Poem for wife becomes novel 33 years later
Published: December 4, 2005
Teacher completes novel after 33 years
What started as a poem transformed into ‘The Chronicles of Em-Haborn’
Just over three decades ago, Gordon Headrick sat down to write a poem for his future wife.
Through the process of putting pen to paper, the piece slowly started to manifest in a way he had not imagined.
Never reaching a natural conclusion, Headrick wrote and rewrote his poem for 33 years, only stopping when it had developed into a full-length novel, “The Chronicles of Em-Haborn.”
Now published, the West High School English teacher held a book signing for the work on Saturday at the Barnes and Noble in Tracy.
Headrick describes the book as “fast-paced fiction written to appeal to readers ages middle school through adult.”
“It is an adventure about multiple generations of a family,” he said. “The theme is that there is hope for everyone.”
And that is also the message he believes his students will get from this accomplishment.
“I talk to them about their goals, and explain to them that it took me 33 years to accomplish mine, which is a testament to not giving up,” Headrick said. “Anything is possible if you don’t give up.”
After so much time, Headrick said he has developed his own bond with the characters in his story.
“I love these people, I’ll never be able to stay away from them,” he said. “They will always be with me.”
After selling over 250 copies in the first two months of its re-lease, Headrick said he has been moved by how well his work has been received.
“It is very humbling experience,” he said. “Many teachers have purchased the book as well as former and current students.”
Despite the early success, he has no intention of leaving the classroom to become a full-time writer.
“I couldn’t do this for a living,” he said. “Had I tried to do it for a living, I would have been dead 32 years ago. I am just happy to know that people have read book and actually enjoy it.”
So what are the prospects of a sequel?
“I have actually written a sequel, and I am currently in the process of revising it,” Headrick said. “Hopefully, it won’t take another 33 years.”
Headrick has been honored in “Who’s Who Among American Teachers” and is currently in his seventh year at West High School.
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