Below is an interview with JM Harrison, author of The Soul Whisperer
1. How and why did you write The Soul Whisperer?
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 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 abroad is rain! Was this damp outlook going to be the extent of my much needed break from running one of the largest 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 pack of biros 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 spiritual fantasy 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 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 storyline, 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 now a script writer has also joined the project. Now, with a completed novel ‘The Soul Whisperer’ I am doing the work that I LOVE. Through the power of 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 inevitable, flowing and clear, and that brings peace and fulfilment. It’s as if that time in France guided me towards the earthly manifestation of my soul.
I think the most any one of us can do to grow is to find and follow what we really LOVE, for in doing so we converge with the intelligent intuition 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 what happens from that process benefits 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.
2. The Soul Whisperer is written as visionary fiction. Why did you choose to write a fictional book?
As you have read, in some ways writing THE SOUL WHISPERER was not so much of a choice, but more of a synchronistic convergence leading to a new creation. I wanted to give or share the most I could, and the book was my way of expressing that at the time.
When you do something for yourself, its power is self-limiting. When you genuinely share something from a deep sense of love for all (which includes yourself) then a magic takes place as your ego, mind and Essence all converge to reveal the earthly manifestation of what I call the human Soul. I have had three non-fiction books published, and this fourth book was my first novel. I really enjoyed the play of imagination and creativity, and the idea that storytelling only has the restrictive boundaries of the author’s mind. Striking a balance between realism, dreams and possibilities was an enjoyable task.
The play with fact and fiction was an interesting area, and I could see how it could be possible to motivate people into questioning the present state of the human world in a healthy and positive way.
3. What are you hoping people will learn from your book?
THE SOUL WHISPERER was created not so much as a direct teaching tool, but as a window to personal transformation. There are many ideas and beliefs interwoven throughout the book, allowing each reader to discover something that makes them not just think, but helping them explore their inner thoughts, beliefs and more. So you can either read the book as a ‘story’ or be open to the deeper messages contained within. It’s the reader’s choice, and when they’re ready, their consciousness will be triggered, and their own ‘version’ will appear. These are some of the ideas I hope people will consider;
Everything we are told, learn or believe is not necessarily true.
The best way to find out the truth is to experience it one’s self.
We have overlooked the true nature of the human Soul.
We are all unique but paradoxically identical.
Human consciousness has potentials we cannot comprehend, because this ‘new paradigm’ is beyond the present accepted parameters of the collective mind.
History is written by the conquerors, but the truth of history remains.
Contemplate religion, human weakness, miracles and the future possibilities for humankind, earthly life and the care of our environment.
4. What did you learn about yourself as you wrote your book?
This whole experience taught me a great deal. In many ways, what happened through the writing of this book was a coming together of all my earthly experiences. I learned that the Soul is not just a separate ‘ideal’ but a very real ‘wholistic’ consciousness which can be manifested on Earth. There is a real paradox in feeling unique and whole, but nevertheless, this is the nature of the human Soul.
5. Any interest in turning your book into a movie or TV series?
Pleased to say we have initial interest. Several companies have been in contact and a screenplay version is currently being considered by the BBC. I always ‘saw’ the story in pictures, and in many ways THE SOUL WHISPERER was created for the screen more than as a novel. The positive feedback from readers and those in the Film / TV business has solidified the view that this is a real possibility. I have written part of the film score (soundtrack) already with Grammy Award Winning writer Richard Theisen – so we’ll just have to wait and see. If THE SOUL WHISPERER does get to screen, I think it would change people’s lives for the better and create a real buzz. I think it would make a great TV series. In terms of film entertainment it’s kind of ‘THE DA VINCI CODE’ meets ‘2012’ with an additional dose of spirituality. Only time will tell…