By Kelcie Lee

It took countless people telling Java Beach Cafe owner Patrick Maguire to write his story before he finally did so. From scribbles on napkins and notepads to the help of two friends, Maguire said everything seemed to align for his book “All Things Beautiful” to finally be released.

Described as someone who has “been to hell and back,” Maguire began to write for cathartic reasons. Now, his words have resonated into a story in which many have found hope and healing.

“It’s an amazing story of love, of grief, of trauma, of forgiveness, of bad choices, good choices. It’s got everything,” said author and close friend of Maguire, Kevin Carroll. “He’s talking from the heart, and he is making himself so vulnerable by sharing all this about him, about himself and his family. His motivation for doing so is simply to be able to help others.”

Published on Sept. 26, “All Things Beautiful” tells the story of Maguire’s life and his trials and tribulations, from the opening of Java Beach Cafe to his journey to finding his faith.

In the book, Maguire writes about his suffering and grief following the death of his 9-year-old son, Kevin, who passed from brain cancer. Maguire said he initially wrote the book for therapeutic reasons, but ended up publishing it in memory of his son.

“This is my story,” Maguire said. “So it’s not my opinion, it’s not my theory. It’s not agenda-driven. It’s just my story, and it’s full of a lot of brokenness.”

Maguire’s process of writing and publishing his book was far from predictable. Having never owned a computer, he wrote the entire book on whatever he could get ahold of — notepads, napkins and cardboard boxes. Eventually, his other son taught him how to use Google Docs on his iPhone to write the book.

“When I had completed it, I had this feeling like, ‘I don’t want to publish this,’” Maguire said. “It seems too personal, too sacred to put out there in the world. It’s just something I wrote for cathartic reasons, but here’s the thing – a lot of my book is about coincidence and synchronicity … the right people showing up at the right time with the right thing.”

For Maguire, this synchronicity, from writing to editing and publishing the book, let everything swiftly fall into place. Despite Maguire’s hesitation to publish his book, his friend Caeli told him that if he did not publish it, she would write a book about him instead. Without putting much thought into this, Maguire handed Caeli everything he wrote and said, “Look, if you’re gonna write a book, at least write it in my words.”

After organizing the chronology of writings and changing the story’s perspective from first to third person, Caeli handed the book back to Maguire.

“She handed me back a masterpiece,” Maguire recounted. “It was every single word I used. It was crazy.”

Even then, Maguire was not sure if he wanted to publish the book, but decided to show Carroll the version Caeli had edited. Carroll, who had previously published six books, said he could help edit and publish “All Things Beautiful” with his publisher, Balboa Press. Maguire explained how everything falling into place was a “little miracle.”

“I could compare it to driving a car. I pulled up to an intersection and all lights were green – it just it felt that way,” Maguire said. “Kevin showing up and offering his help, and Caeli showing up and offering her help, and how it just all unfolded, it was like it was just green lights everywhere.”

In the same way, Maguire compared the process of publishing “All Things Beautiful” to his opening of Java Beach Cafe – both not done perfectly and unlikely for him to do.

At 25 years old, Maguire opened Java Beach Cafe on La Playa Street, having little knowledge about the coffee industry and running a business. He knew he wanted to be a part of rebuilding the Outer Sunset to what it was like during his childhood. He recalled bakeries and cafes that served hot chocolate and hot dogs, and an ice skating rink he would go to every day before businesses started to close and rents began to increase.

“In his mind, he knew that what he was hearing was, ‘Build a coffee shop that can bring the community back together, and that can rebuild the Lower Sunset,’” Carroll said. “That’s exactly what (he’s) done. This is where people come together.”

He explained how Java Beach Cafe, whether it be the original location on La Playa Street or the second location on Sloat Boulevard, is where Carroll feels “right at home.”

Maguire initially used old couches and coffee tables he found off the sidewalk to furnish the cafe, copying the aesthetic of old coffee houses from the ’60s. He wanted the cafe to feel like a time capsule.

“I didn’t follow a way. I made the way,” Maguire said. “And I think that’s what makes both (the book and the cafe) unique.”

Maguire said he will be giving a portion of the book’s proceeds to the Ronald McDonald House, an organization seeking to support families with children in medical need, including providing lodging for families when their children have to stay in the hospital. From Maguire’s experience in and out of the children’s hospital, he noted the value of time between children and parents, especially as affordability becomes a large barrier.

“You can’t stop childhood cancer or sickness, you can’t stop wars, you can’t stop violence, racism, hatred or bigotry, but you can do acts of love – and in that way, combat everything,” Maguire said. “The Ronald McDonald House, the way they house families, I thought it’s one of the most beautiful charities.”

While Maguire hopes “All Things Beautiful” and his initiative bring more attention to organizations like the Ronald McDonald House, he also hopes his story can help people seeking healing and hope from their own lives.

Since the book’s release, Maguire said more than 20 people have approached him about how this book helped them in their experiences with drug addiction, alcoholism, child death, tragedy and trauma. He said he hopes to continue to have heart-to-heart conversations with people as a result of “All Things Beautiful.”

“(Publishing this book) is by far the most vulnerable thing I ever did, because I could go the rest of my life and not have ever told anybody my personal story,” Maguire said. “But, I think in showing those difficult or hard parts, I think that’s where the beauty is — that’s where the resilience, the love, family, neighborhood, the people and, ultimately, my faith in God.”

“All Things Beautiful” is available for purchase at both Java Beach Cafe locations. Java Beach Cafe is located at 1396 La Playa St. and 2650 Sloat Blvd. Both are open Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.