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'Empty Hook' is full of meaning
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
A Christmas story written by a Canfield man was only recently released as a children’s book, but already has the aura of a family tradition.
Titled “The Empty Hook,” the book by Joe Dragovich listens in on a warm conversation between Christmas tree ornaments while delivering a message about the gift of Jesus’ life.
Dragovich, a trooper with the Ohio State Highway Patrol for 22 years, said the story had been on his mind for years and has its roots in his own childhood.
“I didn’t write it with the intent of having it published,” he said. “I enjoy the Christmas season, the traditions, the decorating, being with family, and with my Catholic upbringing I never lost sight of what the holiday is all about.”
Dragovich’s opposition to the movement to turn Christmas into a secular holiday is what got him started.
“We go through cycles in society, and when I started this a couple years ago, there was a push to take Christ out of Christmas so as not to offend anyone,” he said. “But the reality is, you can’t take Christ out of Christmas because it’s all about his birth. The message in my book is that the greatest gift ever given to mankind, Jesus Christ, is waiting for you every day, waiting for you to let him into your life.”
Dragovich is referring to a phrase in “The Empty Hook” that is repeated many times: “The gift of Christmas is with you, remember Him on His day.”
A Youngstown native who grew up on the East Side, Dragovich is a1983 graduate of Ursuline High School. He went to Immaculate Conception for grade school, and has a degree from Youngstown State University.
The book, first printed in December 2012 and then reprinted in June of 2013, is available from all major online retailers, including Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Go to theemptyhook.com or the book’s Face- book page for information. It can also be purchased for $10 at Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley, 962 Martin Luther King Blvd., Youngstown, which receives a portion of each sale. To order by mail, send a check (payable to Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley) for $15 to P.O. Box 430, Youngstown OH 44501 (write “Empty Hook” on the check).
Thoroughly enhancing “The Empty Hook” is its beautiful, timeless artwork by Scott Cook, a professional illustrator from California.
A glass tree ornament based on the Elf character from the book also will be available before the end of the month (check the website for details).
“We’re selling a lot of books locally,” said Dragovich. “We get a lot of people who buy one copy and then call and say they want another one because the first one was a gift for kids and they want one for themselves. I’ve heard it referred to as an heirloom book, something you pull out every Christmas.”
Dragovich’s own childhood is the basis of the story. “The Elf character is modeled after an elf ornament I bought as a little boy in 1972 at Kraynak’s [in Hermitage, Pa.],” he said. “I still have it. It was my favorite and I hung it every Christmas as a boy.”
Dragovich would go on to become a tree ornament collector, and has many from the 1940s. “One year while hanging them, a thought occurred to me: ‘This mix of ornaments that were once on other people’s trees — if they could talk, what stories would they tell?’ And I said, ‘I am going to write a story about how one hook came to be empty.’”
“The Empty Hook” holds appeal for all ages. It begins with a young boy cherishing a set of handmade Christmas tree ornaments and fast-forwards to him as an old man remembering them.
Desiring a song to accompany the book, Dragovich approached the local cabaret duo of Mary Jo Maluso and Rick Blackson about a year ago.
Like many aspects of the book, the song seemed guided by an unseen hand.
“At one of the final shows we did at Alberini’s Restaurant [in Niles], Joe and his wife were in the audience,” said Maluso, “That’s how he knew us, and he later contacted me on Facebook with his idea.”
Blackson met with Dragovich, who presented his lyrics. “I told him, ‘I happen to be a songwriter, too,’ and he agreed to let me take a look at writing the song,” said Blackson. “I pared down Joe’s idea and tightened it up and used the recurring theme as the main hook. When I played it for Joe, he had misty eyes and said, ‘That’s it, that’s just exactly right.’”
The song (“Remember Him on His Day”) was recorded at Kontinuous Jams in Boardman. It can be ordered through all major online retailers. A portion of sales benefits the Rescue Mission.
Dragovich, Maluso and Blackson visited the Rescue Mission on Saturday morning to read the book and perform the song for families with children who are staying there.
“We love the Rescue Mission and the idea of giving back,” said Maluso. “We want to rally around this beautiful Christmas story because we believe it can become a classic. We’ve always wanted to start a foundation as a way of helping people with our music and this could be the launchpad. We’re so proud to be part of it.”