Zach finds “Home” in new novel
When it came time to build the world of my newest novel, Home, I realized I didn’t need to imagine an entirely new place. I already lived in one. For many, a house is just a structure—a roof, four walls, and a place to rest at the end of the day. But for me, my home is a living, breathing thing with a century’s worth of stories etched into its bones. It’s a place where memories linger, where joy and heartbreak have left invisible imprints. It’s a place of deep magic. I never expected to own a home like this. Growing up with cerebral palsy, my parents didn’t prepare me for milestones like marriage, parenthood, or homeownership. Those dreams felt impossibly distant. So when my wife Emily and I got married in 2010, we fully expected to rent for the rest of our lives. But life has a way of surprising us. One day, while looking for a new lease, a friend mentioned we might be able to afford a mortgage for about the same price as rent. At first, I didn’t believe it. I’d grown up riding around Wytheville with my parents, gazing out the car window at the old houses lining Fourth Street—grand, century-old homes that seemed like palaces. Owning one of them felt like an impossible dream. And yet, through a combination of providence and perfect timing, one of those very homes came up for sale—foreclosure had brought its price within our reach. We bought it. The day we moved in, Emily and I looked at each other and knew, without a doubt: We were home. As we settled into our new life, I couldn’t help but wonder about the house’s past. Who had walked these halls before us? What laughter, arguments, and dreams had filled these rooms over the decades? I dug through courthouse records, uncovering a fascinating timeline that stretched back to 1915, when the house was first built by a young couple named William and Daisy Moore. Their story began in joy but ended in tragedy—both of them died young, leaving their dream home behind. Over the next century, other families came and went. There were eras of great happiness, like when the Pope family lived there for fifty years, raising children and hosting weekly card nights. And there were darker times, when conflict and grief seemed to drain the very warmth from the house. One detail stood out to me: in one hundred years, no child had ever been born living in the house. Many had lived there, of course, but none had entered the world under its roof. That changed in 2014, when our daughter Bella was born. To me, that felt like magic—like a blessing written into the very foundation of the home. That spark of wonder grew into a story. At first, it was just a simple poem for Bella. I called it The Rose Princess. With illustrations from a friend, we turned it into a children’s book, but as time passed, I realized there was more to tell. The house wasn’t just the setting for a sweet little poem. It was the heart of a much larger story—a battle between light, darkness, hope, and despair. Bella would the center of this magical legacy. That’s when Home was born—a full-length novel blending fantasy with the very real history of Wytheville and my own family. In the world of Home, the roses that bloom around the house are magical. When love and goodness fill the rooms, the roses flourish. But when evil stirs, they wither and fade. The first owner, Daisy, becomes an enchantress who sacrifices everything to protect the home she built. Across generations, families come and go, while a dark force—personified in the villainous Cyrus Owens—plots to corrupt the magic for his own ends. And then comes Bella, the first child ever born in the house, whose mysterious birthmark—a small rose at the back of her head—marks her as the one destined to defeat the darkness once and for all. It’s a story full of wonder, danger, and redemption. But at its core, Home is about something very simple: the love that turns a house into a home, and the courage it takes to protect that love. For me, Home isn’t just a fantasy novel. It’s a love letter to my family, my town, and to every person who has ever felt the power of a place to shape their story. I want to share this book with you—not just as readers, but as neighbors. That’s why I’m thrilled to announce that my first shipment of 50 signed copies will arrive by September 17th. These are special, limited editions, and once they’re gone, they’re gone. Here’s how to claim yours for $20 for scheduled local pickup or $30 to have a signed copy shipped directly to you. Payment can be accepted by PayPal at paypal.me/zacharygcooley, Cash App at $ZacharyCooley1, in person at 820 S. 4th St., Wytheville, VA, or by phone at (276) 620-7492 to arrange payment or pickup. As I sat on my front porch, watching Bella play in the yard, I’m reminded why I spent a decade writing this story. Life is full of challenges, and sometimes the world feels dark and uncertain. But even in the hardest seasons, there are places and people that bring light and renewal. For me, that place is this house. For you, it might be somewhere else entirely. My hope is that, when you read Home, you’ll feel a little of that magic for yourself. This book is about family and faith, about how the past shapes us and how love can heal even the deepest wounds. And it’s about finding courage—the kind that grows in the soil of our everyday lives, blooming quietly until we need it most.