Athol native releases sixth book focused on community and hope

ATHOL – Every morning at 3 a.m., long before most of the Fitchburg State University campus stirs awake, Nathan Fisher is starting his day.

By 5 a.m., Fisher is on campus fulfilling his duties as a maintainer III in the Capital Planning and Maintenance (CPM) department, where he has worked for the past 21 years. To students, faculty, and staff, the 44-year-old Athol native is a familiar fixture – instantly recognizable for wearing shorts year-round, regardless of the New England weather.

Beyond his daily maintenance work, Fisher is the junior varsity boys’ basketball head coach at Athol High School, director of a local travel league, and a newly-elected vice president representing nearly 3,000 members in his American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union.

Fisher’s guiding philosophy in balancing work and service comes directly from a conversation with his late grandfather.

“My grandfather said something to me that I’ll never forget,” said Fisher. “He said, ‘Nathan, choose love over money any day of the week and you’ll be the richest person in the world.’ You don’t do things for glory, you do things because they have to get done. I won’t ever forget it, and that’s how I live my life. After he died, I swore to him that I would walk through his shoes for the rest of my life.”

On top of it all, he is also published author who has completed his sixth book.

“One Little Miracle,” a 441-page novel released independently on Amazon this past spring, shares a story about community resilience and a personal milestone in Fisher’s own journey through grief and service.

Fisher’s journey as a writer began years ago following a personal family tragedy. Seeking an outlet away from work, sports, and union responsibilities, he initially began writing about a popular cold case. Over time, that therapeutic habit evolved into crafting full-length novels.

“Everyone that reads my books says, ‘You write almost cinematically, it’s very descriptive,’” said Fisher. “I want to convert my novels into screenplays because I can use the novel as a template.”

“Your journey is going to be different than mine, and you automatically have insecurities about your journey. At the same time, you don’t know my journey, but throw it out there and you might have people gravitate to you that you never thought to speak to. That’s the world I want to live in.”

Nathan fisher

The specific motivation to write “One Little Miracle” began in September of last year during a period of personal reflection. When his therapist asked him what brought him joy during a difficult period, Fisher realized how much his workplace meant to him, including the leadership of University President Donna Hodge. 

Writing became an essential space to process complex emotions. 

“When I’m writing, I’m not thinking about anything else but the story,” said Fisher. 

Over five months of drafting, the narrative took shape. 

“It was a feel-good story, but also very emotional to write because of what I was going through,” said Fisher. “It was hard to find hope, and I really needed it.”

The story follows Timothy Ballen, a grieving father attempting to keep a community healthcare clinic operating. His life intersects with a 10-year-old girl who is battling a serious illness. Despite her health struggles, she carries a jar filled with colorful, translucent marbles – her “miracle jar” – and holds an unwavering belief that things will get better.

She begins distributing the translucent marbles to strangers across town. Gradually, those who receive them experience a renewed sense of purpose, sparking a chain reaction of positive events that transforms the entire community.

“The book is about a town that has given up hope,” said Fisher. “There’s this terminally ill child and she’s going to die. Yet she has the most hope out of anybody that things are going to be OK. She passes around a translucent marble to random strangers throughout the town. They don’t know why, but all of a sudden these miraculous things happen as soon as somebody gets a little bit of that hope back. Things just appear. It comes very organic and natural. It’s about being stronger together. As everybody grows together, they are able to not just save her, they save this whole town.”

For Fisher, the themes of mutual support in the fictional town mirror the tight-knit environment he has experienced on campus.

“The symbolism of a marble—a translucent marble—to bring hope back to people that have none… that town is Fitchburg State University,” said Fisher.

Fisher dedicated the book to two important figures in his life: Hodge and his 15-year-old cat, Jasper, who passed away.

“That’s why (President Hodge) got the first copy,” said Fisher.

Hodge said that she was humbled to receive the personalized copy from Fisher.

“Nate’s unwavering work ethic, his devotion to supporting others, and his ability to channel life’s hardships into a message of hope is truly extraordinary,” said Hodge. “His commitment to service, leadership and community extends beyond the 21 years he has spent at Fitchburg State. ‘One Little Miracle’ reflects the spirit he brings to his work every single day.”

Fisher credits much of his personal growth and perspective to his wife, Jenna, whom he married in March of 2025, saying that her positive outlook helped balance his own tendency toward skepticism.

“My wife is the most unjudgmental person you’ll ever meet in your life,” said Fisher. “Everything is glass half-full. I was the opposite, and she’s made me a better man and person.”

It was also his wife who encouraged his love for reading, leading to frequent weekend trips together to local used bookstores.

Reflecting on the finished manuscript, Fisher maintains a modest perspective on his literary work, noting with a smile that he felt the novel “could have had a little more character development.” 

However, his primary hope for “One Little Miracle” is that it encourages readers to reach out to those around them.

“I’m hoping anyone that reads it wants to make a difference in somebody’s life – to ensure a better tomorrow. That’s really what it’s all about,” said Fisher.

Fisher summarizes his outlook with a favorite personal saying: “If we all wear our insecurities on our sleeve, we might find out that we have a lot more in common than we thought.”

“That’s something that I live by,” said Fisher. “Your journey is going to be different than mine, and you automatically have insecurities about your journey. At the same time, you don’t know my journey, but throw it out there and you might have people gravitate to you that you never thought to speak to. That’s the world I want to live in. The fact that I can pick you up because I’ve been through this – there’s no better feeling than making somebody feel good. My hope is that you can read this book and say, ‘You know what, little Suzie is going through it and maybe I can help.'”