Here's the first blog:
Entry for October 27, 2006
It's been over five months since I finished writing the book about the figure of Apollonius/St.Paul in
God in Three Persons: A Spiritual Odyssey
1st Entry –
I finally found a reputable literary agency that was willing to look at my completed manuscript. I hope and pray this is the One! I will know within a month if the literary agency will try to market my book to a good publisher. My constant prayer is: "Lord, give me patience!"
During the next few days/weeks I will be posting on my blog some pictures that I took in San Francisco while doing research for my book.
Tomorrow: The first clue in the "mystery" quest that is found in the first two chapters of the book -- "When you enter the Dragon Gate."
2nd Entry –
First, the publishing process: I've sent over 50 letters/queries to prospective publishers. So far, I have received more than 25 rejections. I am waiting for the others to respond. Two publishers are reviewing my book, and that might take several months.
Now, on to the "Mystery Quest" -- The first picture refers to the clue "When you enter the Dragon Gate." The excerpt from the book (in Chapter 222) that relates to the picture:
Apollos drove his Mercury Mystique through the dragon's gate at the entrance to Chinatown on Grant Street. He parked his green car on the uphill one-way street facing north. He walked around the majestic structure, which was a gift from China in 1969, and noticed the earthy green roof that had wavy tiling flowing horizontally and round bamboo-like ridges that were placed vertically. The larger roof on top overlapped two smaller roofs on the left and right side of the street, with a guardian lion in front of each twin pillar supporting the entire edifice. Twelve small guardian beasts stood in protective poses on the four corners of each roof. And on the very top of the dragon-crested gate were two brazen dragons contending for a centrally placed fiery pearl. To each side of the central imperial emblem and coat of arms of the emperor was a carp with the long upper green bamboo support in its mouth.
Apollos with his western mentality saw the sign of Pisces in the pair of fish, not the eastern symbol of domestic felicity and fertility. The dragons to him represented evil that must be vanquished, like in the famous story of St. George and the dragon; although at times he thought the dragon was an apt symbol of the mysterious Chinese civilization.
Apollos looked for clues that might connect with the message. He couldn't decipher the Chinese characters. In a San Francisco guide he had read that the writing proclaimed, "Every-thing in the world is in just proportions." He searched again near the ominous-looking Fu Dogs, and this time he noticed a red envelope underneath the western-oriented male paw. He opened the envelope, hoping for good fortune, but instead he only found a cryptic capital letter A on one side of a small card. On the reverse side of the card was a clue for his next destination: a picture of a trident inside a square. He knew where it was located.
Tomorrow: the second place/picture and clue to the "mystery quest."
3rd Entry –
First, the publishing process: I sent over 120 letters/queries to literary agents. Over half were rejected, several were discarded after I found out they charged fees, and I'm waiting for quite a few of them to still respond. One literary agency is presently looking at my complete manuscript on an exclusive basis. I will have a response from that agency before the end of November.
Now for the "Mystery Quest" and the 2nd clue: "And retrieve the Trident."
Here's the excerpt from the book:
Union Square was several blocks away, so Apollos headed downtown. The central plaza featured a 91-foot Corinthian granite column with a female figure representing Victory at the top. The green-tinted bronze figure wore a flowing dress down to her ankles, and in her left hand was an uplifted trident; in her right hand was a laurel wreath. The westward-facing figure was standing with her right foot on a ball that represented the earth.
Apollos and Sophia came here on May Day, the same day that Admiral Dewey gained his victory over the Spanish forces at Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War in 1898.
"Did you know that there once was a sandy hillside next to a stream running down a steep ravine right where we're standing?" asked Sophia as she held his strong hand.
"No, I didn't," answered Apollos. "And today we have cable cars clanging up and down that ravine."
"And did you know that the Dewey monument survived the 1906 earthquake?" she asked.
"That's amazing," answered Apollos. He was going to say something about the magnitude of that earthquake, but Sophia quickly added another bit of trivia.
"And did you know where the square got its name?" she asked. Apollos shook his head. "From the pro-Union demonstrations that erupted on the eve of the Civil War."
"You're a storehouse of information," said Apollos.
"And see that Maiden Lane," she said, pointing to the east end of the 2.6 acre park with date palms on the fringes. "That used to be the Barbary Coast's red light district."
"Now how did you know that?" asked Apollos. "It's almost as if you've been here before, the way you're describing everything."
Apollos clearly remembered the wink she gave him when he uttered those words. He glanced once more at what seemed to him was Poseidon's trident, with which he ruled the seas. Or was it Shiva's trident of dissolution, which was wielded at the end of an age? It was at the moment when he thought of the three-pronged spear in its negative aspect that he saw a red envelope wedged in the granite base that supported the cylindrical shaft.
He opened the red envelope and saw a capital letter T on one side of the card and the word Washington inside a square on the other side. "Washington Square," said Apollos in a low voice. "That's on the other side of Chinatown."
4th entry –
First, the publishing process: I tried to use a strategy with some of the publishing houses that was meant to get into their hearts and minds through the back door. The strategy was to make a CD of the complete manuscript and send it as a complimentary copy to the publisher, with the statement "in case you are interested in looking at the completed manuscript." Also, I added, "You need not return the CD."
Now for the "Mystery Quest" and the 3rd clue: "And face the Four Beasts."
Here's the excerpt from the book: He opened the red envelope and saw a capital letter T on one side of the card and the word Washington inside a square on the other side.
"Washington Square," said Apollos in a low voice. "That's on the other side of Chinatown."
He drove down Columbus Avenue and parked his car on the south side of the square-block park. Through the poplar and evergreen trees he saw two majestic white towers highlighting the overcast northern sky. On top of the lofty spires of the ornate Romanesque Saints Peter and Paul Church were two crosses; a central gold-plated cross stood atop the church front. He walked across the green park, past the sword-wielding Sunday Tai-Chi practitioners, and crossed the street. He casually glanced at the strange address of the church.
Sophia had coaxed him to come here for the Easter Mass, he remembered. He also remembered her soft melodic voice as she read the mosaic inscription placed just above the three entrances to the church: "LA GLORIA DI COLUI CHE TUTTO MUOVE PER L'UNIVERSO PENETRA E RISPLENDE." She added, "That's from Dante's Paradiso."
"What does it mean?" asked Apollos.
"It's from the third part of the Divine Comedy, Paradise, and it's the first three lines of Canto 1, where it says: 'The glory of Him who moves everything penetrates through the universe, and is resplendent in one part more and in another less.' That's the complete quote."
Apollos remembered looking into the sky-blue eyes of Sophia as she seemed to open up new worlds for him. His was a world of philosophic thought and inquiry, and hers was a world that seemed to plumb the depths of universal wisdom. Perhaps she was directing an allegory of the soul in his life.
"You might as well tell me about the four figures on those pedestals," Apollo remembered saying as he looked at the sculptured figures above the words of Dante. And then it dawned on him. The message said: "And face the four beasts." Sophia had told him those were the four beasts or signs of the fixed cross in the heavens, which the Christian religion had converted into the symbols of the four Evangelists: Mark (a lion), Matthew (a winged man), Luke (an ox), and John (an eagle).
Behind one of the three spiraling columns, which formed three column-arches at the central entrance, right underneath the watchful eyes of the Universal Christ with the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, Apollos saw a red envelope partially sticking out. He didn't bother going inside to see the magnificent 40-foot Italian altar again. He remembered the beautiful marble and onyx carvings. He also remembered the sad expression on Sophia's face as she pondered the significance of the La Pieta statue near the east side of the altar.
However, at the moment his mind was totally captivated by his quest to find and rescue his beloved fiancée. The red envelope had a card, just like before, with a letter and a clue. The letter was H, and the clue was a miniature Mater Dolorosa with seven swords with cross-shaped hilts piercing her sacred heart.
5th entry—
Here are some of the more interesting responses from the publishers that rejected my manuscript:
1. Unfortunately, your work does not fit our current publishing plans. Please be aware that this decision is not based on the quality of your writing or presentation—rather, in fairness to you and your work, we must evaluate whether we are the most suitable house for your audience. We are hopeful that another fine publisher will be appropriate for your writing, and we encourage you to seek other publishers.
2. Thank you for allowing us to consider your work. We are sorry to report that the story is not quite right for our current publishing program.
3. ___Publishers regrets that it will not be able to publish your book at the present time. The decision is purely based upon marketing and economic factors and not necessarily literary considerations. Of the thousands of proposals we receive annually, only 15 to 20 are selected. Those selected are the ones we think will have the greatest chance in the marketplace, based on subject matter, author's credentials, the quality of writing, and the promotability of the author and book. Rest assured, your proposal was given full and complete consideration. We apologize for not being able to give you a personal response, due to the overwhelming amount of submissions our office handles. Frankly, an editor's or publisher's decision could be made in error, haste or prejudicial judgment. This is why we hear of bestsellers which were rejected by dozens of other publishers prior to successful publication. Do not lose hope. We encourage you to continue trying to locate a publishing house for your proposal.
Now for the "Mystery Quest" (that is part of the plot in the first two chapters of the book) and the 4th clue (that leads to a successful unveiling of 7 magical places in San Francisco): "And seize the Sacred Heart."
Here's the excerpt from the book:
The red envelope had a card, just like before, with a letter and a clue. The letter was H, and the clue was a miniature Mater Dolorosa with seven swords with cross-shaped hilts piercing her sacred heart. He remembered Sophia telling him about the Lady of Sorrows when they toured the official birthplace of San Francisco.
"Remember the La Pieta statue that we saw at the Italian cathedral?" she asked. He knew she was referring to the church where he saw the strange triple-six address. "Well, that is the sorrowing mother holding the dead body of her son, and those seven swords in her sacred heart represent the seven sorrows that she bore throughout her life at various stages of her son's life."
"And what do those seven rays in the dome represent?" Apollos remembered asking as he drove his car to the Mission District, the designated Heart of the City.
"Aha, you're not only observant, but you're also learning to ask the right questions," he remembered her saying in her instructive tone. On these excursions she always turned out to be the teacher, and he the student.
"Do you notice that the Mater Dolorosa is placed on the central ray?" she had asked with a piercing look in her eye. His heart skipped a beat as he drove as quickly as he could to Mission Dolores.
"If she is the heart of those seven rays, what do you think the other rays represent?" she had quizzed him on his ability to think in a more abstract manner.
"There you go," she had laughed jubilantly. "Now you're on the right path." She revealed no more to him on that day.
Apollos thought of those seven rays and the seven swords as he drove down the palm-lined boulevard that once was known as El Camino Real. His heart felt like it was erupting with his own personal sorrow as he thought of the danger his fiancée was in. Tears rolled down his cheek as he tried to pray the prayer Sophia taught him: "O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us who have recourse to thee." He choked up momentarily as he fought back the flood of tears that were blurring his vision. "And please don't let anything happen to my beloved," he mouthed softly as he licked the tears away from the side of his mouth.
He drove up to the humble mission, which was overshadowed by the majestic basilica beside it. Here, beside what once was a small stream and lake, which was christened Arroyo de Nuestro Senora de los Dolores (Lake of Our Lady of Sorrows), stood the sixth mission established under the direction of Father Junipero Serra. The date was June 29, 1776, and the first mass in honor of the Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul officially designated the land beside the lake as the site of the future Mission San Francisco de Asis. By this reckoning, San Francisco was officially born five days before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The adobe building measured 174 feet long and 22 feet wide when it was completed in 1791.
Apollos headed straight for the image that was troubling his heart, the Mater Dolorosa and her seven sorrows. The interior of the basilica was partially lit, and Apollos strained his eyes to see any sign of a red envelope. He thought it might be under the partially opened red-and-gold umbrella stand on the right side of the altar or the carved coat of arms with the papal insignia stand on the left side facing the altar. Both were the official marks of a Basilica, an honorary church of the Pope. But Apollos did not see a red envelope hidden near or under those stands.
He finally found the red envelope under a large mural of the Lady of Sorrows near the left side of the altar. The mural depicted her wearing an outer blue robe and an inner ankle-length white robe and what appeared to be water flowing from her lowered hands. At her feet was, what seemed to Apollos, an ominous-looking serpent. He did not notice that the lady had her right foot on the head and her left foot on the tail of the snake.
He opened the envelope and found the expected card. On the front was a capital letter E, and on the back was a picture of a labyrinth. He immediately recognized the labyrinth and connected it to the cryptic words, "Then Grace will guide your steps."
6th entry –
First, the publishing process: Watch out for literary agents (agencies) that charge fees (reading fees, copying fees, etc.).
Now for the "Mystery Quest" and the 5th clue: "Then Grace will guide your steps."
Here's the excerpt from the book:
He opened the envelope and found the expected card. On the front was a capital letter E, and on the back was a picture of a labyrinth. He immediately recognized the labyrinth and connected it to the cryptic words, "Then Grace will guide your steps."
He drove his car across Market Street to Nob Hill, where the third largest Episcopal cathedral in America, with roots to the Church of England, stood tall and concrete strong in its Gothic grandeur on top of the hill with its front facing east. The 329-foot long building covered an entire city block, and its two towers soared 174 feet from street level into the sky. A gilded steel cross atop its centrally placed spire rose 255 feet above the street.
Apollos quickly climbed the forty steps of the wide stairway and approached the world-renowned Ghiberti Doors, which stood closed behind a locked waist-high metal gate. Apollos used the side entrance. He had it in his mind to look for the red envelope near the labyrinth inside the cathedral. He had not noticed the folded up red envelope between the bars of the gates, which guarded the bronze doors that depicted scenes from the Old Testament.
The envelope was nowhere near the archetypal floor tapestry, which was modeled after the medieval pavement eleven-circuit design at Chartres Cathedral in France.
He stopped for a moment and gazed at the six-leaf design in the center of the circular labyrinth. He recalled when he stood together with Sophia in that center on New Year's Day, and they resolved to make the journey of life together. Apollos took off his shoes and stepped once again on the path to that center. He needed to release the anguish of his mind and to clear his thoughts. He tried to re-enact his journey thus far with his beloved, and he intuitively felt her walking in front of him, guiding his steps. When he reached the center, he closed his eyes and felt the kiss of her lips on his lips. He knew in his heart that love would guide his steps back to her. He sensed a calm reassurance in his soul as he stepped out of the meditative circle of the inner world and back into the outer world. He put his shoes back on.
He tried looking for the envelope in the nave and in the transepts. He tried to find it in the area of the high altar. He tried to find it in the adjacent Chapel of Grace.
Instead, he found an icon near the southern side exit that stopped him in his tracks. It was an icon of Martin Luther King of Georgia, with the halo of a saint around his head and a scroll in his hands that said, "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." He remembered that this modern apostle of civil rights for all people had spoken here at Grace Cathedral. The words of the martyr echoed in the walls: "We are engaged in a struggle to establish a reign of justice and a rule of love all over this nation and in every community." Apollos also seemed to hear the preacher speaking of the esoteric Book of Revelation: "This is a book which is puzzling to decode, shrouded with impenetrable mysteries, and with apocalyptic symbolism, but within it are eternal truths which will ever confront us."
All of a sudden Apollos remembered the doors which Michelangelo had marveled at and called the "Gates of Paradise."
"Look at these beautiful replicas of the original doors created by the Florentine sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti," he remembered her saying. "It took him 27 years to create these three-dimensional panels, which marked the true spiritual beginning of the Renaissance when they were installed in 1452. Within its ten panels is the story of humanity, past, present, and future."
"How can that be?" inquired Apollos as he tried to decipher the pictures in gilded bronze which looked so life-like.
"Well, look at the picture of Adam and Eve and notice the cosmic egg design of the creation of Eve in the central scene. It's as if man in his original androgynous state became a polarized being with two halves. And the story of the two brothers, Abel and Cain, notice how one becomes a meat-eater, and the other a vegetarian. Sound familiar? And Noah, a story that hearkens back to the legend of Atlantis and the sinking of that great civilization, which is represented in the panel by the pyramid-shaped ark. Look here at Abraham, who brings the mysteries of the land between two rivers, including the mystic sacrifice of his son, to a new land. Now Jacob and Esau, that's the all-too-human story of a younger brother who outwits his older brother for his father's inheritance. And Joseph and his brothers, well, that's what I call the most ancient of stories, the one about the sun and moon and all those constellations in the heavens. Moses, well, that's the wisdom that he brought from the Egyptians. And then the Promised Land story. How do you figure a human being can make that journey of the soul and finally achieve a state of bliss? The answer is in David, or soul, defeating the towering physical giant of a man, who needs to die so that the King can reign. And who is the King par excellence? Why, of course, Solomon the solar deity, who performs the rite of the mystic marriage to the lunar deity, the Queen of Sheba."
When Apollos finished looking contemplatively at the ten panels, he noticed a red envelope folded up and stuck between the bars of the iron gates in front of the Doors of Paradise. He opened the envelope and saw the capital letter N, and on the other side a picture of Twin Peaks.
7th entry –
First, the publishing process: Yesterday I got disappointing news from the literary agency in San Francisco. They sent a letter rejecting my manuscript, saying it was "too erudite for the standard reader." I guess I did not "dumb-down" the book enough. Anyway, I still have several publishers that are reviewing my book, and I hope for better luck with them. If I get the nod from one of the three top potential publishers, I won't have to go through a literary agency. That will save me time and money. Hope and Pray!!
Now for the "Mystery Quest" and the 6th clue: "To a Twin view."
Here's the excerpt from the book:
When Apollos finished looking contemplatively at the ten panels, he noticed a red envelope folded up and stuck between the bars of the iron gates in front of the Doors of Paradise. He opened the envelope and saw the capital letter N, and on the other side a picture of Twin Peaks.
"A-T-H-E-N," spelled out Apollos. "Could it have something to do with Athena?" he mumbled to himself.
He drove up Market Street to Twin Peaks. He parked his car at the first pullout near the top. He walked up to the summit of the north peak. When he stood on the summit, he recalled a day in March, the day of the vernal equinox, when they wanted to see the city from the heights; he had ascended the north peak and Sophia had ascended the higher south peak. They stood at the second and third highest peaks in the city at 910 feet and 903 feet.
"Hey, can you hear me?" he remembered her yelling across the etheric spaces that separated them.
"Yes, loud and clear!" he had yelled back.
"How does it feel to be on top of the world?" her voice vibrated through the air.
"I feel like a god!" he remembered exclaiming, with his hands and arms spread out like the wings of an eagle.
"And I feel like a goddess!" she yelled back and imitated his eagle pose.
He remembered telling her to wait, that he was coming over to her peak. He was doing the same now, glancing back to see the fog-shrouded Golden Gate Bridge as he descended the short distance and ascended the south peak. He reached the spot where he remembered her standing before, and he spotted a red envelope underneath a round stone.
The card revealed a capital letter S, and the reverse side showed a large Latin cross. "Mt. Davidson," he said with a sense of realization. He distinctly heard her voice in his head, "I want to take you higher. To the highest point in the city."
8th entry –
First, the publishing process: What a blow to the writer -- a rejection of a manuscript that was worked on for two years, day and night. The words of rejection keep resounding in my mind: "I'm afraid this is just too erudite for the standard reader and it's not for us. Good luck!" My first reaction was to cry (inwardly). My second reaction was to hope the publishers who indicated an interest in my manuscript would respond in a more favorable way. My third reaction was to follow the advice of a close friend and try to revise the book into a work of non-fiction, and give it the title "A New Look At the Apocalypse." In any case, I will wait and pray for inner guidance.
Now for the "Mystery Quest" and the 7th clue: "Of the Crossroads where You will find your treasure."
Here's the excerpt from the book:
The card revealed a capital letter S, and the reverse side showed a large Latin cross. "Mt. Davidson," he said with a sense of realization. He distinctly heard her voice in his head, "I want to take you higher. To the highest point in the city."
As he drove to Mt. Davidson, which towered 938 feet above sea level, he recalled the serious tone in her voice as they stood at the foot of the 103-foot-high concrete cross.
"We are all crucified on the cross of matter," she had said solemnly. "This body is the sepulcher of the soul." She waited for her words to sink in. Then she continued, "We come into this world from other realms, and we experience all the joys and sorrows that this world has to offer. But never forget, you are not this body."
She made that statement with such certitude, that Apollos wasn't even able to refute it. It became a mantra in his life, and he often repeated the truism she gave him: "You are not the body."
The reflection of that day faded from his mind as he parked his car and walked through the eucalyptus and pine forest to the place of the cross. He recalled an interesting fact about the mount, which originally was known as Blue Mountain: the highest point in San Francisco was originally crowned with a forty-foot-high wooden cross for the first Easter Sunrise service on April 1, 1923. Subsequent crosses had suffered the fate of conflagration. The present concrete cross was the fourth to be erected on the highest point, as a sign of man's quest for spiritual meaning in a world of materialism.
Apollos saw the last red envelope placed at the 10-foot-square base of the vertical shaft. He already had formulated a hunch in his mind that the elaborate puzzle and quest had something to do with Athens, Greece. 'But why?' he thought as he opened the envelope and saw the capital letter G. His hunch was verified. He turned the card over and stared aghast at a picture of the Parthenon, the temple of Athena Parthenos on the Acropolis at Athens.
9th entry -- First, the publishing process: It is very important to find out if a literary agent or a publisher is a good one for you.
The main page that I used to check if a publisher or a literary agent was legitimate was -- http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/peba.htm
and
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/pealm.htm. These web sites ("Preditors & Editors") provided valuable information about whether a publisher/literary agent was recommended or not.
The Mystery Quest concluded in the 8th entry -- 7 clues representing the 7 chakras ( I use the image of the 7 chakras extensively in the book).
Now I will share some pictures and excerpts that I was fortunate enough to visit:
(1) The picture relates to the Jeffrey pine that is located on top of Sentinel Dome in Yosemite National Park.
Here is the excerpt from the book:
Directly behind him stood the lone windswept and gnarled pine tree on the summit, a Jeffrey pine that had lost its green needles and was left to stand bare upon the dome as a reminder to the onlooker that it had passed the test of time. It was a sentinel who stood watching as the elements of air, water, and fire swept over the land. It was a witness to the passage of time, somewhat like its southern neighbor, the towering and majestic Sequoia gigantea.
10th entry --
I will dispense with the publishing process until I get further news from prospective publishers.
(2) The picture relates to the 360-degree rock/map plaque on top of Sentinel Dome.
Here is the excerpt from the book:
The visionary's head seemed to spin, and he stumbled forward to a large circular rock and grabbed hold of it. He noticed a large circular brass plaque attached to the top of the rock. It was a 360-degree panoramic display of everything that surrounded the centrally located Sentinel Dome. The plaque had the names of all the surrounding landmarks inscribed on it. He tried to look in all four directions and identify the main features of the valley. To the west he saw Cathedral Rocks and El Capitan, to the north he saw Three Brothers and heard the Yosemite Fall, to the east he saw Half Dome, and to the south he saw Wawona Point, home to the giant sequoias.
When he looked back at the circular plaque, something strange seemed to happen to his perception, and his eyes started to water. The circular shape started to slowly revolve, and he could barely make out what seemed to be four figures staring at him out of a cloudy surface: a bright red lion with a flaming mane; across it was a manly figure with an angelic face; next and to the left was a figure of a bellowing ox; and across from it was a soaring eagle. The figures seemed to correspond respectively to the four directions: east, west, north, and south.
And in a lightning-moment, directly in the center of the revolving wheel, Apollos saw a figure whom he immediately recognized and which caused him to cry out, "Oh, my God!"
11th entry --
(3) The picture relates to the fallen Jeffrey pine (fell in August, 2004) on top of Sentinel Dome.
Here is the excerpt from the book:
"Oh, my goodness!" exclaimed Apollos as he caught sight of the ancient Jeffrey pine tree. It was no longer standing up in defiance of the elements; it was reposing on its side. "The last time I was here, that gnarled wind-swept tree was still standing." Apollos walked up to the ancient tree, which symbolized longevity and perseverance through all the storms of life, and he thought of his spiritual teacher, Salvatore D'Aura, whose physical body also succumbed to the forces of time and the dissolution of the physical elements that was inherent in the grand design of life. Apollos walked away sadly from the fallen tree and headed to the other significant spot on top of Sentinel Dome.
Coming Next: A visit to the National Shrine of St. Francis in San Francisco.
Several pictures were taken of the National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi in San Francisco's North Beach district. Permission was obtained to also take pictures of the picturesque interior, which is replete with murals of the life of the patron saint of San Francisco.
Here is the first excerpt from the book:
Soon afterwards, Apollos and Sophia made their final plans to consummate their relationship by getting married at the National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi. They planned the wedding to coincide with the same day that they had originally planned for their wedding day: Midsummer Eve, in honor of Shakespeare's romantic comedies that ended in reunion and marriage. Sophia chose the historic shrine in the North Beach district not only because it was dedicated to the city's namesake, St. Francis, but mainly because the saint represented the ideal life that Apollos and Sophia shared: to see the divine life (the Creator) in all of creation – in Brother Sun, Sister Moon and the Stars, in Brother Wind and Air, in Sister Water, in Brother Fire, in Sister Earth, and in Sister Death.
Here is a statue of Saint Francis located within the interior of the church. He is holding a Tau cross.
The picture shows the interior of the National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Here is the excerpt from the book:
On the day of the wedding, Sophia, the bride, walked up the center aisle in her beautiful white dress to unite with Apollos, the bridegroom, in Holy Matrimony. They ascended four steps together to the altar for the official sacred ceremony.
Here's the excerpt from the book that goes with the pictures of the Life of St. Francis:
The seven murals of the life of Saint Francis, whose baptismal name was Giovanni (named after the patron saint St. John the Baptist), formed the background above them in the sanctuary. Apollos couldn't help but notice the significance of each mural that portrayed the exemplary life of Saint Francis: (1) in looking at the saint embrace the suffering man on the cross, he saw the identification with suffering that was the first step on the path; (2) in observing the saint crossing a lake in a boat, he realized that the ocean of life's illusions, especially fame and fortune, must be overcome; (3) in watching the saint subdue the destructive wolf, he knew that man's lower nature had to be tamed; (4) in witnessing the saint receive the stigmata wounds, he understood that the compassionate heart identified with all life; (5) in following the saint's call to perform the work of a teacher, he valued the spoken word that changed lives; (6) in recognizing the saint's admission of women into the order, he contemplated the importance of the feminine aspect of life; (7) and in perceiving the saint's vision of the risen Savior, he realized the climactic moment of union with the divine.
Here are some more pictures of St. Francis inside the Historic Shrine:
Here's the HomePage of the St.Francis Shrine:
One special section needs to be added to this picture-tour of the book:
The third chapter (333) includes a section where the author visits the home of Maestro Salvatore D'Aura in Palo Alto. The spiritual teacher allowed the author to take several pictures of him:
After an extensive interview with the spiritual teacher, the author visited the famous tree that was the namesake of the city of Palo Alto.
Here is the excerpt from the book:
Apollos drove his vehicle to Alma Street, a scenic drive he enjoyed taking whenever he visited Palo Alto. His soul felt at peace driving on the tree-lined street that ran parallel with the railroad tracks. His destination on this soulful street was always the site of the El Palo Alto redwood tree.
At the north end of the city stood the 1059 years old coast redwood tree. The Sequoia sempervirens name was an apt description of the “ever-living” tree. A small creek named San Francisquito Creek flowed beside it, giving water to its thirsty roots. Apollos stood beside the tall tree and looked up at its 110 feet height. He read the inscription on the plaque, which was attached to a rock near the base of the tree:
“Under this giant redwood, the Palo Alto, November 6 to 11, 1729, camped Portola and his band on the expedition that discovered San Francisco Bay.”
Apollos sat at the base of the tall tree and thought of its history. Originally, it had twin trunks, but a flood in 1887 tore off one of the two. Somehow, the ever-living tree managed to survive even though it was no longer a double-trunked tree. And on top of it all, the ancient tree made Apollos think of Maestro Salvatore D’Aura and his quest for longevity and immortality.
And so concludes my saga of the book and the pictures that I took related to the research that went into the writing of the book.
I have decided that I will no longer wait for a literary agent or a publisher to contact me. It has been six long months in contacting agents and publishers, and waiting patiently for their responses. The latest response (from a prospective publisher) made me see any chance of getting my book published through a publisher as a "long-shot": "While we appreciate having had the opportunity to review it (your book manuscript), we do not feel it meets our publishing plans at this time." The bottom line is that the publishers are in the business to make money. It seems that my book does not fall into that category--of making money for them. Therefore, with a realistic appraisal of my chances, and a deep sadness in my heart, I will pursue the path of "Self-Publishing."
Entry for December 04, 2006
Well, that does it -- I've mailed my book files and check to a Self-Publishing company!
After being rejected by over 100 literary agents and 50 publishers, I realized that I needed to pay to get my book published. The competition out there is too fierce, and most agents/publishers are looking for best sellers that will make them a bundle of money.
The company I chose--Infinity Publishing--is located in Pennsylvania and it charges a basic fee of $499 to get the book published. That's a lot better than $10,000 which was the cost back in 1980 when I was trying to publish my "Freedom For an Old Believer" book. I hope to see the manuscript in book form within 6-8 weeks. Then the book will be available for sale at amazon.com and other outlets. I will be sending out information and pricing to friends and relatives, hoping that the book is put into the hands of worthy recipients. I do not expect to make any money on the book, but I do hope that people will appreciate the effort that went into producing a scholarly work of spiritual value -- i.e. "food for the soul."
Here is a sample of the book cover as I envision it.
Entry for January 14, 2007
Here is a picture of the entire cover (front and back).
The contents of the back cover:
God in Three Persons: A Spiritual Odyssey by Paul Wigowsky is an intriguing and unique exploration of the Book of Revelation brought into contemporary times. Part travelogue and puzzle solving, part inspiring story of romantic and sacred love, and part philosophical and spiritual treatise—each chapter in the book is packed with scenic wonders, emotional thrills, and solid scholarship. The author has created memorable characters that move through time and the sacred sites of the world, weaving ideas, secrets, and souls into a shimmering whole.
-- review by Cathy Pettigrew, a friend
Three men appeared almost simultaneously on the stage of the first century AD to transform the Roman world:
(1) Apollonius of Tyana, a Greek philosopher who was a world traveler and “a man who became a god” in the eyes of the known world.
(2) Yeshua the Nazarene, a Galilean who became an itinerant preacher and a healer within the Essene community.
(3) Saul of Tarsus, a Herodian who wavered between his Jewish background and his Roman political allegiance.
Apollos, a university professor, travels with his fiancée Sophia to the ancient sites that Apollonius of Tyana visited in order to prove that the biblical story of Paul was in essence the story of the Greek philosopher. He visits Athens, Rome, Alexandria, Ephesus, and other biblical places where the paths of Apollonius and the biblical Paul coincided.
Joshua, a tourist to the Holy Land of Israel/Palestine, travels with his spiritual confidante Binah to the sacred sites associated with the Christian Savior and discovers the true nature of the Messiah.
Saul/Paul travels to “Arabia” and spends three years with Bannus (an ascetic like John the Baptist) and undergoes a spiritual regenerative process that completely changes him.
Follow the adventures of these three intertwined stories as the mysteries of man’s journey through life are unveiled in a historico-religious romance (semi-allegorical narrative) that reads like a spiritual odyssey through man’s spiritual Self.
Dedicated to the Memory of
Maestro Salvatore D’Aura
April 21, 1904 – April 23, 2004
Entry for February 13, 2007
It's only days away from the listing of my book on the internet.
The book will be published by:
INFINITY Publishing
1094 New DeHaven Street, Suite 100
West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2713
E-mail: Info@buybooksontheweb.com
Toll-free (877) BUY BOOK
Local Phone (610) 941-9999
Fax (610) 941-9959
Internet Order On-line
The book will be available to consumers in a wide variety of places:
(1) Amazon.com
(2) (buybooksontheweb)
(3) Ingram -- LSI (Lightning Source Incorporated) printing and distribution system
(4) Bowker's books-in print database (available to many stores)
(5) and other top book distribution websites
Link to Paul J. Wigowsky's Web Page (excerpts of the book)