorite books.

Snow Day by Billy Coffey is as different from other books I've read as Blue Like Jazz was - and it's just as good!

Although it is described as a `novel', I see it more as a series of short stories, which, when placed together produce one coherent timeline with an underlying storyline.

In many ways, it's very much like many of the spy and cop TV shows these days, where every week has a self contained story but also continues a bigger story running through the whole series.

Snow Day follows the story of Peter, a man in fear of losing his job who takes a `snow day' because the overnight snowfall was so bad. All throughout his day, Peter learns important and deep lessons about life, love, friendship and faith which the reader will enjoy and glean so much from.

I read a review which called the book `simple' and suggested it should have been youth fiction instead of adult fiction because it doesn't challenge the brain enough but that's precisely what makes this book so great.

Snow Day does not challenge the brain, it challenges the heart. Instead of making you think through an idea or concept, it lays it out simply and in a way in which anyone can understand so you don't have to spend time working out right from wrong, instead you can spend your time inwardly digesting the valuable lessons and allowing them to change your heart, your actions and your attitude.

Snow Day is this season's `must-have' book!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not quite the book for me, December 26, 2010

By 

Nanciejeanne "Enjay" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Snow Day: A Novel (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

The story is about a man who goes about a typical afternoon and finds Christian meaning in events throughout the day. I thought the writing was light it was very easy to read.

I just thought here and there it was a little..and I hate to say it...sappy and overreaching. I mean the "events" were pretty much obvious set-ups (seeing people with physical differences, just happening to drive past his "friend" who lost his faith, etc.) I wish there were things that happened that didn't have a message, that made him doubt...because that is more real to me.

I honestly don't mean to be critical to those who did find it inspirational, but I just don't happen to be one of them, and felt I should write a review for others who may be like me...and we all get to review things here, right? (but I have a feeling I will get a bunch of "not helpful" votes anyway because I didn't like it!) It was just the way the things turned out in the book that were just too neat, too inspiring, just too "come-on!" for me. Almost like when you watch a movie, and you already know the formula....but you still hope they mix it up a little...and they don't. BTW, he does devote a chapter to the well-wrung-out debate of "Happy Holidays" vs. "Merry Christmas" greeting in retail stores, I wish he hadn't since most are already on their side of the fence on this one. Just seemed like he could have come up with something newer.

I almost expected the main character to do something like put cream in his coffee and tell us that he just had an amazing revelation that "god is just like cream, pure and white...lightening our day and making life easier and less bitter to swallow!" If you thought that was wise and clever...then you might like this book! (oh boy, I hope I didn't the author any fodder for his next book!...maybe I should write one!)