Inspiration behind the Mystical Book of om

The Mystical Book of Om

Finally, after six months of graft, I have completed 'The Mystical Book of Om'. It's a journey well worth the effort I think. The usual elements of fantasy writing are omni-present: the antagonists, the protagonists, the frightened community, the heroes and villains. What makes this book unique and separates it from thousands of others? Well, to be truthful, I have a different perspective to most. Being a person with Asperger Syndrome qualities, I gravitate towards impossibility thinking, that is to think outside the box. I have a wonderful man to thank for contributing to my' superpower' that person being Doctor Robert Schuller, the famed presenter of the American religious program, 'The Hour of Power'. I'm ever thankful to him for opening up my mind to the fact that the universe was created by God, and he created it to allow the possibilities for endless solutions to problems. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not a bible basher, but I do believe that through Doctor Schuller's inspirational words that I have been given a task in life to ease people's pain through imaginative storytelling wonder. It's a gift, and I fully excel in using it. Which brings me to my latest book.

I suppose most people think that books are crafted meticulously with never-ending plans, story cards, flow charts and scrupulously constructed plots, but I defy that trend. Often, my books begin with a single word. In fact, in my first series 'The Tales of the Magic Piano', the very first word I wrote was 'Nicolas'. It's hard to believe I know, but that entire series started with one word which over about four years morphed into over a million. I keep hearing Doctor Schuller's words ringing in my ears - possibility thinking. A green, fertile lawn has to start with a single blade of grass- right? I like thinking this way. It gives me infinite scope to leap into worlds of infinite possibility, and The Mystical Book of Om in my mind is infinitely possible. Why? Well, not in a real sense, of course, but how many of us drag our weary bodies from our beds only to try to find the strength to trudge through life's merry-go-round for another day? Yeh, don't worry. I've been on that treadmill too, for longer than I care to remember. What does The Mystical Book of Om represent? There are many thoughts that come to my mind. Firstly, who the hell are we to think that out of all the billions of stars in the universe that we're the only living, functioning species who exist? Are we so arrogant to believe that this little, blue dot in the milky way is the only planet that supports life? I don't think so. Just remember that the frontiers of our space exploration experience is akin to one grain of a sand found on a beach. Again - possibility thinking. So, if I want to create a world that seems infinitely impossible, who is to say that it might not be possible? With that mantra in mind, I created Komakai, a world far-off into future beyond the stars whose planet is inhabited by animals of the human world persuasion. I've tried to weave into the story the usual components of struggle, loss, friendship, leadership and heroism. I hope I have succeeded.

As for the characters themselves, I have drawn on my own experience. Lord Morakal, the evil, twisted soul who craves eternal power bumbles his way through life who is manipulated at every twist and turn by his far darker compatriot, Lord Zhoran. In a counter-balance to their darkness, Master Goo, the eternally bright and optimistic Tai Chi master, spends his energy and time training his young apprentice, Bobo, the ways of the righteous Chi Knights. The usual battles ensue: good vs evil, light vs darkness, pride vs humility. The lessons are the same whether they be in a futuristic fantasy novel or in real life. At the end of the day we all make choices, don't we? To some degree this novel mirrors those choices. Do we choose to fall over and be used as a doormat or do we choose to stand and fight? And if we choose to stand and fight, how do we do that? That's what I like about fantasy writing. I can subtly introduce questions into the minds of the reader about the character's flaws and strengths and how they perceive their world. In my world of reality, that isn't so easy to do.

People, of course, inspire me also. None more so than Nelson Mandela. I draw on his strength. Wherever and whenever I see injustice, I'm going to call it out. I suppose this manifests itself in my novels through characters who shine and those I purposefully loathe. To use Nelson Mandela's struggles in life as inspiration for the perpetual betterment of the human race is entirely righteous and noble. I don't want to be appearing as a knight on a pedestal, but his magnificent humility has brought me to tears on many occasions. There are many other historical characters that have influenced this novel, but they are too many to mention. You will find a lot to like in The Mystical Book of Om. Characters who shine, loyalty, friendship and integrity can all be found in a world, although thousands of years away in time and space, is not unlike our own.

Damien.