A MESSAGE FROM CHASE
Welcome to Brighthaven Bay
Before we go any farther,
I should probably introduce myself
My name is Chase Carter, and I’m one of the people you’ll meet in the novel Brighthaven Bay.
When the story begins, I’ve just walked away from a successful marketing career in Seattle and returned to the small waterfront community where I grew up.
Before long, I find myself teaching Digital Communications at Brighthaven College—and asking many of the same questions you’ll see people throughout the story begin asking about their own lives.
A MESSAGE FROM CHASE
Welcome to Brighthaven Bay
Before we go any farther, I should probably introduce myself
My name is Chase Carter, and I’m one of the people you’ll meet in the novel Brighthaven Bay. When the story begins, I’ve just walked away from a successful marketing career in Seattle and returned to the small waterfront community where I grew up.
Before long, I find myself teaching Digital Communications at Brighthaven College—and asking many of the same questions you’ll see people throughout the story begin asking about their own lives.
THREE IDEAS AT THE HEART OF BRIGHTHAVEN BAY
CALLING
The pull—the interests, abilities, experiences, people, problems, or ideas that keep drawing your attention.
DIRECTION
Begins to emerge when those pieces start pointing toward something that feels worth pursuing.
POSSIBILITIES
The different ways that direction might eventually take shape.
IT ALL STARTED HERE
It Started When I Lost Interest in My Career
For years, I was good at what I did. I had the title, the income, the recognition—and yet, I felt more disconnected than ever. One night, after another long week, I realised I didn’t hate the work itself. I hated the feeling that it didn’t matter. So I asked myself a question I’d been avoiding: What am I actually here to do?
That question pulled me into the world of digital communication— websites, storytelling, online presence, and the tools that help people share what matters most. It wasn’t an overnight change. It was a series of small steps,
questions, mistakes, and moments that slowly pointed toward something better. That’s the path I’ll walk you through.
If you’ve ever felt trapped in work you no longer care about—or spent months or years trying to make something work online without getting where you hoped to go—you may understand that feeling better than you think.
IT ALL STARTED HERE
It Started When I Lost Interest in My Career
For years, I was good at what I did. I had the title, the income, the recognition—and yet, I felt more disconnected than ever. One night, after another long week, I realised I didn’t hate the work itself. I hated the feeling that it didn’t matter. So I asked myself a question I’d been avoiding: What am I actually here to do?
That question pulled me into the world of digital communication— websites, storytelling, online presence, and the tools that help people share what matters most. It wasn’t an overnight change. It was a series of small steps,
questions, mistakes, and moments that slowly pointed toward something better. That’s the path I’ll walk you through.
If you’ve ever felt trapped in work you no longer care about—or spent months or years trying to make something work online without getting where you hoped to go—you may understand that feeling better than you think.
I Came Home
Brighthaven Bay isn’t just a beautiful place—it’s where the Carter family has deep roots and a deep purpose. In returning, I found more than peace. I found perspective, responsibility, and a chance to do work that actually matters.
I’m still becoming the man I want to be—just like everyone else. If you’re asking hard questions about your life, you’re in good company.
I Chose to Teach
When I started to teach Digital Communications at the college, many were surprised that my first semester class was going to begin by setting
up the foundation of what the students should be building before the “How” tools change.
Trends fade. People don’t need more information. They need clarity, Direction, Purpose. That’s what I try to bring to the classroom. It’s what I hope the novel brings to you.
Something Important Has Changed
Today’s digital tools are giving ordinary people capabilities that would have been difficult, expensive, or sometimes impossible to access only a few years ago.
That doesn’t mean success happens overnight. Focus still matters.
Consistency matters. Patience matters. Judgment matters. Trust matters. And Direction matters. Maybe more than ever.
And for people whose work has been disrupted—or who are wondering what AI may change next—those same tools can also create new ways to adapt, contribute, and build.
I Came Home
Brighthaven Bay isn’t just a beautiful place—it’s where the Carter family has deep roots and a deep purpose. In returning, I found more than peace. I found perspective, responsibility, and a chance to do work that actually matters.
I’m still becoming the man I want to be—just like everyone else. If you’re asking hard questions about your life, you’re in good company.
I Chose to Teach
When I started to teach Digital Communications at the college, many were surprised that my first semester class was going to begin by setting
up the foundation of what the students should be building before the “How” tools change.
Trends fade. People don’t need more information. They need clarity, Direction, Purpose. That’s what I try to bring to the classroom. It’s what I hope the novel brings to you.
Something Important Has Changed
Today’s digital tools are giving ordinary people capabilities that would have been difficult, expensive, or sometimes impossible to access only a few years ago.
That doesn’t mean success happens overnight. Focus still matters.
Consistency matters. Patience matters. Judgment matters. Trust matters. And Direction matters. Maybe more than ever.
And for people whose work has been disrupted—or who are wondering what AI may change next—those same tools can also create new ways to adapt, contribute, and build.
CREATE
SHARE
TEACH
BUILD
REACH
ACCOMPLISH
That’s Where the Story Comes In.
Throughout Brighthaven Bay, you’ll meet people facing their own crossroads. Some are just beginning. Some thought they had it all figured out. Some are trying to change.
As you read, you may recognize yourself in their Calling, question their Direction, or see possibilities you hadn’t noticed before.
Alignment WORKBOOK
A practical first step towards discovering what matters to you - and the possibilities it may reveal.
The guide is not about quitting your job tomorrow or chasing the latest opportunity. It's about getting clear enough to see possibilities you may have been overlooking.
Before You Begin Reading— There’s Something I’d Like You to Have.
The Alignment Workbook is your companion throughout the novel.
It’s a place to capture the ideas, questions, and insights that show up for you as you read—so you can turn them into clarity, action, and progress.
Workbook Features:
✓ Exercises to help identify what matters most to you
✓ Questions to uncover patterns, strengths, and interests
✓ Tools to explore your Calling and possible Directions
✓ Simple exercises to turn greater clarity into next steps
Read the Story.
Use the Workbook.
Let Them Work Together
The more you engage, the more you’ll get out of it. The Alignment Workbook is designed to help you move from insight to implementation—in your life, your work, and your future. Inspired by the idea explored in the novel Brighthaven Bay by Greg Hoyt
The Novel Is Still a Novel
There will be conflict. There will be relationships. There will be choices that aren’t easy, solutions that take time, and a lot of life in between. But at the heart of it, this story is about hope, growth, and the courage to build a life that finally feels aligned with who you truly are. As a novel, it’s meant to be read and enjoyed.
THEN COME INSIDE
Let Chase show you around.
Step inside Brighthaven Bay, get to know the people and places, and discover how their stories might help you navigate your own.