CHS teacher publishes first novel

Cody High School Equus

As an English teacher and journalism adviser, Mr. Vincent Cappiello has many accomplishments to be proud of in his writing career.

He has won awards for sports writing on both state and national levels, along with column writing and layout awards during his 15 years as a professional journalist. While advising the Cody High School Equus for seven years, the newspaper has won the 3A All-State award for the last four years along with countless individual awards. He recently has another accomplishment to be proud of – a published novel.

Aptly named A Quarter Mile From Home, the story features Tony Ballino, a track fanatic based on Cappiello himself.

“Writing a novel is physically and emotionally exhausting,” Cappiello said. “But ultimately it’s incredibly rewarding.”

He said writing the novel was also very therapeutic.

Throughout the story, Tony deals with pains from his past, challenges in the present and uncertainty of the future. A chainsaw accident leaves 17-year-old Tony uncertain of his track career and college choices. At age 31, Cappiello experienced a similar accident and feeling of uncertainty when he nearly died while cutting firewood in the Sawtooth National Forest in southern Idaho.

Tony’s parents are also based on Cappiello’s parents. He used his mother’s real name as the protagonist’s mom’s name (Carol) in the story.

“I noticed when it was published that I hadn’t changed Tony’s mom’s name,” Cappiello said. “I just went with it because it worked.”

Through eight years of working on this novel, Cappiello said his wife and children supported him enthusiastically.

“They have been my rock,” Cappiello said.

Cappiello has been married to his wife, Lisa, for 22 years. Together they have three children; Gabbie, 15, Sara, 12 and Maggie, 8.

“I pushed him to get it published because I knew how much he wanted it,” said Gabbie Cappiello, a sophomore at CHS this year. “But I knew he was scared,”

Cappiello says in the foreword of the book he experienced “gentle nudging” from his wife and children, who pushed him to finish.

“I was really surprised when he finished it and I read it all,” Gabbie Cappiello said. “He wrote about some stuff he didn’t tell me and that really surprised me.”

Cappiello made sure Tony went through problems in his personal life. Through his writing, he ultimately could help those who are also experiencing similar problems.

“I’m reaching out to kids who don’t have stable home lives. I’m writing for them,” Cappiello said. “You can’t wallow in self pity.”

In the end, Tony learns the same lesson. Cappiello says the main message you should take away is this: you just can’t make it through some challenges on your own.

The book is available at Cody Newsstand, amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.