Summer Snow
William T. Hathaway
Avatar Publications
ISBN: 0-9738442-4-8
Fiction, Romance, Spirituality
Reviewed by Qetesh

Summer Snow is a beautifully written novel of deep spirituality and an unusual love affair. Cholpon a Sufi mystic is hoeing melons with a group of women, when a drunken man approaches with an ax and begins to chop down a walnut tree. Cholpon tries to direct him to where there is dry firewood elsewhere, so that no harm will come to them or to the tree. She reads his aura and finding no immediate danger, starts singing, chanting, and meditating with the other women to elevate his spirit. The man pauses in what he is doing, swings his ax menacingly in an arc towards the women, then meanders off. The women settle themselves again in meditation and they mix roots to heal the cuts and wounds to the tree. Cholpon is immediately sent for by Dajamila, her spiritual leader who had felt the disturbance from a distance. Dajamila then tells Cholpon that she is sending her into the city because she senses danger approaching them. She feels that Cholpon’s destiny is wrapped up in this danger and is sending her to face it to play out her karmic role. The violence begins to escalate in the story as US Special Forces begin battling al-Qaeda. An American Soldier falls in love with Cholpon, and she begins to share her spirituality with him which is a stark departure from the military mentality he is used to. She shows him a way to stop the terrorism using ancient techniques that affect the collective consciousness. They have to stop the violence because it not only threatens their future together but also countless innocent lives. This is a powerful work that stirs the emotions on many levels. It deals candidly with modern issues, fears, and concerns about terrorism. At the same time it explores deep levels of spirituality and love. This is a beautiful work that will speak to your soul on many levels.