In The Resurrectionist, we find William Stark struggling with an anxiety disorder. As a teenager with mental illness, Will faces immense challenges. Challenges that are reflective of many teenagers today.
The demands of society and those we place on ourselves are growing exponentially. I've been fortunate to have had the opportunity to work in the mental health field. A field that is growing fast to meet the demand for services, but the workers are under paid and the organizations dedicated to serving those who suffer are deeply under funded.
It's the nature of the economic beast. A capitalistic economy rewards output and production. Those who suffer mental illness are often unable to be as productive as others due to their illnesses. Mental illness acts as a barrier to healthy human functioning.
Society is working to bring awareness to this unbalance but there is much work to be done. I encourage everyone to learn more about mental illness and what you can do to help. The National Alliance on Mental Illness is a great place to start.
www.nami.org
I also encourage people to start with a prayer for all those suffering.
Please leave a comment about other ways to help bring support and love to those who are affected by mental illness.
The Resurrectionist
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Prayer, What's the Point?
Prayer: Is it real? Does it work? What's the point? These questions are ones that The Resurrectionist brings to light. Often we find ourselves in prayer, maybe not directly to God, but in our hopes, dreams, and wishes.
A goal for the novel was to show the physical actions and mechanisms of prayer. Prayer is powerful for Will. We see how it weakens him when he turns from love. We see how it strengthens him when he seeks to return to love.
Sometimes prayer can feel pointless, especially in times of mundane monotony. This is when we need to challenge ourselves to raise our awareness and tune our souls to the higher vibrations of God's love. Through this love we will be made whole.
Prayer doesn't need to be lengthy and wordy. A simple thought is enough to feel love warm your soul.
A goal for the novel was to show the physical actions and mechanisms of prayer. Prayer is powerful for Will. We see how it weakens him when he turns from love. We see how it strengthens him when he seeks to return to love.
Sometimes prayer can feel pointless, especially in times of mundane monotony. This is when we need to challenge ourselves to raise our awareness and tune our souls to the higher vibrations of God's love. Through this love we will be made whole.
Prayer doesn't need to be lengthy and wordy. A simple thought is enough to feel love warm your soul.
Go to Hell
The descriptions of the hell Will Stark finds himself in were inspired by many sources. The goal was to paint a picture of hell that was accurate based on current literature of the spiritual realms.
There exist multiple levels and layers in the spiritual world. A popular belief is that earth is a middle ground with seven dimensions above and seven dimensions below. The dimensions above the earth represent the heavens with the seventh dimension being the Kingdom of God as represented in the Bible. The seven dimensions below represent various levels of hell, each becoming darker as one descends them (think Dante).
Mystics and visionaries throughout history have claimed to have seen or been given insights into these various dimensions.
One of these gifted visionary's was St. Catherine of Genoa. In her writings and teachings, St. Catherine references the "divine fire within" the human soul and witnessing the purification of souls in purgatory.
A central theme in The Resurrectionist is the purification of the soul and the love of God that burns away sin. This powerful message reminds us we're never truly lost and beyond repair.
There exist multiple levels and layers in the spiritual world. A popular belief is that earth is a middle ground with seven dimensions above and seven dimensions below. The dimensions above the earth represent the heavens with the seventh dimension being the Kingdom of God as represented in the Bible. The seven dimensions below represent various levels of hell, each becoming darker as one descends them (think Dante).
Mystics and visionaries throughout history have claimed to have seen or been given insights into these various dimensions.
One of these gifted visionary's was St. Catherine of Genoa. In her writings and teachings, St. Catherine references the "divine fire within" the human soul and witnessing the purification of souls in purgatory.
A central theme in The Resurrectionist is the purification of the soul and the love of God that burns away sin. This powerful message reminds us we're never truly lost and beyond repair.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Purpose of The Resurrectionist
The vision for the novel, The Resurrectionist, was to take spiritual concepts and make them applicable to a young adult/teen audience. My hope for the book is to inspire a spark of spiritually in the reader. In today's world people easily neglect to nurture and grow their spiritual selves, the greatest adventure. Greater than any story is the adventure of making the connection with our higher self.
Growing spiritually is a challenge for anybody in today's fast paced society, especially young people where demanding academic, extra curricular, and social calendars take precedence.
The Resurrectionist follows a teenaged protaganist as he wrestles with an anxiety disorder, low self-esteem, and finding a sense of faith. Filled with plot twists and fast paced adventure, William Stark takes readers to the depths of his despare to learn that love heals and redemption is never far away.
Growing spiritually is a challenge for anybody in today's fast paced society, especially young people where demanding academic, extra curricular, and social calendars take precedence.
The Resurrectionist follows a teenaged protaganist as he wrestles with an anxiety disorder, low self-esteem, and finding a sense of faith. Filled with plot twists and fast paced adventure, William Stark takes readers to the depths of his despare to learn that love heals and redemption is never far away.
Friday, July 25, 2014
The Resurrectionist
William Stark is not the hero type, at least not in his eyes. Awkward and anxious, mental illness and a confused faith keep him from loving the girl of his dreams, and himself. A lack of self-esteem takes him to the depths of hell (literally) to fight an intimate battle between fear and faith.
Will wants nothing more than to feel normal, but when you're from a town nicknamed, The Devil’s Rendition of Sedona Arizona, it's not meant to be. Famous for attracting fire and brimstone preachers, occult psychics, and the fringes of society, Millersville is hiding a history that’s anything but traditional.
With the guidance of a deeply spiritual school psychologist who may be keeping secrets of his own, Will learns to balance his mental health symptoms and work towards normalcy, which is about to be short lived.
A team of paranormal investigators have their eyes on the reluctant Will and his unique abilities. What isn't clear is their deeper purpose for him. Aided with technology developed by the group, Gateway, a Resurrectionist crosses into a world of lost spirits and guides them to the light. William's calling, his purpose, is laid before him. He must fight to conquer his demons or risk becoming one of them, falling into darkness for all eternity.
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Under the Door
"Crap."
"What."
"I forgot to lock up. Would you please do it hon, my back is really hurting."
"We live in the quietest neighborhood in the entire state."
"Oh please hon, I know I'm being paranoid, but you know I won't sleep if the house isn't locked."
"I'm so tired."
"Please, you know I hate feeling something can get me in the middle of the night. It creeps me out."
"Fine. I'll do it."
Paul got out of bed, half-asleep. Going around to each door, the front, side and back, before crawling back to bed.
"Got'em." Paul said.
"You're the best, hon."
"Yeah, I know."
Paul neared sleep, his mind fading in and out of awareness. I never locked the patio door. The thought snapped him awake. Paul turned over to find his wife fast asleep. Screw it.
"What."
"I forgot to lock up. Would you please do it hon, my back is really hurting."
"We live in the quietest neighborhood in the entire state."
"Oh please hon, I know I'm being paranoid, but you know I won't sleep if the house isn't locked."
"I'm so tired."
"Please, you know I hate feeling something can get me in the middle of the night. It creeps me out."
"Fine. I'll do it."
Paul got out of bed, half-asleep. Going around to each door, the front, side and back, before crawling back to bed.
"Got'em." Paul said.
"You're the best, hon."
"Yeah, I know."
Paul neared sleep, his mind fading in and out of awareness. I never locked the patio door. The thought snapped him awake. Paul turned over to find his wife fast asleep. Screw it.
Later that Night
Paul woke up and rolled over to give his wife a squeeze, he found a cold pillow. A light flickered in the hallway. He got up to inspect.
"Babe, what are you doing? Paul found his wife sitting at the kitchen table, craddeling a glass of water.
"What's wrong, babe?" Paul asked, putting his hand on her shoulder. Paul's wife stared ahead towards the open screen door leading to the patio. "Oh babe I'm sorry. I must've forgotten the patio. It's ok, I'll get it." Paul slid closed the patio door and turned the lock.
"Come on, babe. Let's go back to bed."
Paul's wife was silent, visibly shaken. Ever since she was a young girl she'd been haunted by fears of intruders in her home.
"I don't feel well." She said. "I need the bathroom."
Paul helped his wife to the bathroom. She was two months pregnant and experiencing frequent nausea.
"What was that?" Paul's wife said. "Did you hear that? Oh God, someone's in the house, Paul."
"I hear it scratching at the door." Paul said.
The scratching continued, growing louder into soft knocking. Paul grabbed his wife, holding her tight.
"It's ok. It's ok. It's going to be ok." Paul lied.
"Oh God." Paul's wife gasped.
A finger slid under the bathroom door, then another and another. Silent tears streamed down Sarah's face. Paul's body trembled as he held her close.
"What is it? Sarah slowed her breathing enough to talk.
Twenty fingers ran under the door, reaching for the couple, waiting to devour and consume.
" Oh God!" Paul cried. "We're having twins."
Twenty fingers ran under the door, reaching for the couple, waiting to devour and consume.
" Oh God!" Paul cried. "We're having twins."
The Other Side
"I hope you're not hungry and if you are don't expect much. I haven't been to the grocery store in a week and a half."
"Just water, please. In a glass."
"That's it? You really should try and eat something."
"I can't. Water, please."
Mary met Phil an hour earlier even though they had lived on the same floor for the past three years.
"What happened," Mary asked.
"I'm not really sure what I saw. It wasn't anything I'd ever seen before." Phil said, his hand shaking coffee over the edge of the cup.
"Can you describe it?"
"It was like a mist or a vapor. I think I could see through to the other side."
"So you saw the other side of your apartment."
"No, the other side of death."
Phil's entire body shook when Mary reached out and touched his hand.
"You're safe now." She smiled.
"No, you don't understand. They said they were coming for me. They said they're coming tonight!"
"Then you're staying here, with me." Mary regretted those words as soon as they came out. Phil was a stranger and not stable.
"Thank you, that's kind." Phil's hand stopped shaking.
"It's getting late. Do you want to try and get some rest?" Mary asked. Phil only nodded.
Phil layed on the couch, eyes wide open. Mary layed in her bed, eyes wide open. She slid her night stand behind her bedroom door so that it couldn't be opened from the outside.
Mary awoke the next morning, shocked she'd slept at all. She went to check on Phil but he was gone. She opened the front door of her apartment and looked down the hall. Her landlord was talking to a police officer outside Phil's apartment. After the officer left, Mary approached the landlord.
"What's going on?" She asked.
"The police were called late last night. Phil was pacing the hallway talking about how a woman had been holding him against his will and that he tried to kill her in her sleep but couldn't get her bedroom door opened. He took off before the police got here. I hope they catch him, always thought he was a little off.
Mary walked back to her apartment, shaken by her landlord's words and how close she came to death.
"Mary! Thank God, I've been looking for you. I went to your bedroom but couldn't get the door open."
Mary's legs and hands trembled. Phil was standing in her living room.
"Phil, um, I thought the police came, um you know."
"Police. What police? Where." Phil scanned the apartment and ran to look out the window to the street below.
While Phil's back was turned, Mary reached into a kitchen drawer where she kept a small handgun.
"Are you sure Mary? I don't see any police." Phil said, turning away from the window and finding a gun pointed at his chest.
"My God Mary, What are you doing, don't!" Phil walked towards her as the gun went off.
Mary heard police sirens in the distance growing louder each second. She went to the bathroom to splash cold water on her face. She grabbed a towel and looked in the mirror. She saw right through herself, a mist, right to the other side.
"Just water, please. In a glass."
"That's it? You really should try and eat something."
"I can't. Water, please."
Mary met Phil an hour earlier even though they had lived on the same floor for the past three years.
"What happened," Mary asked.
"I'm not really sure what I saw. It wasn't anything I'd ever seen before." Phil said, his hand shaking coffee over the edge of the cup.
"Can you describe it?"
"It was like a mist or a vapor. I think I could see through to the other side."
"So you saw the other side of your apartment."
"No, the other side of death."
Phil's entire body shook when Mary reached out and touched his hand.
"You're safe now." She smiled.
"No, you don't understand. They said they were coming for me. They said they're coming tonight!"
"Then you're staying here, with me." Mary regretted those words as soon as they came out. Phil was a stranger and not stable.
"Thank you, that's kind." Phil's hand stopped shaking.
"It's getting late. Do you want to try and get some rest?" Mary asked. Phil only nodded.
Phil layed on the couch, eyes wide open. Mary layed in her bed, eyes wide open. She slid her night stand behind her bedroom door so that it couldn't be opened from the outside.
Mary awoke the next morning, shocked she'd slept at all. She went to check on Phil but he was gone. She opened the front door of her apartment and looked down the hall. Her landlord was talking to a police officer outside Phil's apartment. After the officer left, Mary approached the landlord.
"What's going on?" She asked.
"The police were called late last night. Phil was pacing the hallway talking about how a woman had been holding him against his will and that he tried to kill her in her sleep but couldn't get her bedroom door opened. He took off before the police got here. I hope they catch him, always thought he was a little off.
Mary walked back to her apartment, shaken by her landlord's words and how close she came to death.
"Mary! Thank God, I've been looking for you. I went to your bedroom but couldn't get the door open."
Mary's legs and hands trembled. Phil was standing in her living room.
"Phil, um, I thought the police came, um you know."
"Police. What police? Where." Phil scanned the apartment and ran to look out the window to the street below.
While Phil's back was turned, Mary reached into a kitchen drawer where she kept a small handgun.
"Are you sure Mary? I don't see any police." Phil said, turning away from the window and finding a gun pointed at his chest.
"My God Mary, What are you doing, don't!" Phil walked towards her as the gun went off.
Mary heard police sirens in the distance growing louder each second. She went to the bathroom to splash cold water on her face. She grabbed a towel and looked in the mirror. She saw right through herself, a mist, right to the other side.
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