The covers of my adventure novels reflect the theme behind two stories of personal transformation.
In "The Sun Singer," Robert Adams steps into an alternative world where he must find his true self and reclaim a magical talent in order to survive. In "Garden of Heaven," David Ward travels a winding path from Vietnam to a small Midwestern college searching for meaning in the puzzle of his life and who is trying to kill him.
Both novels are based on the hero's journey, or monomyth, structure and follow the steps Joseph Campbell describes in "The Hero with a Thousand Faces." The mythic hero's path is an outer journey of real-world triumphs and failures as well as an inner journey of dreams, archetypes, magic, the unconscious, and transcendent experiences within the very large realm of non-ordinary reality.
Though we live in a materialistic world dominated by technology, we also live in a world of millions of seekers on spiritual paths toward personal transformation. Some seek individuation through analysis and/or a study of Jungian psychology. Some follow the wisdom of the Kabbalists, climbing the Tree of Life toward the "Limitless Light." Some seek the spirit within matter and the true soul or self within themselves through inner alchemy. Others, practice Huna, study Reiki or Yoga, focus on the mystical heritage of organized religion, or experience the sacred of the world through shamanism. There are many beautiful roads.
Experience the magic, and enjoy Robert Adams' and David Ward's hero's journey stories. As you read, you may also find similarities between my characters' inner journeys and your own spiritual path. Writing "The Sun Singer" and "Garden of Heaven" was a profound and very personal part of my own journey. It's my pleasure sharing it with you in celebration of the great web of life.
Malcolm R. Campbell
