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The Love Map: Saving Your Love Relationship and Incidentally Saving the World
Falling in love is easy. It’s rising in love that is the challenge and the growth and the joy.
“There should be a map!” Joanna laments as she watches the love she thought to be as rare as a new galaxy become as tiresome as Daniel’s dirty socks on the floor of their bedroom. “There should be a map for love, finding it, keeping it. It’s too random, too risky!” As their third anniversary approaches, Joanna’s boss at Google sends her on an assignment to Jerusalem.
A bomb in a café.
A hospital.
A deep sleep.
A being of light.
“I’m—I’m having a vision, aren’t I?”
“This is the land of visions. Why should you not be given one?”
“But—I’m not very religious.”
A laugh. “Neither is God!”
Joanna’s Higher Self tells her there is a hidden, guaranteed map for love, and Joanna is called on a hero’s journey to find it and follow it—not only for her and Daniel—but for all of humanity. And every step of the way will be the threat of the One with the Sword, whose sworn goal is to prevent Joanna from finding the map.
This story is fiction. And it is true.
“There should be a map!” Joanna laments as she watches the love she thought to be as rare as a new galaxy become as tiresome as Daniel’s dirty socks on the floor of their bedroom. “There should be a map for love, finding it, keeping it. It’s too random, too risky!” As their third anniversary approaches, Joanna’s boss at Google sends her on an assignment to Jerusalem.
A bomb in a café.
A hospital.
A deep sleep.
A being of light.
“I’m—I’m having a vision, aren’t I?”
“This is the land of visions. Why should you not be given one?”
“But—I’m not very religious.”
A laugh. “Neither is God!”
Joanna’s Higher Self tells her there is a hidden, guaranteed map for love, and Joanna is called on a hero’s journey to find it and follow it—not only for her and Daniel—but for all of humanity. And every step of the way will be the threat of the One with the Sword, whose sworn goal is to prevent Joanna from finding the map.
This story is fiction. And it is true.
Kindle Edition
Published September 14, 2022
5 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Carol Lynn Pearson
93 books125 followersFrom http://www.clpearson.com/about_me.htm
In fourth grade, in Gusher, Utah, I won four dollars in a school district essay contest on “Why We Should Eat a Better Breakfast.” And yes, this morning I had a bowl of my own excellent granola, followed by a hike in the hills near my home in Walnut Creek, California.
In high school I began writing in earnest. I have now in my files a folder marked “Poetry, Very Bad,” and another, “Poetry, Not Quite So Bad.” Writing served a good purpose for that very dramatic, insecure adolescent. Also at that time I began to keep a diary, which I still maintain and which has been indescribably useful to me both as a writer and as a pilgrim on the earth.
After graduating from Brigham Young University with an MA in theatre, teaching for a year in Utah at Snow College, and traveling for a year, I taught part-time at BYU in the English department and was then hired by the motion picture studio on campus to write educational and religious screenplays.
While performing at the university as Mrs. Antrobus in Thornton Wilder’s “The Skin of Our Teeth,” I met and fell in love with Gerald Pearson, a shining, blond, enthusiastic young man, who fell in love with me and my poems.
“We’ve got to get them published,” he said on our honeymoon, and soon dragged me up to the big city, Salt Lake City, to see who would be first in line to publish them. “Poetry doesn’t sell,” insisted everyone we spoke to, and I, somewhat relieved, put publishing on the list of things to do posthumously.
But not Gerald. “Then I’ll publish them,” he said. Borrowing two thousand dollars, he created a company called “Trilogy Arts” and published two thousand copies of a book called Beginnings, a slim, hard-back volume with a white cover that featured a stunning illustration, “God in Embryo,” by our good friend Trevor Southey, now an internationally known artist. On the day in autumn of 1967 that Gerald delivered the books by truck to our little apartment in Provo, I was terrified. I really had wanted to do this posthumously.
Beginnings
Today
You came running
With a small specked egg
Warm in your hand.
You could barely understand,
I know,
As I told you of Beginnings–
Of egg and bird.
Told, too,
That years ago you began,
Smaller than sight.
And then,
As egg yearns for sky
And seed stretches to tree,
You became–
Like me.
Oh,
But there’s so much more.
You and I, child,
Have just begun.
Think:
Worlds from now
What might we be?–
We, who are seed
Of Deity.
We toted a package of books up to the BYU bookstore, and asked to see the book buyer. “Well,” she said, “nobody ever buys poetry, but since you’re a local person, let me take four on consignment.” As they came in packages of twenty, we persuaded her to take twenty--on consignment. Next day she called and asked, “Those books you brought up here. Do you have any more of them?”
I had anticipated that the two thousand books, now stacked in our little closet and under our bed and in my Daddy’s garage, would last us years and years as wedding presents. But immediately we ordered a second printing. Beginnings sold over 150,000 copies before we gave it to Doubleday and then to Bookcraft.
Beginnings was followed by other volumes of poetry: The Search, The Growing Season, A Widening View, I Can’t Stop Smiling, and Women I Have Known and Been. Most of the poems from the earlier books now appear in a compilation, Beginnings and Beyond. The poems have been widely reprinted in such places as Ann Landers’ column, the second volume of Chicken Soup for the Soul, and college textbooks such as Houghton Mifflin’s Structure and Meaning: an Introduction to Literature. That first little volume of verse, and my husband’s determination, laid the foundation for my entire career.
Another characteristic of my husband was to have a profound effect on both
In fourth grade, in Gusher, Utah, I won four dollars in a school district essay contest on “Why We Should Eat a Better Breakfast.” And yes, this morning I had a bowl of my own excellent granola, followed by a hike in the hills near my home in Walnut Creek, California.
In high school I began writing in earnest. I have now in my files a folder marked “Poetry, Very Bad,” and another, “Poetry, Not Quite So Bad.” Writing served a good purpose for that very dramatic, insecure adolescent. Also at that time I began to keep a diary, which I still maintain and which has been indescribably useful to me both as a writer and as a pilgrim on the earth.
After graduating from Brigham Young University with an MA in theatre, teaching for a year in Utah at Snow College, and traveling for a year, I taught part-time at BYU in the English department and was then hired by the motion picture studio on campus to write educational and religious screenplays.
While performing at the university as Mrs. Antrobus in Thornton Wilder’s “The Skin of Our Teeth,” I met and fell in love with Gerald Pearson, a shining, blond, enthusiastic young man, who fell in love with me and my poems.
“We’ve got to get them published,” he said on our honeymoon, and soon dragged me up to the big city, Salt Lake City, to see who would be first in line to publish them. “Poetry doesn’t sell,” insisted everyone we spoke to, and I, somewhat relieved, put publishing on the list of things to do posthumously.
But not Gerald. “Then I’ll publish them,” he said. Borrowing two thousand dollars, he created a company called “Trilogy Arts” and published two thousand copies of a book called Beginnings, a slim, hard-back volume with a white cover that featured a stunning illustration, “God in Embryo,” by our good friend Trevor Southey, now an internationally known artist. On the day in autumn of 1967 that Gerald delivered the books by truck to our little apartment in Provo, I was terrified. I really had wanted to do this posthumously.
Beginnings
Today
You came running
With a small specked egg
Warm in your hand.
You could barely understand,
I know,
As I told you of Beginnings–
Of egg and bird.
Told, too,
That years ago you began,
Smaller than sight.
And then,
As egg yearns for sky
And seed stretches to tree,
You became–
Like me.
Oh,
But there’s so much more.
You and I, child,
Have just begun.
Think:
Worlds from now
What might we be?–
We, who are seed
Of Deity.
We toted a package of books up to the BYU bookstore, and asked to see the book buyer. “Well,” she said, “nobody ever buys poetry, but since you’re a local person, let me take four on consignment.” As they came in packages of twenty, we persuaded her to take twenty--on consignment. Next day she called and asked, “Those books you brought up here. Do you have any more of them?”
I had anticipated that the two thousand books, now stacked in our little closet and under our bed and in my Daddy’s garage, would last us years and years as wedding presents. But immediately we ordered a second printing. Beginnings sold over 150,000 copies before we gave it to Doubleday and then to Bookcraft.
Beginnings was followed by other volumes of poetry: The Search, The Growing Season, A Widening View, I Can’t Stop Smiling, and Women I Have Known and Been. Most of the poems from the earlier books now appear in a compilation, Beginnings and Beyond. The poems have been widely reprinted in such places as Ann Landers’ column, the second volume of Chicken Soup for the Soul, and college textbooks such as Houghton Mifflin’s Structure and Meaning: an Introduction to Literature. That first little volume of verse, and my husband’s determination, laid the foundation for my entire career.
Another characteristic of my husband was to have a profound effect on both
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 11, 2022
3.5-4 stars. I liked the overall concept, and much of what is “taught” in the story. However the story itself was a bit underwhelming. It is fiction, and not. Nonfiction wisdom (chakras) mixed in with an allegory type story. It is quite spiritual, but not religious at all.
I deeply admire this author and her work. I had the opportunity to be at a virtual book club with the author. She was bold, wise, caring, funny, charismatic, and just held us all in rapt attention for an hour and half. Quite something for someone 82 yrs of age.
In this fictional tale, the main character has a vision/dream, where she is greeted by her Higher Self, who leads her on a journey to grow in her own development and relationships. It is written so beautifully. Here are a few excerpts I especially loved:
“Never again believe that there’s a place where you leave off and God begins. Never believe that you are apart from God. You are a part OF God, deliberately and cleverly focused into what we call YOU.”
“Everything in your life is either your business or another person’s business or God’s business. And only when you stay in your own business do you have power.”
“Your cells carry not only the DNA but the imprinted memory of the work of [your ancestors].”
“‘Sin’ is an archery term and it means ‘missing the mark’… The only punishment you deserve is to pick up the bow and arrow and try again.”
“Where God lives there is timelessness and generosity… You will be given all the time you need and you will succeed.”
So grateful I got to hear her speak. I think it’s impossible to leave an interaction with Carol without feeling a little braver, a little more seen, and a little more determined to do great things. ❤️
So many wonderful takeaways but I wanted to share the biggest one for me.
In the book she says “we must always ask ourselves, what would love do now?”
❤️When someone has upset you and you don’t know what to say or how to act.
What would love do now?
❤️When you are tearing yourself down.
What would love do now?
❤️When you have a disagreement with your partner or feel misunderstood.
What would love do now?
❤️When someone has different opinions then you about religion or politics.
What would love do now?
❤️When your child has a hard time handling their emotions and acts out.
What would love do now?
Always ask yourself “what would love do now?” And we can change the world! ❤️
I deeply admire this author and her work. I had the opportunity to be at a virtual book club with the author. She was bold, wise, caring, funny, charismatic, and just held us all in rapt attention for an hour and half. Quite something for someone 82 yrs of age.
In this fictional tale, the main character has a vision/dream, where she is greeted by her Higher Self, who leads her on a journey to grow in her own development and relationships. It is written so beautifully. Here are a few excerpts I especially loved:
“Never again believe that there’s a place where you leave off and God begins. Never believe that you are apart from God. You are a part OF God, deliberately and cleverly focused into what we call YOU.”
“Everything in your life is either your business or another person’s business or God’s business. And only when you stay in your own business do you have power.”
“Your cells carry not only the DNA but the imprinted memory of the work of [your ancestors].”
“‘Sin’ is an archery term and it means ‘missing the mark’… The only punishment you deserve is to pick up the bow and arrow and try again.”
“Where God lives there is timelessness and generosity… You will be given all the time you need and you will succeed.”
So grateful I got to hear her speak. I think it’s impossible to leave an interaction with Carol without feeling a little braver, a little more seen, and a little more determined to do great things. ❤️
So many wonderful takeaways but I wanted to share the biggest one for me.
In the book she says “we must always ask ourselves, what would love do now?”
❤️When someone has upset you and you don’t know what to say or how to act.
What would love do now?
❤️When you are tearing yourself down.
What would love do now?
❤️When you have a disagreement with your partner or feel misunderstood.
What would love do now?
❤️When someone has different opinions then you about religion or politics.
What would love do now?
❤️When your child has a hard time handling their emotions and acts out.
What would love do now?
Always ask yourself “what would love do now?” And we can change the world! ❤️
November 5, 2022
I will give anything Carol Lynn Pearson writes 5 stars! Her insight and wisdom are extraordinary. I liked the story even though I got a bit lost and kind of bored in the kingdoms. It often felt too cartoonish and just weird. I just wasn’t connecting, but it came together and eventually made sense.
The main message “What would love do?” will stay with me for a long time. The story is beautiful, the message so important and clear.
The main message “What would love do?” will stay with me for a long time. The story is beautiful, the message so important and clear.
October 14, 2022
I gave this 4 stars for some of the powerful ideas that will stick with me, but would have only given it a 3 for the story.
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February 9, 2024Carol Lynn Pearson's recent novel, The Love Map: Saving Your Relationship and Saving the World, is a kind of Dante’s Inferno meets Dickens’ Christmas Carol as a young married protagonist, Joanna, faces marriage difficulties. “Something is on fire, something is going up in flames and it’s us, it’s our marriage,” Joanna says to her husband before leaving for a work trip. She travels alone on a literal (then figurative) journey deeper into herself, faced with memories of what was and haunts of what could be.
A lighthearted yet deep demonstration of how to shed smaller selves and to instead fight our sabotaging egos (with compassion and wisdom, no matter how vast our own museum collection of resentments), The Love Map is a short but mighty novel with a lovely message, no matter which of the four presented kingdoms a reader might find themselves in most often. Joanna serves as an everywoman, inviting people to consider for themselves: “What would Love do now?” (112).
Full review coming in the Winter 2023 issue of Exponent II. Carol Lynn Pearson, thank you for this book!
A lighthearted yet deep demonstration of how to shed smaller selves and to instead fight our sabotaging egos (with compassion and wisdom, no matter how vast our own museum collection of resentments), The Love Map is a short but mighty novel with a lovely message, no matter which of the four presented kingdoms a reader might find themselves in most often. Joanna serves as an everywoman, inviting people to consider for themselves: “What would Love do now?” (112).
Full review coming in the Winter 2023 issue of Exponent II. Carol Lynn Pearson, thank you for this book!
July 26, 2023
This is an author and person I’ve followed and admired for a long time. I liked the combinations of Truths used in this allegory. I’ve lived and felt some of what the main character experiences, so I found this relatable. I love incorporating wisdom from many traditions in my life, and this story illustrates that beautifully. Short, powerful.
August 16, 2023
Falling in love is easy. It’s rising in love that is the challenge and the growth and the joy.
“There should be a map!” Joanna laments as she watches the love she thought to be as rare as a new galaxy become as tiresome as Daniel’s dirty socks on the floor of their bedroom. “There should be a map for love, finding it, keeping it!”
“There should be a map!” Joanna laments as she watches the love she thought to be as rare as a new galaxy become as tiresome as Daniel’s dirty socks on the floor of their bedroom. “There should be a map for love, finding it, keeping it!”
October 18, 2024
I am not exactly sure how to describe this book. The overall message is that falling in love might be easy. But living in love (in a romantic relationship or any other) is much more challenging. The goal is to get to the point that we live in the question "What would love do?” and that we learn to see others as God does.
March 24, 2023
I love Carol Lynn Pearson so much. She's one of my favorite author's. This book had a powerful message. The story itself wasn't the strongest, but it was still entertaining and one I'd recommend for an easy, inspiring read.
October 4, 2022
Disappointing
This just didn’t click with me. Parts were great. Other parts just meh. I was excited to see a new book but disappointed in the story.
This just didn’t click with me. Parts were great. Other parts just meh. I was excited to see a new book but disappointed in the story.
December 29, 2022
This book was really different for me, but I liked the overall concept.
May 23, 2023
Cheesy writing but a good message
July 5, 2024
A thought-provoking parable of sorts. I like the alignment of chakras/kingdoms with the concept of a map and how to live more fully in Love.
May 14, 2025
A parable about the development of love using the chakras. It just didn't resonate with me.
August 2, 2023
I love Carol Lynn Pearson as a human and as a writer. Much of what I've read from her resonated with me on a deep level. Unfortunately, I had a hard time connecting with this book. There was a saccharine quality to the writing that was really distracting, making it difficult to care much about the characters or the plot. That said, I am fascinated by her exploration of the 7 chakras and would love to learn more about those in the future.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews