Sol Luckman's Blog - Posts Tagged "flying"
Summer Reading: SNOOZE Recognized in Beach Book Festival Prize Competition
Sol Luckman
One of the obstacles in publishing a young adult, or YA, novel is getting readers to take it seriously from a literary perspective.
My own perspective, for the record, is that YA fiction tends to be far more imaginative, and a lot more interesting, than most adult fiction.
Given a choice between exploring alternate realities, the province of many YA novels, and spinning wheels in this reality the way so much adult fiction seems intent on doing, I’ll take the former anytime.
Fortunately, there seems to be an increasing awareness that novels written with a teenage focus audience can also excel as works of literature. Enter my new novel, SNOOZE: A STORY OF AWAKENING.
Concerned with lucid dreaming, astral projection, Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster and a laundry list of other supernatural topics, SNOOZE is an exploration and celebration of the paranormal in the form of an epic, coming-of-age tale of one extraordinary boy’s awakening to the reality-altering quality of his dreams.
SNOOZE is also a YA novel—and darn proud to be one.
Composed with young adult as well young-at-heart readers in mind, SNOOZE just proved its literary merit by being selected for an Honorable Mention in the prestigious 2014 Beach Book Festival Prize competition.
To put the cherry on top of the cake, this recognition occurred by way of, not the young adult, but the general fiction category. So there.
This bit of external validation comes on the heels of a number of incredibly enthusiastic reader reviews.
Would you like to download a copy of SNOOZE to read and review? Peruse the first fourteen chapters and explore becoming a reviewer at ...
http://www.CrowRising.com/snooze
Sweet dreams!
Copyright © Sol Luckman. All Rights Reserved.
One of the obstacles in publishing a young adult, or YA, novel is getting readers to take it seriously from a literary perspective.
My own perspective, for the record, is that YA fiction tends to be far more imaginative, and a lot more interesting, than most adult fiction.
Given a choice between exploring alternate realities, the province of many YA novels, and spinning wheels in this reality the way so much adult fiction seems intent on doing, I’ll take the former anytime.
Fortunately, there seems to be an increasing awareness that novels written with a teenage focus audience can also excel as works of literature. Enter my new novel, SNOOZE: A STORY OF AWAKENING.
Concerned with lucid dreaming, astral projection, Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster and a laundry list of other supernatural topics, SNOOZE is an exploration and celebration of the paranormal in the form of an epic, coming-of-age tale of one extraordinary boy’s awakening to the reality-altering quality of his dreams.
SNOOZE is also a YA novel—and darn proud to be one.
Composed with young adult as well young-at-heart readers in mind, SNOOZE just proved its literary merit by being selected for an Honorable Mention in the prestigious 2014 Beach Book Festival Prize competition.
To put the cherry on top of the cake, this recognition occurred by way of, not the young adult, but the general fiction category. So there.
This bit of external validation comes on the heels of a number of incredibly enthusiastic reader reviews.
Would you like to download a copy of SNOOZE to read and review? Peruse the first fourteen chapters and explore becoming a reviewer at ...
http://www.CrowRising.com/snooze
Sweet dreams!
Copyright © Sol Luckman. All Rights Reserved.
SNOOZE: A STORY OF AWAKENING Is Now Available!
Sol Luckman
While my new novel, SNOOZE: A STORY OF AWAKENING, was composed with young adult and young-at-heart readers in mind, the book recently proved its literary merit by receiving an Honorable Mention in the 2014 Beach Book Festival Prize competition in the general fiction category.
Here are some excerpts from the stellar reviews that have already come in …
“SNOOZE is without doubt one of the best coming-of-age, awakening books that I have ever read, and it had me entranced from beginning to end.” —Ingrid Hall, Author & Freelance Editor
“SNOOZE is a book for readers ready to awaken from our mass cultural illusion before we self-destruct.” —Merry Hall, Co-Host of ENVISION THIS
“This is a good read. One to share across generations, across space and time—or time and space.” —Dr. Janet Graham, Kalamazoo, Michigan
“A literary treasure. SNOOZE is a beautiful and fascinating depiction of the awakening process that will touch your heart.” —Liliana Cartagena
“This is a book that, when many people read it, will be instrumental in the world being a better place to live.” —Jennifer Churchill
In a recent essay, I describe some of the how and why SNOOZE came about:
I had in mind to write something indeed like a superhero story—but a believable one, a far cry from the standard stretched affairs currently gracing so many silver screens.
I also had a notion to write a book about how real magic, as opposed to a load of hocus pocus involving wizards and wands, might function in—and ultimately change—the real world.
By “real magic,” I mean just that. Specifically, I’m referring to the longstanding tradition of seemingly miraculous abilities called siddhis in Vedic lore—which are understood not as superhuman capacities so much as inherent to, if submerged in, human nature.
Siddhis come in a number of varieties, but common ones, witnessed by thousands of people over the ages, include telekinesis (moving objects with the mind), telepathy (ESP), and levitation or flying.
Historically documented in numerous individuals, from Indian gurus to the Catholic priest, Padre Pio, such powers are said to emerge organically from within the human being, often in connection with pineal gland activation and lucid dreaming.
The idea of siddhis had fascinated me ever since I first learned of them in college. It was mind-blowing that one of the oldest systems of personal development on the planet—the Vedic tradition of India—insisted, in essence, that everyone inherits the capability of becoming a superhero!
Begging the question … What would it actually be like to experience the sprouting and flowering of these inborn occult powers in oneself?
SNOOZE is finally available—in both paperback and ebook formats—at most online retailers, including Amazon, Amazon (UK), Amazon (Canada), Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Lulu, and my own website, where you can also peruse or download the first fourteen chapters ...
http://www.CrowRising.com/snooze
Finally, please tune in this Monday, June 23, at 7 PM EDT to ENVISION THIS radio for a live interview with me about SNOOZE.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/envision...
Thanks so much for reading—and sweet dreams!
Copyright © Sol Luckman. All Rights Reserved.
While my new novel, SNOOZE: A STORY OF AWAKENING, was composed with young adult and young-at-heart readers in mind, the book recently proved its literary merit by receiving an Honorable Mention in the 2014 Beach Book Festival Prize competition in the general fiction category.
Here are some excerpts from the stellar reviews that have already come in …
“SNOOZE is without doubt one of the best coming-of-age, awakening books that I have ever read, and it had me entranced from beginning to end.” —Ingrid Hall, Author & Freelance Editor
“SNOOZE is a book for readers ready to awaken from our mass cultural illusion before we self-destruct.” —Merry Hall, Co-Host of ENVISION THIS
“This is a good read. One to share across generations, across space and time—or time and space.” —Dr. Janet Graham, Kalamazoo, Michigan
“A literary treasure. SNOOZE is a beautiful and fascinating depiction of the awakening process that will touch your heart.” —Liliana Cartagena
“This is a book that, when many people read it, will be instrumental in the world being a better place to live.” —Jennifer Churchill
In a recent essay, I describe some of the how and why SNOOZE came about:
I had in mind to write something indeed like a superhero story—but a believable one, a far cry from the standard stretched affairs currently gracing so many silver screens.
I also had a notion to write a book about how real magic, as opposed to a load of hocus pocus involving wizards and wands, might function in—and ultimately change—the real world.
By “real magic,” I mean just that. Specifically, I’m referring to the longstanding tradition of seemingly miraculous abilities called siddhis in Vedic lore—which are understood not as superhuman capacities so much as inherent to, if submerged in, human nature.
Siddhis come in a number of varieties, but common ones, witnessed by thousands of people over the ages, include telekinesis (moving objects with the mind), telepathy (ESP), and levitation or flying.
Historically documented in numerous individuals, from Indian gurus to the Catholic priest, Padre Pio, such powers are said to emerge organically from within the human being, often in connection with pineal gland activation and lucid dreaming.
The idea of siddhis had fascinated me ever since I first learned of them in college. It was mind-blowing that one of the oldest systems of personal development on the planet—the Vedic tradition of India—insisted, in essence, that everyone inherits the capability of becoming a superhero!
Begging the question … What would it actually be like to experience the sprouting and flowering of these inborn occult powers in oneself?
SNOOZE is finally available—in both paperback and ebook formats—at most online retailers, including Amazon, Amazon (UK), Amazon (Canada), Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Lulu, and my own website, where you can also peruse or download the first fourteen chapters ...
http://www.CrowRising.com/snooze
Finally, please tune in this Monday, June 23, at 7 PM EDT to ENVISION THIS radio for a live interview with me about SNOOZE.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/envision...
Thanks so much for reading—and sweet dreams!
Copyright © Sol Luckman. All Rights Reserved.
“Superlative Fiction”—INDIE SHAMAN Magazine Reviews the Award-winning SNOOZE: A STORY OF AWAKENING
Reviewed by June Kent for INDIE SHAMAN Magazine
Superlative fiction! SNOOZE tells the captivating “coming-of-age” tale of Max Diver (aka “Snooze”) as he accepts and explores his ability to travel in his dreams and ventures on a quest to rescue his astronaut father.
Engrossing, entertaining and occasionally humorous, SNOOZE also takes a look at a wide range of subjects including levitation, telepathy, lucid dreaming, spirit animals, parallel universes and shamanic-like journeying, giving a wide range of information effortlessly absorbed as you enjoy the story as well as much food for thought should you want it. Fortunately it’s a fair size book, larger than the average paperback at 486 pages—although time certainly “flew by” for me when reading it.
Author Sol Luckman says that (like me) his earliest dreams were lucid ones of flying and these exhilarating dreams still occur for him today. The writing in SNOOZE is equally animated and I enjoyed every minute of Max’s adventure as, with the support of friends, he “awakens” to the life-changing reality of his dreams and accepts who he is.
The book says it’s aimed at “Teen and up” agewise but I’m 58 and enjoyed every minute of it—it’s written in a highly accessible style but sufficiently articulate to keep the most discriminating reader engrossed.
Highly original fiction with more than a dash of the otherworld; well-developed characters, both male and female; excellent adventures; heartwarming conclusion and lots of wonderful ideas—what is there not to like? Highly recommended, a must-read. I’m definitely going to look out for more from this author!
• Read an excerpt and request your review copy at ...
http://www.crowrising.com/snooze
