Literary Fiction
Date Published: March 6, 2025
Publisher: Seacoast Press
In The Smallest of Miracles, Douglas Carpenter crafts a masterful literary
debut that merges gripping storytelling with profound life lessons. The novel
follows Ted Carrington, a wealthy, brilliant, and emotionally distant man on
the autism spectrum, who returns to the private elementary school that shaped
him—for better and worse. He intends to make a large donation, but what
begins as a business transaction slowly becomes a reckoning with his past.
As the story transitions between Ted’s present and his childhood,
readers meet the deeply flawed, often cruel boy he once was—especially
to a vulnerable new classmate named Anna. But life, in its quiet way, begins
to turn his world upside down.
What emerges is not only Ted’s transformation, but an invitation to the
reader: to reflect, to slow down, and to reconsider how the smallest
decisions—the ones we barely notice—can lead to the greatest
changes.
This is not just a novel. It’s a call to awareness. A self-improvement
guide disguised as a coming-of-age story.
“A golfer knows a 2-inch putt counts the same as a 200-yard drive. Life is
very similar…”
but it is necessary for growth.”
Read it once for the story. Read it again for the insight.
EXCERPT
Quotes from your Book
- “The truth is always hidden behind things that are out of place.”
- “You can never accomplish anything great until you let go of your fear!”
- ” Just like every thing in life, meaning is found in the small details”
- “A golfer knows a 2-inch putt counts the same as a 200-yard drive Life is very similar, except there are innumerably more 2-inch putts than 200-yard drives “
- “The meaning of life comes down to the effect you have on others”
- “Satisfaction equals happiness. One brings the other”
- “An adult takes responsibility”
- “He had been asked on more than one occasion which was more important: what you know or who you know? He answered both were important to success, but if you wanted power, real power, then it came down to what you know about who you know.”
- “One thing that never changes is that everything does.”
- “Change is the fertilizer of life It often stinks but it is necessary for growth.”
- “Being different is a gift from God. Unfortunately, those lucky enough to be afflicted with it find it’s a gift that takes a very long time to unwrap ”
- “When we have friends, real friends, we must weigh the value of their qualities against our willingness to accept their faults This is a necessary part of every long-lasting relationship.”
Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Douglas became the
youngest stockbroker in the U.S. at just 17 and currently owns two accounting
firms and an asset management company in New York. Despite a thriving career
in finance, his true passion lies in storytelling.
His debut novel, The Smallest of Miracles, took ten years to write—a
deeply personal and intricately crafted journey of self-discovery and
transformation. Drawing on his keen eye for detail and analysis, Douglas
poured over every word, shaping a literary fiction novel that functions as
both an engaging story and a guide to personal growth.
The book explores how tiny, seemingly insignificant choices shape our lives
far more than major events. Readers are invited to slow down, reflect, and
discover truths hidden in the smallest details—just as Douglas has done
through his writing.
Douglas hopes his novel will find a place in high school curricula and on the
bookshelves of thoughtful readers young and old. His message is clear: “The
truth is always hidden behind things that are out of place.”
Connect with Douglas Carpenter to discover a new perspective on life,
character, and the miraculous power of small decisions.
