Chris Spencer never knew his grandfather.
He always felt a strange sort of kinship with him that carried through out his life; when he reached his mid-40s Spencer decided to investigate his grandfather’s life.
“I tried to learn a little bit more about him,” said Spencer. “What I found out was I am a lot like him, including the good, the bad and the ugly.”
Through researching his grandfather Spencer came up with an idea for a novel: My Grandfather’s Garden.
“The book is a story of a mystical relationship of a grandfather and a young boy,” said Spencer. “In my mind I imagined that there is a special bond between a young boy and a grandfather and being able to help your grandfather in the garden was a wonderful metaphor for how he imparted life lesson through the
relationship.”
There are a lot of facts built into the story Spencer said.
“It’s very true in a spiritual sense, the setting and people – most everything about it is true. The whole relationship culminates in the book when the grandfather tells the boy about a key he has hidden and the quest to find the key unlocks the 10 lessons for living. The key is a metaphor for my grandfather’s love and his ability to cross a bridge of time and create a relationship with me.”
As with his first book, From Chris to Christian, proceeds from the sales will go to a local charity. Spencer has chosen to support Project Hope, a Kitchener organization where he sits on the board of directors.
Project Hope helps feed widows and orphans in the African countries of Tanzania and Zambia.
According to Spencer if he sells 1,000 books that will raise $4,500, which will be enough to feed 25 women and their families for a year.
“I write just out of the joy of writing and my stories are small, easy to read in a hour. I try to rekindle the art of storytelling and use it in a way to help impart lessons to other people and at the same time raise money for charity,” said Spencer. “In my book I disclose my 10 lessons for living, the values of philanthropy and loving
your neighbour as you would love yourself.”
In his research Spencer found out the love of writing was something he shared with his grandfather.
“There is an element of destiny and faith in my writing.
“I have had a lot of positive feed back from people, they love the formula and there are a lot of people who would love to read a book in an hour and take their mind off their daily routines. The most important part for me is getting the message out and helping people.”
