Comments from my previous site:

Hayzlett : May 11th, 2009
Surely not everyone would take such actions, but for those who do, the rewards are great. Thanks for your continued excellence.

Peter : August 2nd, 2009
I really like your blog and i respect your work. I’ll be a frequent visitor.

babafisa : August 3rd, 2009
Thank you very much for that magnificent article

M : September 30th, 2008
The Butterfly Garden is such a great book. I’m so glad you’re here today to share your life story with us. Thank you.

Elizabeth : December 16th, 2008
I have just read, cover-to-cover, the most moving and personal book in my reading career. The book The Butterfly Garden shares many similarities to my childhood and home life that it is unbelievable! I am so charged, I can’t sleep and I know like the moments I have had before this is a pull-over-to-the-side-of-the-road, who-cares-if-you-have-to-wake–up-at 5am, moment.

If we could only see adults as the hurting children we are all inside we might not be as offended.”

I have never read a book for 4 hours straight or felt the connection to text and a complete stranger as I do tonight in my apartment in Bogota, Colombia. I found your book this evening at a teachers event at our local English bookstore. It is an autographed copy. Though I am a “Columbian reader” (its spelled Colombia by the way) I am still and will always be a Michigander. I believe through God’s divinity, your book found its way to me.

Courtney : January 19th, 2009
I just read this book for a school project and I am so glad that I chose this book! It was such a great book, and I will suggest it to all of my friends DEFINITELY! thank you!

Kasaundra : April 20th, 2009
Hi my name is Kassaundra, I am a Junior in high school.

Our school is expecting you to come and talk about your book and your life. I can’t wait!

I read your book The Butterfly Garden and I can honestly say that ths book has changed alot about the way I think about things. Even though I had a rough life I realized how their are so many other people in the world that have it worse than what I did. I just wanted to say that i admire your book and that you are able to tell people about what happened toy ou in your life as a child.

Sincerely: Kassaundra

Gries : April 27th, 2009
I agree with you 100% - things happen for a reason. I found this by accident and noticed that we have some things in common. Thats what I love about the Internet, every blog is like a box of chocolates :) Thanks - Great blog.

janet h : April 30th, 2009
Thank you for the long hours you put in to write The Butterfly Garden. Thank you the tears you shed, the hollow pit in your stomach and the guilt you had to relive. You are a gift from God. I read your book in one night. I was captivated, repulsed, angry and inspired all at the same time. Your strenghth and internal moral compass impresses me and gives me hope. I also come from a childhood of abuse, but nothing like yours.

That brave eight year old boy in Lake Michigan could teach the world so much. If hugs were flowers, I would send you a garden. Much respect,
Janet

Killian : July 8th, 2009
Just saw you on youtube… I am literally confused and disheartened that this still goes on in todays world , there is so much more people can be doing to help this world and not carrying on with this kind of carry on ,why oh why do they persist with this behaviour.! You would think that people would have more sense than this, wouldn’t you?

Platt : July 12th, 2009
Thanks for your great blog! Very interested to revisit!

Emma V. : July 22nd, 2009
Thanks for sharing this information. You have a gift for writing!

Lundstrom : July 24th, 2009
Thanks for writing, I very much liked your newest post. I think you should post more often, you obviously have talent for blogging!

Crissa : September 21st, 2008
I really enjoyed your book. While I have never been abused by a family member, and never physically, it is hard to imagine what you went through; however, emotional abuse that I have been put through as a younger dating woman was awful as well. I think everyone has been abused at some point in their lives whether they realize it or not.

I work in a low income school district in New Jersey where students are beaten, and killed, everyday. I hope that if I share this book with them they will understand what they should not have to put up with.
Thank you for sharing your story!

T : October 13th, 2008
I really liked the book. it gave me a whole new perception of what life is all about. if i was living in that type of relationship with my parents. i wouldnt know what to do, you have heart and i like that….and nice speech at the Lansing Community College… Itwas inspiring…

Thank you for your time,

T

K : December 31st, 2008
I read “The Butterfly Garden” and I was to say the least spellbound, furious (at the people that hurt you) and so sad. I know pain, I know abuse, I know sorrow - but not to that degree. I am thankful that you have written this book, it must have hurt you to walk through those memories again.

Pete and Susan : March 5th, 2009
We stayed up all nite and just finished your book. You and your wife are a true inspiration!!

Will : March 30th, 2009
Thanks, keep on posting

susan : July 7th, 2008
1. I think they changed the name from Carole to St. Clair because they had gotten into more trouble and needed another alias.

2. Perhaps they either obtained a certified copy or had the original brith certificate of Scott that they used to falsify documents making it apper that it was your birth certificate that is why the birth dates are the same. Your name was probably not Chip but when they changed the birth certificate changed your name too. They were on the run and needed to cover their tracks. Your mom probably thought “chip” just like chip off the old block. How wrong they were as I am sure you are nothing like him.

3. The pictures of those two boys were probably the girl friends and it is a picture of Scott and his brother and someone wrote your name on the back.

4. I have no idea where Grant got all the scars. I imagine his big mouth got him into trouble or he tried to swindle someone and some people let him have it.

5. Leslie was probably brought up with violence and so she accepted it as a normal way of life.

These are my thoughts. I would like to hear what others think. Susan F

Tim D : January 6th, 2009
Read your book. I am from the Waterford, Pontiac, Auburn Hills area. Loved the book. I don’t know how many times I have driven past the townhouses you lived in taking my wife to work at Foamade on Auburn Rd. Can’t wait for stuff from the black trunk.

Marie W : January 13th, 2009
Charles David St Clair, Vietnam Vet, Purple Heart, Kentucky, died 01/16/1971

Maybe Michael Grant knew him — maybe that’s where the name and the Viet Nam stories came from.

http://vietnam-wall.myarmedforces.com/profile/49902/Charles_Stclair

DP : February 14th, 2009
Great article, adding it to my favourites!

Fleet : March 6th, 2009
Your writing style is quite a good role model for me - I have recently started my own blog and I am really struggling to write articles!

Lawrence : July 11th, 2009
I looked into what you talked about in this article and I had to convince myself that you were wrong. I looked up the info and it seems you are 100% correct in your statements. Because of this, I have subscribed myself to your RSS feed. Keep up the great work here.

susan : July 7th, 2008
Yes, I decided to write my own memoir after reading yours. My daughter said I should title the book “When a black sheep gets pregnant”. (referring to my mother) I decided to title it A kid Called Sparky. I may change it and would like to hear what others think of these two titles.

I had a tough life. Tougher than some, less than others. I had stories to tell and it felt good to write it. I was born 9 weeks early and my bed was a dresser drawer. Mom was sixteen and poor. I lived with numerous family members, was molested by my uncle, was brought up in abusive and dysfunctional homes. I am now grown and have grand children. I tried to make a difference with my kids. I baked the cookies and listened when they talked. I learned from the hard lessons life had taught me.
Today I can say I have forgiven many but have not forgotten.

Smile because today IS the first day of the rest of your life.

susan F.

S Watts : July 14th, 2008
I went to Target yesterday in search of a new book. Usually, I grab a Jodi Picoult and head out, because I quite enjoy her novels. But I realized that every single one they had in the store, I had already read… So, I figured it was time for me to search for a new author to explore. To be completely honest… I usually hate memoirs. And, I wasnt going to buy yours, but my husband was in a hurry, and it sounded interesting on the back description.

So, last night, I curled up with the book when I got into bed, expecting to read a couple of chapters until I dozed off. Well, it didn’t quite work out that way… I finished the book at 1:20 this morning. I COULD NOT put it down. I have never left a message like this for an author before, but I feel compelled to tell you how absolutely inspiring your memoir was to me.

I experienced some forms of abuse as a child, and while your courage amazes me, I am not quite as willing to tell the world. But, your book helped me understand how I was feeling in ways that I never thought were possible. The abuse I experienced affected me, but as I grew older… I sort of just pushed it aside, said “I am an adult now. That was in my past and does not affect who I am now.”

Thanks to your story, I see that it really does, whether I like it or not… its just up to me to decide HOW I will let it affect me, and whether or not I will let it overpower who I am. The abuse I experienced made me unsure of certain people, and it made it difficult for me to trust anyone.

I am the way I am because of my life experiences. Six years ago, my husband and I lost our firstborn son. He was born too soon. As much as that hurt… the pain of losing a child is like none other… and as much as it still hurts, I would not go back if I had the chance, and never have him at all.

Because of the pain I experienced, I know that I will be 10 times more grateful when we finally have another child. I will love that child a million times more, because I have personally experienced how precious that little life is.

Your memoir explained the way you view who you have become, and how you got there in the most beautifully written way. Your courage and strength inspires me. Good luck to you in all of your future endeavors.

I can gaurantee if I ever see another book on the shelf with your name on it, I will be picking it up. I am quite thankful that I happened upon your book last night… the only thing that pisses me off is that now I have nothing to read tonight!

~Your New Fan,

S Watts

Kirstie J : December 28th, 2008
My son bought me your book for Christmas and once I started reading it I could not put it down until I was finished. I would like to see a follow up book if and when more information comes up to complete the mysteries that still surround you. I hope to see more books of yours in the future.

Jim H : June 8th, 2009
Hi Chip, I just saw your video on google. God Bless You!

abraham : July 14th, 2008
Hello,we’re reading your story in my English class and i think your story is great. I find your story very intriguing and keeps me interested on the what’ll happen next.

Imari : July 14th, 2008
the book is a very good book i hope that you could come out with more books that are more intersting just like the butterfly garden your dad wasnt a great man and your mom couldnt control him we havent got that far but we are currently on page 72 its a very good book

Amanda : July 30th, 2008
Wow Chip!

Reading your book was completely by accident. But I’m so glad it found it’s way to me. I was looking at the new releases on my libraries website and looking for memoirs because I would like to write my own and your’s was one of three I choose. When I started reading The Butterfly Garden I found I couldn’t put it down. It’s so amazing how closely I felt your pain, I knew exactly how you felt so many times in the book. I find great therapy in sharing with the world what makes me the me of today.

Thank you Chip!

Amanda =)

Hana : August 24th, 2008
Dear Chip,

I found your book left on the train by somebody, adopted it and read it all without stopping during my journey. I really admire you were not only strong enough to survive, but also to transform the suffering, which would stigmatize many other people in a very bad way, into something so positive as helping others. I really appreciate you didn´t just describe your childhood, but also the fight you had to take up in your adult age and how you were victorious after the hard struggle.

Wish you all the best and thanks for the book and the hope it speaks about

Hana

Nancy : September 21st, 2008
Purchased your book at Meijers today–and you autographed for me. Came home and read it through. Very interesting, and great story of overcoming. Congratulations on your survival and helping to stop abuse of others.

Sharon S : May 13th, 2009
I picked up your book the other day. I was going on vacation and wanted something to read. I usually do this and then never finish a book. Well I started the book, and couldnt put it down. SO I DID FINISH IT! What a powerful story. You did a wonderful job with it. I cant wait to read more of your books. When are you comeing out with another book?

HB Livin : July 16th, 2008
WOW!
i’m at a wierd point in my life (job/goals/et all) and that “story-more like lesson” was amazing. the eye of the beholder can truely be different for everyone..looking at the same thing.