Colorado Mandala
~Written by Brian Heffron
~Written by Brian Heffron
Book Synopsis
With refreshing depth, distinct literary merit, and highly original poetic phrasings that spill from the pages like paint, Colorado Mandala is poet Brian Heffron's debut work of literary fiction. It mines the complex landscape of post-Vietnam America to unearth the deep connections that bind individuals together, and also ferociously rip them asunder. Illustrative, luscious, seductive, and engaging, this rare piece of craftsmanship will stir the senses of any one who thirsts for artistic expression, or who longs for an era in our country now utterly, irretrievably gone.
In the heady, hippie backdrop of Pike's Peak, Colorado, in the tumultuous 1970s, three souls swirl together in an explosive supernova. Michael is the flinty-eyed, volatile former Green Beret, whose tour in Vietnam has left unbridgeable chasms in his psyche and secrets that can never find light. Sarah is his fair-haired paramour, the ethereal Earth Mother widow of a fallen soldier and single mother to a ten-year-old son Stuart. Paul is a young wanderer, who is drawn in by Michael and soon bears the mantle of both minister and scourge. As they are drawn together, and torn apart, each is changed forever. And our hearts race along with them, through the rocky, raw Colorado terrain amidst the blood sport of man and beast.
Laying bare the loss and acceptance of a pioneering age, Colorado Mandala shines revelatory light on the crazy, glorious, and romantic notion that each generation conceives anew: that love can be a spiritual gift shared openly rather than coveted, or hidden, or hoarded. If you wish to go barefoot again and climb an unspoiled Colorado trail, look no further. If you long for something to wake you up in simple, clean language, a shimmering story awaits. Awaken to what you have always known: simple truths show you the way home. With his gripping and unforgettable Colorado Mandala, it is clear that Brian Heffron knows the way.
With refreshing depth, distinct literary merit, and highly original poetic phrasings that spill from the pages like paint, Colorado Mandala is poet Brian Heffron's debut work of literary fiction. It mines the complex landscape of post-Vietnam America to unearth the deep connections that bind individuals together, and also ferociously rip them asunder. Illustrative, luscious, seductive, and engaging, this rare piece of craftsmanship will stir the senses of any one who thirsts for artistic expression, or who longs for an era in our country now utterly, irretrievably gone.
In the heady, hippie backdrop of Pike's Peak, Colorado, in the tumultuous 1970s, three souls swirl together in an explosive supernova. Michael is the flinty-eyed, volatile former Green Beret, whose tour in Vietnam has left unbridgeable chasms in his psyche and secrets that can never find light. Sarah is his fair-haired paramour, the ethereal Earth Mother widow of a fallen soldier and single mother to a ten-year-old son Stuart. Paul is a young wanderer, who is drawn in by Michael and soon bears the mantle of both minister and scourge. As they are drawn together, and torn apart, each is changed forever. And our hearts race along with them, through the rocky, raw Colorado terrain amidst the blood sport of man and beast.
Laying bare the loss and acceptance of a pioneering age, Colorado Mandala shines revelatory light on the crazy, glorious, and romantic notion that each generation conceives anew: that love can be a spiritual gift shared openly rather than coveted, or hidden, or hoarded. If you wish to go barefoot again and climb an unspoiled Colorado trail, look no further. If you long for something to wake you up in simple, clean language, a shimmering story awaits. Awaken to what you have always known: simple truths show you the way home. With his gripping and unforgettable Colorado Mandala, it is clear that Brian Heffron knows the way.
Book Review
Colorado Mandala is a passionate novel about life, love, and healing. Eloquently written, the story explores the life of a Green Beret Vietnam Veteran, as seen through the eyes of his close friend, and the lives' of those effected by his downward spiral. Shocking secrets are revealed and only by accepting the truth can healing begin.
I found Colorado Mandala to be a compelling story. The author's ample attention to every detail breathes life into the story. He vividly describes Pike's Peak in all its splendor and his vast knowledge of the area is evident. Each character is carefully created in the same manner giving readers a well written and fully developed novel that is captivating from beginning to end.
I highly recommend picking up a copy of Colorado Mandala. Available at Amazon.com.
Colorado Mandala is a passionate novel about life, love, and healing. Eloquently written, the story explores the life of a Green Beret Vietnam Veteran, as seen through the eyes of his close friend, and the lives' of those effected by his downward spiral. Shocking secrets are revealed and only by accepting the truth can healing begin.
I found Colorado Mandala to be a compelling story. The author's ample attention to every detail breathes life into the story. He vividly describes Pike's Peak in all its splendor and his vast knowledge of the area is evident. Each character is carefully created in the same manner giving readers a well written and fully developed novel that is captivating from beginning to end.
I highly recommend picking up a copy of Colorado Mandala. Available at Amazon.com.
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About the Author
Poet and novelist Brian Francis Heffron is a staff writer/director/producer at Public Television where he creates educational programming to assist students and teachers.
After getting a BFA in Writing from Emerson college, Heffron became a professional sailor, working up from deck hand to celestial navigator to delivery skipper, eventually circumnavigating the north Atlantic including a passage from St. Thomas to Gibraltar in a 37 foot sailboat.
He got his first television set experience in the world of Advertising working for WRK, a subsidiary of Young & Rubicam. There he learned the ropes of production and produced his first commercials. Since then has worked at almost every position on a set from grip to props to production design and was eventually the director of photography on the award winning independent feature film, "The Imported Bridegroom".
Heffron has worked in Los Angles since the early nineties as a screenwriter and TV producer/director. Since joining PBS he has won Telly Awards, Aurora Awards, Videographer Awards, Emmys, and the Davis Award. He is credited with creating the first animated web series on AOL entitled "Hollywood Nights", and he was the creative director of a software and art company that created the fifty thousand clip-art images contained within MSWord.
Along the way he created a poetry life-blog in his Facebook Notes section that attraced an international audience. On Valentine's Day he published a handmade poetry chapbook, Sustain Me with Your Breath, that sold out in three weeks. It then became an e-book sensation. Heffron followed up with a one hour spoken word poetry CD entitled, "Something You Could Touch". This broke sales records in its category.
He has been writing since he first met Christopher Robin and Winnie the Poo. "Go, Dog, Go!" was a strong early influence and remains so. His poetry and prose is deeply infused with images of nature, and hopefully, snatches of humor.
You can find out more about Brian Heffron by visiting www.brianheffron.net.
Poet and novelist Brian Francis Heffron is a staff writer/director/producer at Public Television where he creates educational programming to assist students and teachers.
After getting a BFA in Writing from Emerson college, Heffron became a professional sailor, working up from deck hand to celestial navigator to delivery skipper, eventually circumnavigating the north Atlantic including a passage from St. Thomas to Gibraltar in a 37 foot sailboat.
He got his first television set experience in the world of Advertising working for WRK, a subsidiary of Young & Rubicam. There he learned the ropes of production and produced his first commercials. Since then has worked at almost every position on a set from grip to props to production design and was eventually the director of photography on the award winning independent feature film, "The Imported Bridegroom".
Heffron has worked in Los Angles since the early nineties as a screenwriter and TV producer/director. Since joining PBS he has won Telly Awards, Aurora Awards, Videographer Awards, Emmys, and the Davis Award. He is credited with creating the first animated web series on AOL entitled "Hollywood Nights", and he was the creative director of a software and art company that created the fifty thousand clip-art images contained within MSWord.
Along the way he created a poetry life-blog in his Facebook Notes section that attraced an international audience. On Valentine's Day he published a handmade poetry chapbook, Sustain Me with Your Breath, that sold out in three weeks. It then became an e-book sensation. Heffron followed up with a one hour spoken word poetry CD entitled, "Something You Could Touch". This broke sales records in its category.
He has been writing since he first met Christopher Robin and Winnie the Poo. "Go, Dog, Go!" was a strong early influence and remains so. His poetry and prose is deeply infused with images of nature, and hopefully, snatches of humor.
You can find out more about Brian Heffron by visiting www.brianheffron.net.
