VISIONARY FICTION: The secret power of the written word...and how to do what you LOVE!

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

VISIONARY FICTION: The secret power of the written word...and how to do what you LOVE!

There is great value in a well told story, perhaps more than we realise. Any entertaining, well written novel which takes you out of the repetitive humdrum of everyday life is one thing, but what about expanding your consciousness? Is it possible to evolve from simply reading a fictional story? This is where the newly emerging category of ‘Visionary Fiction’ comes into play.

According to the website www.VisionaryFictionAlliance.com (which I highly recommend you take a look at) the genre has three main characteristics:
 Growth of consciousness is the central theme of the story and drives the protagonist,
and/or other important characters.
 The story oftentimes uses reincarnation, dreams, visions, paranormal events, psychic
abilities, and other metaphysical plot devices.
 The plot [or story] is universal in its worldview and scope.

So by reading quality Visionary Fiction, you are effectively taking in spiritual and esoteric wisdom while at the same time having fun on the ride. Reading this type of material opens your heart and mind to new possibilities and potentials, or what futurist American Barbara Marx-Hubbard calls ‘conscious evolution’. James Redfield, Carlos Costenada and Kate Atkinson are all well-known authors who apply to this category and it’s sub-genres.

As an award-winning and Amazon #1 writer in the genre of non-fiction Spirituality, I was looking for a way to share esoteric wisdom with as wide an audience as possible. That’s how my new novel THE SOUL WHISPERER: A Tale of Hidden Truths & Unspoken Possibilities came about.

At the end of September 2013 I managed to take two weeks away from the bedlam of work. I needed a rest, and France was the ideal place to reinvigorate my spirit and clear my head. The first week was spent in a small house in the Montagne Noire of the Tarn, cleaning, gardening and going about general D.I.Y repairs. Each day (at high altitude) was a bit cold and grey and I have to admit, a touch depressing. After all, when you’re living in England, the last thing you want when you’re on holiday is rain! Was this damp outlook going to be the extent of my much needed break from running one of the largest spiritual retreat centres in
the UK?

By the end of the week, I moved out of the mountains, and into the sunnier climes of the Languedoc-Roussillon, staying at a lovely little 'gite' (cottage) hidden away in the heart of this beautiful countryside. It turned out to be the most amazing week of my life. The area of the French department of the Hérault is covered in stunning steep rock formations, crystalline rivers and the sweet scent of wild herbs carried on the warm breeze is never far away. It was so deliciously warm and dry.

As I unwound and relaxed, I was overcome by a sense of needing to write, which was in no way planned, and most unexpected. But I followed the deep sense, purchasing a decent pen and a couple of note books. I sat on the picnic bench of the sunny terrace and began to scribble, and within a couple of days, I’d filled the two notebooks. I brought all the local places into the story, and everything that happened became part of the esoteric fiction I was writing. Journeys and visits became part of that story, as did people and places, fitting together like a real life puzzle.

The stunning setting of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert became the ideal backdrop. A truly magical village, a charming sun-kissed square filled with ancient houses made of golden amber stone. The village is surrounded by tall, overhanging rock faces, as if they’re protecting its secret history. The impressive but somewhat daunting Abbey, the ‘Devils’ bridge standing tall over the gorge, the dramatic caves of Clamouse… I was entranced.

A trip to Limoux enabled me to gather French names from the cemetery, and. parked up on the side of the road there, I sang an intuited chant, recording it with my Dictaphone… it all seemed to be part of the blossoming story.

I returned to the UK feeling fulfilled, and went back to work as usual. A few months later, an unexpected debacle at work led to many changes, including my departure. It was a difficult few months for all concerned. In the depths of not knowing what to do, I returned to my book. I started transcribing the notes from the two exercise books onto the laptop. Once I’d written the story-line, I contacted a few people, including a mainstream publisher. Each person responded positively, which gave me the encouragement I needed to spend the next 9 months working solidly on the manuscript. Following the perfume of the Soul, I found my
literary agent / manager to help with the novel and collaborated with a Grammy Award Winning producer (yes, the chants on the Dictaphone!) and a talented young script writer also joined the project.

Now, with a completed novel 'The Soul Whisperer' I am doing the work that I LOVE. Through words and music, I feel I am expressing the truth of who I am - and I can actually feel the resonance of that in my being. It's like the way ahead is flowing and clear, and that brings peace and fulfillment. It's as if that time in France guided me towards the clarity of my soul.

I think the most any one of us can do to grow is to find and follow what we LOVE, for in doing so we converge with the intelligence of the Soul. The true nature of the Soul works for the totality. So in following Soulness(the consciousness of the Soul), we all contribute uniquely, but simultaneously benefit the individual and the whole. I sincerely hope that anyone who reads this book receives fun, thrills and something ‘more’ for them individually, for that is the intention and the goal.

‘The Soul Whisperer: A Tale of Hidden Truths and Unspoken Possibilities’ is due for release on 26th February 2016:
Amazon UK - http://amzn.to/1LxqLo1
Amazon U.S. - http://amzn.to/1Pm4NHp
YouTube book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8l87IQ-PDU

For more information, visit the author’s official website: http://www.authorjmharrison.com.

About Jonathan ...

Born in southern England in the mid 60's, by the early 1980's Jonathan's deep love of music was expressed through singing and songwriting. After the usual band circuits and gigs, he came into contact with London based Hard Times Productions, forming a positive rewarding relationship which resulted in the release of several records, publishing deals, session work, funded projects, jingles, TV advertising, media interviews and an interesting short stint as the lead singer of Frankie Goes To Hollywood (following the departure of lead singer Holly Johnson). At the close of his music career in 1990 he was awarded a double gold disc for his contribution to the Telstar compilation album "Get on This 2", which went to number 2 in the UK album charts.

From 1997 onwards he underwent a series of prolonged transformational experiences which radically altered his consciousness, causing him to look closely at human identity while becoming directly aware of what he calls the “Divine I-less nature of reality”.

In the early millennium years he spent extended periods of time dissolved in “Oneness” which yielded a profound holistic awareness.

In 2005, he made what he describes as an “illogical yet choiceless” decision to give up all commercial interests. Jonathan, together with his wife Wendy, and friend Sharon Jeffries subsequently found and restored an old Armagnac farm in Gascony, South West France from where they hosted workshops and retreats - a place called “The Dubon Centre of Healing and Awareness”.

Never having 'written' before, and following a mystical near death experience in early 2007, he penned his first book "We Are All One: A call to spiritual uprising". Written in just six days, the critically acclaimed book was awarded the Allbooks International Editors Choice Award (USA) in the Spirituality & Inspiration category.

Over the last few years Jonathan has appeared on numerous radio shows across North America including: ‘Sound Authors’ – World Talk Radio with Kent Gustavson, The Nancy Wallace Show, ‘Authors Audio’ with Jake D. Steele, 'Create Abundance Now' with Roxanne Brown, ‘Infinite Love Radio’ with Michelle Morovaty, Web Talk Radio, ‘Body Wonders Radio’ with Donna Vernon, ‘Intimate conversations with Masters and Mystics’ with ‘Toward the Light’ with Rev.Juliet Nightingale, ‘Connecting the Light’ with Mike Quinsey, ‘The Universal Spirit Connection’ (Leilani Schmidt), ‘Call of the Soul Connection’ (Xandra Graviet) ‘Tell me your story’ with Richard Dugan, ‘Contact Talk Radio’ with Dawn Stansfield. Many of his articles, poems and quotes appearing in consciousness / spirituality magazines and associated websites worldwide.

In January 2009 he was invited to teach alongside Barbara Marx Hubbard, Esther Hicks (Abraham, Law of Attraction, The Secret) Steve and Barbara Rother (lightworker.com) and others on http://www.worldchangingwisdom.com/pastpresenters.html/ - subsequently he was offered his own seminar series with leading edge US company Conscious Alliances.

During the winter of 2009 Jonathan was invited to take on the challenging role of Managing Director of Gaunts House in Dorset, England – a role he undertook until leaving in the spring of 2014.

Jonathan 's second book ‘NAKED BEING: Undressing Your Mind, Transforming Your Life’ – was published by O books on the 28th May 2010. It was honoured as an award winning finalist in the Best Books 2010 Awards (USA Book News) in the Spirituality genre.

He was interviewed by Conscious TV founder Iain McNay in 2011, during which they talked about illness, healing and the evolution of human consciousness. It has been repeated on the Sky freeview channels. To see that interview, just click on this link: Conscious.tv interview

Conscious.tv are a UK based TV channel broadcasting company on the internet - they also have programmes on satelite and cable channels in different countries. In the UK you can watch their programmes at 8.30pm every day on Information TV's 'Showcase 2' channel which is no 192 on the Sky Satellite system. Their aim is to stimulate, debate, question, enquire, infrom, enlighten, encourage and inspire people in the areas of Consciousness, Science, Non-Duality and Spirituality.