Once in a lifetime a story will change your heart and your perspective...
John Jenkins, a young journalist, is marking off time at the small-town Marquette Messenger until he can get into the big-league newspapers. After all, nothing significant ever happens in a farming community, he thinks. Then one day Jenkins is given a routine, dull assignment—to write the obituary of an elderly local farmer, Alfred Gutzman. The remarkable untold story Jenkins uncovers through his investigation, happenstance encounters with people who knew Gutzman, and covert visits to his farm, challenge everything the young reporter holds dear...
A poignant glimpse of the heart wounds of WWII vets on both sides of the line
"The Messenger is not a read to be missed." James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief, Midwest Book Review
About the Author... TIM SPITZACK is editor and publisher of a newspaper publishing company in St. Paul, Minnesota. He has a B.S. degree in Journalism and Sociology and over twenty years' experience working in community journalism. "There's a popular phrase in community journalism that says there are no bad stories, only bad writers. What this means is that there are a multitude of interesting stories about our fellow citizens to discover if we are willing to scratch below the surface. I wrote The Messenger to pay tribute to the people who live quiet lives, but through their acts of love and compassion influence the lives of so many others." www.oaktara.com/TimSpitzack
Book group discussion questions...
1. There is a dichotomy that exists between the prevailing attitudes of city residents vs. small town residents. How is this addressed in the character of John Jenkins, and how did his attitude change from the beginning to the end of the book?
2. Jenkins wasn’t enthused about his obituary assignment and put very little effort into it initially. What does this say about him?
3. Jenkins had several chance encounters with people who knew Gutzman. What did he discover from each meeting and which encounter was most meaningful to you? ·Sandy the waitress ·Jerry Peterson the veteran ·Pastor Glenn Terrell ·Dan and Sue, Rachel’s sister and brother-in-law ·People at the funeral
4. Chapter 7 is a crucial chapter because we learn so much about Guztman from his journal writings. How did these experiences shape him?
5. Gutzman made a very difficult decision to immigrate to America. How was he treated differently by his church members and his peers at the bar? Why are people so quick to make judgments on others without getting to know them? Are attitudes any different today?
6. The more Jenkins learned about Gutzman, the more it challenged his own views on life. How did this transformation affect his relationship with his friends in the Twin Cities, his father and step-mother and his co-workers?
7. Gutzman was a man of faith. How did that guide his life? How did it affect others?
8. In the final chapter Elmer Crosser reads Jenkins’ article. How did it affect him and what does it say about the power of love and forgiveness?
Q & A with the author...
Why did you write this novel? When I was 18 years old I was living with my family in a small town in Iowa; population of around 3,500. Like so many other youth from small towns, I was restless and eager to leave that farming community and discover the world. Now, over 25 years later, I've come to appreciate the beauty of that place and its people. I wanted to write a novel to pay tribute to those in all communities who quietly go about their lives making a difference in the lives of their families and others around them—people with strong values; people whom I believe are the backbone of our country.
Why did you write this novel? When I was 18 years old I was living with my family in a small town in Iowa; population of around 3,500. Like so many other youth from small towns, I was restless and eager to leave that farming community and discover the world. Now, over 25 years later, I've come to appreciate the beauty of that place and its people. I wanted to write a novel to pay tribute to those in all communities who quietly go about their lives making a difference in the lives of their families and others around them—people with strong values; people whom I believe are the backbone of our country.
Is this novel about one particular town in which you've lived? No. I've lived and worked in many towns in the upper Midwest throughout my life. Marquette, Minnesota is an amalgamation of those towns.
How did you come up with the idea for this novel? There was an elderly gentleman in my church, who has since passed away, who immigrated to the United States from Germany with his family when he was a youth. He was of the WWII generation, which I found fascinating. I guess my imagination took over from there.
Who was instrumental in helping you complete this project? Hand's down, my wife and best friend, Jil, whom I met and fell in love with in that small town in Iowa. I am truly blessed to have her as my wife. She stretches me to be better in every area of my life—as a husband, father, and in my career and civic involvement. She always believes in me and encourages me in all that I do. As a journalist, it was always a secret dream of mine to write a novel. I don't think I even shared that dream with Jil, but she must have sensed it because there was a point in our lives where she began making comments about "when" I write my novel...not "if," but "when." There were several other members of my family and close friends that encouraged me greatly, as well. My sister-in-law, Lynn, who is an avid reader of fiction, was the first one other than Jil to read my manuscript. To see that she truly enjoyed it made me think that getting it published might actually be possible.
How long did it take to complete it? Years! Honestly, I've lost track. I think I started it about six or eight years ago. Our four children were young, all under the age of 10 or 12, so it was a crazy and exciting time in our lives. Most of my writing was done after we put the kids to bed. Life often got in the way, as did my desire for sleep, so it was done in fits and starts. I finally completed it in late 2007. From there it was a harrowing journey to find a publisher. I was thrilled to sign my contract with OakTara in 2008, and owe a debt of gratitude to them for taking a chance on me. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, publication was delayed about two years. It was an opportunity for me to practice patience.
There appears to be a faith component to this novel. Why did you include that? To exclude the source behind why Gutzman lived the way he did would have been wrong. I think that faith in God and living as He wants us to live—loving others—is the common thread among people who touch the lives of others. When people truly love God they naturally show love to others. That's what happened in Gutzman's life, and that is what is happening today in the lives of so many people around the world.
Do you have another novel in the works? I do. I've been mulling over the plot for about two years now and finally have it finalized in my mind. I'm about halfway through the first chapter. Hopefully my imagination will take over again so I can put the story to paper.
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