Chasing the Sun by Chad Colony

About the book

Chasing the Sun tells the story of Crandon, a young man coming of age in rural America. Crandon is an All-American farm boy whose dreams and ambitions fall well beyond the fields of Iowa. Early in the novel Crandon and his friends damage a neighbor's bean field in a drunken escapade. Crandon is caught by his father and is forced to pay restitution by working for the old and estranged neighbor who is known only as Chief.

Chief and Crandon develop an unlikely kinship and become great friends. Chief passes wisdom to the young Crandon through his storytelling. There are two key stories Chief tells creating a motif throughout the novel. Unknowingly, Crandon's life begins to model after Chief's stories.

The first story is an Indian fable that speaks of a young, narcissistic brave who is extremely materialistic. As punishment for his life on earth he is reincarnated as a beautiful white buck. Initially, the brave is very proud and exuberant of his reincarnation, however, ironically his beauty serves to betray him. The white buck is viewed by man as a great trophy and is constantly hunted. In addition, the buck's white coat fails to provide camouflage and other deer are afraid to be around him for fear that he will draw the hunters' attention. The white buck is therefore forced to walk the Earth alone without the attention of others that he so desperately needs. His solitude becomes his prison.

The second story centers on Chief's brother who defies their father's wishes by becoming a high caliber lawyer. Over the years his brother acquires enormous wealth and power. He marries a beautiful woman who bares him a son. Despite his wealth and family he still longs for more and is never satisfied. He turns to drugs, alcohol, and infidelity to fill the voids in his life. One day his wife catches him with another woman, leading to her suicide. The son tragically finds his mother hanging in the basement and runs away leaving Chief's brother all alone. Eventually Chief's brother sobers up and changes his ways. He devotes his life to finding his lost son to try and make amends. Years pass and he eventually finds his son, now married with child, and asks for his forgiveness. The son reluctantly agrees to forgive him, however, he adds one provision to his pardon. The son tells his father that he must live in anonymity as his neighbor and must watch his grandson grow up, never to know him or speak to him. This would serve as a constant reminder of the atrocities in his life. The punishment is harder than Chief's brother ever imagined.

The novel also has a sub plot around a relationship between Crandon and Kyley, a girl he falls in love with. The parallels between Chief's stories and Crandon's life are now beginning to unfold. Crandon's character is beginning to follow the same path as the Indian brave and Chief's brother. Disgusted with his actions, Crandon confides in Chief who provides a final lesson in life. Crandon vows to change his ways and professes his love to Kyley.

Shortly after, Crandon finds Chief dead in his bed. Crandon makes the shocking discovery as he sifts through some of Chief's belongings that he and Chief both have the same last name. Then it dawns upon Crandon, the story about Chief's brother is actually about Chief. Chief is Crandon's grandfather.

This provides the climax in the novel, however, there is one last twist. Crandon is an active deer hunter and often uses deer hunting as an excuse to be out in the woods to collect his thoughts. As Crandon sits in the timber awaiting a deer, he is approached by a mighty white buck. The great buck is of course Chief paying restitution for his actions as a young man. Crandon lowers his rifle and says goodbye to his friend.

About the author

Chad Colony was born and raised on a small farm just outside of Iowa City, Iowa. He attended Yale and upon the completion of his degree in Ethics, Politics, and Economics he began working for a consumer product company, which he continues to work for as a national account manager. Over the past six years Chad has lived in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Connecticut, and California. Currently, he and his wife, Heidi, reside in Brentwood, California and are expecting their first child. Despite his many travels and active business involvement, Chad's writings take him back to his childhood on the farm exhibiting a more simple and pure America.