Joann Davis: The Book of the Shepherd
978-0061732300 – Hardcover – HarperCollins – $19.99
The Book of the Shepherd: The Story of One Simple Prayer and How it Changed the World is a beautifully written parable that made me think of writers like Paulo Coelho and Kahlil Gibran. The conceit of the book is that the author finds a manuscript in a house in Vermont, and has it translated, thus this story. It’s a short book, and an easy read, but of course, because it is a parable, the book demands to be re-read and thought about deeply.
The story has no distinct place or time. Joshua is the shepherd who is troubled by the code of “an eye for an eye” that governs his world. He has a dream about “a new way” and sets off on a quest to find it.
Stone the builder who erects a house that falls on its occupants. Sever the hands of the criminal who pilfers livestock or grain or another’s garment. Whip the child who defies an elder. For such is the law and the law must be obeyed.
For generations, these ironclad rules had governed the people. Nobody questioned whether it was right to humiliate a child or execute a murderer. An eye for an eye was the way of the world.
But was there another way?
Joshua is accompanied by Elizabeth, a former slave who is kind and generous, and David, a boy who must learn to walk in new shoes. Joshua believes that “an age of miracles” will come when the new way is found.
As with any quest, there is adventure along the way. En route to a cave near the Great Inland Sea, the travelers meet a number of interesting and compelling characters, including the Storyteller, the Apothecary, the Blind Man, and the Stranger. Each passes on an important lesson as the travelers journey toward what we realize is their destiny. At the cave, Joshua must see if he can bring forth secrets long buried. But he, Elizabeth, and David will discover that what they have been searching for has been inside them all along. In the end, The Book of the Shepherd is compelling and meaningful, whatever your political, social or religious outlook or beliefs. It’s not heavy handed or preachy, and even for many secularists, will be well worth the investment of time to read.
Joann Davis is an experienced writer and former book editor. She is extremely articulate and passionate about her work, and was a pleasure to interview. We talked about her work as a writer, her own spirituality, and how The Book of the Shepherd can change people and the world for good.
William Gladstone: The Twelve (a novel)
978-1593155568 – Hardcover – Vanguard Press – $19.95
William Gladstone, author of the new novel, The Twelve, interviewed by Writerscast host David Wilk.
The Twelve is a terrific first novel by an experienced book industry professional, west coast based William Gladstone. I know the author personally, and I’ve read this novel at various stages of its development. In its final published form, it has become a compelling read on a subject of great interest to many people – the future. It’s a book with a strong spiritual message but one that does not get in the way of its fast moving and intriguing story.
The publisher’s description of the book goes like this: “The Twelve is an extraordinary and unforgettable novel about a most unusual man. As a child, Max lives in a world of colors and numbers, not speaking until the age of six. As an adult, Max ventures on a journey of destiny to discover the secret behind the ancient Mayan prophecy about the “end of time,” foretold to occur on December 21, 2012.
When he is fifteen years old, Max has a near death experience during which he has a vision that reveals to him the names of twelve unique individuals. While Max cannot discern the significance of these twelve names, he is unable to shake the sense that they have deep meaning. Eight years pass before Max meets the first of the twelve.
With this, Max’s voyage of discovery begins, as he strives to uncover the identities and implications of “the twelve”—individuals he will meet during his journey towards truth, all of whom seem connected, and all of whom may hold the answer to what will happen at the exact moment the world may end. The novel takes the reader on a series of global adventures, culminating in a revelation of why and how Max and the twelve are destined to unite to discover the magnitude of the meaning of December 21, 2012. Only the twelve can provide the answers, as the fate of all humanity rests in the balance.”
In my fast-paced interview with author Gladstone, we talk about the genesis of the novel, his sense of the meaning of the book, and what the future holds for humanity.
