Mahopac native Michael DeNobile releases new novel

MAHOPAC, N.Y.—For Michael DeNobile, history is more than just a subject of interest. It’s a lifelong passion that has shaped his continuing education, his vocation, and his creative pursuits. The long-time Mahopac resident has spent his career teaching writing and English literature at the high school and college level. And now, he's a published novelist. 

DeNobile's debut novel, "Chickasaw Creek" was published last July. The coming-of-age story, set in the 1950s American South, follows its protagonist, Turner, as he navigates themes of race, identity, and justice and comes to a deeper understanding of the complexities of the society around him.

"Chickasaw Creek" took DeNobile 20 years to complete. Members of the Mahopac Writer's Group, which meets at the Mahopac Library, over Zoom, and at D'Berto's Restaurant, watched the book take shape and offered feedback through its many drafts. 

DeNobile was born in the Bronx, where he now teaches high school. He moved to Mahopac with his family in 1994. A product of the Mahopac Central School District, he has fond memories of growing up in what was then a more serene and rural version of the town. During his junior year at Mahopac High School, he remembers teacher Bernadette Lingardo being particularly instructive in helping him fall in love with history.

His fascination with the American South started back in high school, too. DeNobile said he visited the Carolinas, Florida, and Georgia with his family during his early years. And in 2005, he took a service trip to Louisiana to assist with cleanup efforts after Hurricane Katrina.

"I wouldn't say that trip had any particular inspiration in terms of writing 'Chickasaw Creek.' But I would say in hindsight, going to New Orleans and seeing how the culture was very different to up north really did affect the development of the story as time went on, in terms of the uniqueness of the South," DeNobile explained.

Another somewhat unexpected source of inspiration for the book came from the life of abolitionist William Wilberforce.

"When I was in college, I saw the movie 'Amazing Grace,' which came out, I believe it was 2007. I was particularly drawn to these historical figures who really stood up for what they felt was moral justice. And so I really became fascinated with it."

Today, the English literature teacher's favorite writers include poets Walt Whitman, W.B. Yeats, and Stephen Crane, as well as C.S. Lewis and Harper Lee. And while C.S. Lewis' influence is fully felt in the philosophical tensions of "Chickasaw Creek," Lewis Carroll played a role in the novel's development, too.

"Originally I was making a lot of references to 'The Chronicles of Narnia' in the book, but then I started working with a childhood friend, Dr. Holly Saks, who pointed out that the book also has a lot of 'Alice in Wonderland' in it,” he said. “Turner is like Alice, going down the rabbit hole and coming to understand the society around him.”

While teaching and writing take up much of his time, DeNobile continues to be a dedicated student, himself. He is currently completing a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wyoming and has plans to pursue a second doctorate in pastoral logo therapy, a psychological approach developed by Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl.

“Logo therapy is about helping individuals discover meaning in their own lives,” he explained. “It's not like the teacher trying to impose their version of meaning onto their students, but really giving them the tools in order for them to be self-motivated, in order to to to discover meaning in their own lives."

Beyond academics, DeNobile enjoys hiking, particularly at Bear Mountain and along the bike trails in Carmel and Yorktown. He also has a deep love for film, making regular visits to the Alamo Drafthouse in Yonkers.

And recently, DeNobile has found a way to combine his love for the outdoors with his passion for history. He participates in events led by the Living History Education Foundation, a group of educators who organize history-based hikes and battlefield visits.

As for his writing career, DeNobile is far from finished. He is currently revising Chickasaw Creek for a second edition and developing a unit plan for teachers to incorporate it into their classrooms. He also has several more book ideas in the works, including a volume of his own poetry.

“I probably started 15 other books while working on Turner’s story,” he said. “I have my work cut out for me for the next 20 years.”

"Chickasaw Creek" is available for purchase through Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.