The Carpenter's Notebook

Dean Johnson, co-host of Hometime
"Home Improvement is a thread that runs through our lives. Mark has woven it into very rich and unique story."

Bret Witter, Editorial Director, HCI and Publisher of Chicken Soup for the Soul
" ... wise, touching, and as satisfying as a hard day's work well done."

Midwest Book review
" ... heartwarming, even inspirational novel written with a superbly engaging flair for original storytelling by author Mark Clement."

Book Description
Gideon Herlihy was an uncommon carpenter. He lived his life believing that building is a search for what's best in us. Gideon used his tools for more than just building and improving the homes in his small town, he used them to build and improve his life. For Gideon, carpentry is more than nailing two pieces of wood together, it's a vital expression of who we are-of who we can become. While he worked the jobsites of his tumultuous, unplanned life, he learned what he called True Things: jobsite lessons that made sense of his existence as a young father, husband, and man in search of meaning. Two years after Gideon's death, his son Brendan leaves his two daughters and collapsing marriage to return home and fulfill a promise: to remodel his father's dilapidated shop into an art studio for his mother. There, Brendan finds his father's dented and scratched aluminum contractor's clipboard. On the curled, yellowed papers inside, Gideon recorded the True Things that framed his existence and outlined the mission of his life. In it he kept treasures and secrets for his boy to find. Too soft and out of shape, Brendan recalls sunny, sweaty summers long ago working with his father and re-discovers that building is both a physical and mental test. With every swing of his hammer and every turned page of his father's notebook, he makes progress rebuilding the shop. And, with every wall Brendan tips into place, every pound he sweats off, and every fear he defeats, Brendan rebuilds himself and his family's life.

About the Author
Mark Clement is a carpenter, father, author, and magazine editor. In his pursuit to build a good life and a good business he created the story for The Carpenter's Notebook. While he improved homes, he realized that he could improve his life. He has shared his knowledge of building how-to with radio and TV audiences, appearing on the Discovery Channel's Home Matters, DIY Network’s Tools & Techniques, and PBS's American Woodshop and American HomeShop.


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