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Dead Mentors
An over-worked healthcare manager never dreamed she'd find the cure for her loneliness among the paranormal inhabitants of a futuristic prison. Nor did she suspect that a stranger far away would be watching her every move. Yet, that is exactly how Sophia Deming discovered the secret to an authentic life. Sophia Deming, a Canadian expatriate working miserably in a Florida health system, is desperate to find a more meaningful life. On a trip to see her sisters Cynthia and Louise in Canada, she visits a psychic therapist, John Burns, hoping for some answers, but she is skeptical of his far-fetched forecast and returns to her life in Florida feeling just as hopeless and lost as before. Sophia's true path of self-awareness begins with the unlikely discovery of her dead mother's play entitled "The Antiquity", about a disillusioned biomedical scientist, Russell Durnin, who finds confirming evidence for his research on happy pills called the 500's in a futuristic commune. Strange events and misfortunes begin to occur in Sophia's life that mirror those of Durnin and the predictions made by Burns, the psychic, who can remotely view her as well as the ghosts, tricksters, and imps that accompany Sophia during the course of her strange adventures. As a production of "The Antiquity" gets underway, family drama is at an all-time high and Sophia is entrenched in her duties as the selfless custodian of her sisters' calamities. On opening night, however, when a portrait of Sophia's mother is unveiled upon the stage, a family secret reveals the reason for Sophia's emotional captivity. "Dead Mentors" is a hauntingly beautiful novel in three dimensions of reality about three sisters and one woman's magical and perilous search for truth that examines the quest for self-awareness, demonstrates the importance of family, and confirms the power of love.
258 pages, Paperback
First published February 26, 2013
5 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Nichols
13 books7 followersSandra Nichols is a Canadian author of fiction and non-fiction. She has an extensive background in nursing and healthcare management and a Bachelor of Science degree in Multidisciplinary Studies. Nichols is the mother of two adult children and lives with her husband in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Follow Sandra at www.sandranichols.com.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 3, 2014
Dead Mentors is a masterpiece in its prose, its message and its unique construction. The story is told on three levels, from three different points of view.Each is an art form in itself.
The Narrator- a Psy D with a clinical practice, sees his own life from a different perspective once he begins to channel his client Sophia. Thus, while he is relating Sophia’s story as a remote viewer, he is also sharing much of himself. This frees the author to let a bit of her own philosophy slip into the story in the observations of Doctor Burns, without creating a soap box effect. And thus, the narrator engages the reader in a series of dialogs on topics ranging from the challenges of bird watching to the comparison of the coming of Spring in the south as opposed to the four seasons of the north. All of these digressions fit neatly into the plot
Sophia: Once we are introduced to Sophia through the observations of the narrator, we begin to visit her relationships with the principals in her life from her pint of view, as retold by Doctor Burns. She paints her husband Nigel as an engaging man whose role in life seems to be to provide stability and happiness to Sophia. Her relationship with her sisters is more complex, especially since she sees herself as the outsider in the group and the least likely to capture the approval of her parents. She is an engaging, likable woman, trapped in a life she finds stifling, but while she feels unfulfilled, she is not bitter and she is not jealous. She is not Emma Bovary, but she does rue having let her dreams slip by so easily. Her major surface blemish is she hates her job in health care, but the truth of the matter goes much deeper.
The Antiquity (Amelia):The third tier of this engaging book is provided by the posthumous drama written by Sophia’s deceased mother Amelia, a multi-faceted talent who fell short of the spotlight she had envisioned for herself. Sophia has always felt her mother erected a barrier between the two of them which had not shut out her sisters. And yet, when her father dies and the sisters are cleaning out the house, Sophia discovers Amelia has left a package especially meant for her. It is a play entitled The Antiquity. Thus, Amelia speaks to us in a manner totally unexpected, through the dialog she has created in her drama. Her play is a stunning creation in itself . It stands alone, independent of its framing within the principal story line. Reading Sandra Nichols' book would be worthwhile if only to devour the italicized portions representing Amelia’s play. It is futuristic in its setting but has a compelling contemporary theme - a scientist who has developed a happy pill suddenly refuses to self-medicate. The dialog is written in an entirely different style,one I think of as Orwellian.
It is when Sophia’s sister who is in the theater suggests she produce the play that the main plot becomes a bit like A Picture of Dorian Gray and the artistry of the author takes flight. At that point, as a reader I stopped trying to understand what I was reading, and began to simply experience it. There is a portion of the story that took me back to an experience when I was in law school and my mock trial team was assigned to spend an hour forty-five minutes in a holding cell at the courthouse. The same people who could easily spend that amout of time in the back room at Wild Bill’s across the street were banging on the door begging to be released long before the session ended. Nichols has captured such an atmosphere perfectly.
While the paranormal aspects of Ms.Nichols' novel are never far beneath the surface of her prose, this is not a horror story or a fantasy. It is an exploration of the human condition, beautifully told. Sophia’s introspective moments are artfully expressed. For example, ‘She sat amidst the wisdom of the dead mentors that lined her library shelves, a victim of their complicity.’ I wonder how many writers I know have shared the sentiment expressed in Ms. Nichols’ words.
This is not a book to be read once and casually. When I was part way through, I checked its description on Amazon. For a book of its rank, it had surprisingly few reviews. When I read further, I understood the reason. To capture the essence of this novel requires reading it again and again, and growing with it. There is a reason why there are benches strategically placed in fine art museums. This book is worthy of a similar setting. It needs a window seat or a garden bench were it can be revisited time and time again. Perhaps this book will have less appeal to those who overload their ebook readers with pulp fiction, for this, indeed, is literature. I will want to procure a hardbound copy for my special shelf.
The author provided me a copy of Dead Mentors without obligation because she discovered I frequently reviewed books I read on Amazon and she wanted my unbiased opinion of her novel. I had no idea I had been given so precious a gift. This is not just inspiration for the muse within: it is tonic for the soul.- a genuine five star experience worthy of repeat performances-- a book lover’s book.
The Narrator- a Psy D with a clinical practice, sees his own life from a different perspective once he begins to channel his client Sophia. Thus, while he is relating Sophia’s story as a remote viewer, he is also sharing much of himself. This frees the author to let a bit of her own philosophy slip into the story in the observations of Doctor Burns, without creating a soap box effect. And thus, the narrator engages the reader in a series of dialogs on topics ranging from the challenges of bird watching to the comparison of the coming of Spring in the south as opposed to the four seasons of the north. All of these digressions fit neatly into the plot
Sophia: Once we are introduced to Sophia through the observations of the narrator, we begin to visit her relationships with the principals in her life from her pint of view, as retold by Doctor Burns. She paints her husband Nigel as an engaging man whose role in life seems to be to provide stability and happiness to Sophia. Her relationship with her sisters is more complex, especially since she sees herself as the outsider in the group and the least likely to capture the approval of her parents. She is an engaging, likable woman, trapped in a life she finds stifling, but while she feels unfulfilled, she is not bitter and she is not jealous. She is not Emma Bovary, but she does rue having let her dreams slip by so easily. Her major surface blemish is she hates her job in health care, but the truth of the matter goes much deeper.
The Antiquity (Amelia):The third tier of this engaging book is provided by the posthumous drama written by Sophia’s deceased mother Amelia, a multi-faceted talent who fell short of the spotlight she had envisioned for herself. Sophia has always felt her mother erected a barrier between the two of them which had not shut out her sisters. And yet, when her father dies and the sisters are cleaning out the house, Sophia discovers Amelia has left a package especially meant for her. It is a play entitled The Antiquity. Thus, Amelia speaks to us in a manner totally unexpected, through the dialog she has created in her drama. Her play is a stunning creation in itself . It stands alone, independent of its framing within the principal story line. Reading Sandra Nichols' book would be worthwhile if only to devour the italicized portions representing Amelia’s play. It is futuristic in its setting but has a compelling contemporary theme - a scientist who has developed a happy pill suddenly refuses to self-medicate. The dialog is written in an entirely different style,one I think of as Orwellian.
It is when Sophia’s sister who is in the theater suggests she produce the play that the main plot becomes a bit like A Picture of Dorian Gray and the artistry of the author takes flight. At that point, as a reader I stopped trying to understand what I was reading, and began to simply experience it. There is a portion of the story that took me back to an experience when I was in law school and my mock trial team was assigned to spend an hour forty-five minutes in a holding cell at the courthouse. The same people who could easily spend that amout of time in the back room at Wild Bill’s across the street were banging on the door begging to be released long before the session ended. Nichols has captured such an atmosphere perfectly.
While the paranormal aspects of Ms.Nichols' novel are never far beneath the surface of her prose, this is not a horror story or a fantasy. It is an exploration of the human condition, beautifully told. Sophia’s introspective moments are artfully expressed. For example, ‘She sat amidst the wisdom of the dead mentors that lined her library shelves, a victim of their complicity.’ I wonder how many writers I know have shared the sentiment expressed in Ms. Nichols’ words.
This is not a book to be read once and casually. When I was part way through, I checked its description on Amazon. For a book of its rank, it had surprisingly few reviews. When I read further, I understood the reason. To capture the essence of this novel requires reading it again and again, and growing with it. There is a reason why there are benches strategically placed in fine art museums. This book is worthy of a similar setting. It needs a window seat or a garden bench were it can be revisited time and time again. Perhaps this book will have less appeal to those who overload their ebook readers with pulp fiction, for this, indeed, is literature. I will want to procure a hardbound copy for my special shelf.
The author provided me a copy of Dead Mentors without obligation because she discovered I frequently reviewed books I read on Amazon and she wanted my unbiased opinion of her novel. I had no idea I had been given so precious a gift. This is not just inspiration for the muse within: it is tonic for the soul.- a genuine five star experience worthy of repeat performances-- a book lover’s book.
September 30, 2014
Sandra Nichols’s haunting novel DEAD MENTORS is a celebration of our place in the universe as living, loving beings. The story is narrated by John Burns, a “psychic therapist” who meets 54-year-old Sophia Deming when she comes to his Ontario office for a reading. Immediately, he recognizes in Sophia a distinctly beautiful and creative soul trapped in a life she can no longer tolerate. Over the next few years, Burns follows Sophia’s journey through “remote viewing,” a means of channeling her psychically even though he has no further physical contact with her. Through Burns we learn about Sophia’s two sisters, her ailing father, and her mother, who died of cancer years before. We also learn that Sophia is bogged down by what she sees as obligations and expectations – she’s living in Florida with her British ex-pat husband (he calls her “pumpkin face” and is excessively cheerful), she worries about her grown children, she obsesses over her job as a healthcare administrator that’s draining her spirit, and she wishes she could have found success as a singer-songwriter (her sisters and mother were all creative, but Sophia herself feels lost and alienated). When she discovers the manuscript of a play her mother wrote during her final months with cancer – a manuscript her mother had specifically dedicated to her – Sophia begins to see a new path for her own life, a path that will free her from an oppressive life that isn’t really living.
DEAD MENTORS is a beautifully written, lyrical novel that suggests we have lost our connection to the greater universe. Philosophically, the novel reminded me of D. H. Lawrence’s assertion that the modern world (which, for Lawrence, was becoming increasingly industrialized and fragmented) makes it difficult for people (and especially women) to find their true living lives. The 21st century modern world is, of course, much more fragmented and alienating than was Lawrence’s. The play Sophia discovers among her mother’s things works metaphorically to illustrate this dilemma. The play is set in a future reminiscent of Huxley’s BRAVE NEW WORLD, a future in which human beings are kept “happy” 24/7 through chemical “euphorizers” designed to “improve the mood of the human race.” Nichols’s suggestion is that we are too prone to anaesthetize ourselves – with drugs, alcohol, television, games, money – so that we no longer know who we are, what we believe, and what living can really mean. We fall victim to our own fears, and pour ourselves into meaningless jobs and into meeting the expectations of those around us. What Sophia learns through the play – and through her experiences leading up to the play’s first performance – is that the choice is hers. She can continue to “buffer” her true self, keeping herself separate from the greater universe, or she can “know her true self” and live a meaningful, living life.
The tagline of the play, and the ultimate theme of DEAD MENTORS, is a quote from Shakespeare’s HAMLET: “To thine own self be true.” In HAMLET, of course, Polonius’s line is ironic, since it comes at the end of his famous speech to son Laertes (“neither a borrower nor a lender be”) in which he advises the boy to be anything BUT his true self! But “to thine own self be true” has become iconic, and here Nichols suggests that something as simple as this is the message we all seek. But as Sophia learns, it’s not really as simple as it sounds, since so much of the world we live in seems designed to prevent us from knowing our true selves and living the kinds of lives that will truly fulfill us.
DEAD MENTORS is neither plot-driven nor action-oriented. Instead it’s a cerebral and provocative look at life in the twenty-first century. I’m not sure I quite believe in “psychic therapists” or “remote viewing,” but I find both fascinating (and narrator John Burns is both likeable and believable as he channels Sophia and shares her journey with us). I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys challenging, thoughtful prose that will linger long after you’ve reached the final pages. I think we’re all on journeys like Sophia’s, whether we know it or not, and the ending of DEAD MENTORS is uplifting and affirming. I’m very glad I had the chance to read it.
[Please note: I was provided a copy of this novel for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]
DEAD MENTORS is a beautifully written, lyrical novel that suggests we have lost our connection to the greater universe. Philosophically, the novel reminded me of D. H. Lawrence’s assertion that the modern world (which, for Lawrence, was becoming increasingly industrialized and fragmented) makes it difficult for people (and especially women) to find their true living lives. The 21st century modern world is, of course, much more fragmented and alienating than was Lawrence’s. The play Sophia discovers among her mother’s things works metaphorically to illustrate this dilemma. The play is set in a future reminiscent of Huxley’s BRAVE NEW WORLD, a future in which human beings are kept “happy” 24/7 through chemical “euphorizers” designed to “improve the mood of the human race.” Nichols’s suggestion is that we are too prone to anaesthetize ourselves – with drugs, alcohol, television, games, money – so that we no longer know who we are, what we believe, and what living can really mean. We fall victim to our own fears, and pour ourselves into meaningless jobs and into meeting the expectations of those around us. What Sophia learns through the play – and through her experiences leading up to the play’s first performance – is that the choice is hers. She can continue to “buffer” her true self, keeping herself separate from the greater universe, or she can “know her true self” and live a meaningful, living life.
The tagline of the play, and the ultimate theme of DEAD MENTORS, is a quote from Shakespeare’s HAMLET: “To thine own self be true.” In HAMLET, of course, Polonius’s line is ironic, since it comes at the end of his famous speech to son Laertes (“neither a borrower nor a lender be”) in which he advises the boy to be anything BUT his true self! But “to thine own self be true” has become iconic, and here Nichols suggests that something as simple as this is the message we all seek. But as Sophia learns, it’s not really as simple as it sounds, since so much of the world we live in seems designed to prevent us from knowing our true selves and living the kinds of lives that will truly fulfill us.
DEAD MENTORS is neither plot-driven nor action-oriented. Instead it’s a cerebral and provocative look at life in the twenty-first century. I’m not sure I quite believe in “psychic therapists” or “remote viewing,” but I find both fascinating (and narrator John Burns is both likeable and believable as he channels Sophia and shares her journey with us). I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys challenging, thoughtful prose that will linger long after you’ve reached the final pages. I think we’re all on journeys like Sophia’s, whether we know it or not, and the ending of DEAD MENTORS is uplifting and affirming. I’m very glad I had the chance to read it.
[Please note: I was provided a copy of this novel for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]
September 30, 2014
Life is a conglomeration of thoughts, actions, emotions, and living
This novel contains many metaphysical teachings and beliefs and so may be a little difficult to understand for some readers. The narrator of the story is John Burns, a clairvoyant therapist who has been working with Sophia Deming, a middle-aged, married Canadian woman residing in southern Florida with her second husband, Nigel Deming. She is the youngest of three sisters, Louise the eldest and financially secure, and Cynthia, the middle girl who is talented and a writer. The parents of these girls were George and Amelia Kelly, both deceased by the end of this story, but Amelia was very talented as a painter and writer.
Sophia is working with John because she is so miserable at this stage in her life. When young, she was only interested in getting married, which she did and Nigel is her second marriage and then she became a nurse. Because of such a talented mother and sisters, she feels she has failed in life and now she works as an administrator in a hospital to support herself and Nigel, plus she is taking college courses to improve her standing.
John, in his therapy, recognizes her as a Libran and she is extremely talented, if she would only let herself go. She has a beautiful voice but won’t sing and whenever a new facet of life is suggested to her, she refuses even thinking about it by saying “but.” Through the years Sophia has studied Jung, different religious thoughts and books of psychology. She hates it in Florida because of the heat and she can’t grow the flowers she loves. Finally in desperation, she returns to Canada to be with her sisters and her father is dying. While she is gone, John can keep track of her actions and thoughts through remote viewing and often sends her mental messages to help her.
Sophia always thought her mother didn’t love her, which often occurs with children, but it seemed to be mostly caused by her intense awareness of her mother’s talent as a painter. When her father dies and she is going through his household effects, she comes across a story entitled “The Antiquity” written by her mother during the two week before her death. Sophia feels that her mother is trying to tell her something since she left a note saying it was for Sophia. The story is included in this novel and then Cynthia convinces Sophia to let her do a play of it, which she does and the entire play is also included in this story and it is difficult to determine if both of these are saying the same things because they are not verbatim.
The story is well written but it will present a difficulty for some readers because John off and on goes through pages of dialogue expounding on his philosophy, which is most difficult to understand and then the original “The Antiquity” and the play do the same and the reader is at a loss as to what the author is attempting to project. Much of it made no sense to me, but the last chapter is narrated by Sophia and she explains what was meant because she finally has reached that pinnacle.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.
This novel contains many metaphysical teachings and beliefs and so may be a little difficult to understand for some readers. The narrator of the story is John Burns, a clairvoyant therapist who has been working with Sophia Deming, a middle-aged, married Canadian woman residing in southern Florida with her second husband, Nigel Deming. She is the youngest of three sisters, Louise the eldest and financially secure, and Cynthia, the middle girl who is talented and a writer. The parents of these girls were George and Amelia Kelly, both deceased by the end of this story, but Amelia was very talented as a painter and writer.
Sophia is working with John because she is so miserable at this stage in her life. When young, she was only interested in getting married, which she did and Nigel is her second marriage and then she became a nurse. Because of such a talented mother and sisters, she feels she has failed in life and now she works as an administrator in a hospital to support herself and Nigel, plus she is taking college courses to improve her standing.
John, in his therapy, recognizes her as a Libran and she is extremely talented, if she would only let herself go. She has a beautiful voice but won’t sing and whenever a new facet of life is suggested to her, she refuses even thinking about it by saying “but.” Through the years Sophia has studied Jung, different religious thoughts and books of psychology. She hates it in Florida because of the heat and she can’t grow the flowers she loves. Finally in desperation, she returns to Canada to be with her sisters and her father is dying. While she is gone, John can keep track of her actions and thoughts through remote viewing and often sends her mental messages to help her.
Sophia always thought her mother didn’t love her, which often occurs with children, but it seemed to be mostly caused by her intense awareness of her mother’s talent as a painter. When her father dies and she is going through his household effects, she comes across a story entitled “The Antiquity” written by her mother during the two week before her death. Sophia feels that her mother is trying to tell her something since she left a note saying it was for Sophia. The story is included in this novel and then Cynthia convinces Sophia to let her do a play of it, which she does and the entire play is also included in this story and it is difficult to determine if both of these are saying the same things because they are not verbatim.
The story is well written but it will present a difficulty for some readers because John off and on goes through pages of dialogue expounding on his philosophy, which is most difficult to understand and then the original “The Antiquity” and the play do the same and the reader is at a loss as to what the author is attempting to project. Much of it made no sense to me, but the last chapter is narrated by Sophia and she explains what was meant because she finally has reached that pinnacle.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.
January 19, 2015
A woman's discovery of her late mother's stage play leads her to explore the mysteries of her past and of her own inner world.
Sophia Deming is a disenchanted woman. Stuck in a suffocating position in the healthcare industry, she feels terminally cut off from the creative life she craves. The novel is told through the eyes of John Burns, a psychic who gave Sophia the reading that set her off on her spiritual quest. Through his visions we follow Sophia's travels between her home in Florida to her native Canada as she struggles to rediscover her authentic self. A turning point comes when she and her sisters are cleaning out the family's holiday cottage and come upon a play written by their mother. The main character is a scientist living in a future society where citizens are forced to take mood-stabilizing drugs that stunt all individuality and innovative thought, which closely parallels Sophia's feelings about her own situation.
There's a wonderful Gothic feel here. This otherworldly sensibility is helped by the presence of several ghosts--some actual spiritual entities, others more memory imprints of the past--and Sophia's own richly symbolic dream life. Yet the story is at its best when Sophia is interacting with her husband, and when she and her sisters are together laughing, remembering, and causing mayhem in one another's lives. Sophia and Nigel have wonderful chemistry. I also enjoyed the glimpses into John Burns's life on Prince Edward Island with his wife and mother-in-law.
Ironically, it's John's narration that made it so difficult to orient myself at the start of the story. Observing Sophia at such a great remove, and with John's constant commentary, made it hard to engage with her at first. That said, once I was sure of my footing, the narration became enjoyable. John's head is a peaceful place to linger.
Nichols does an excellent job creating her settings. The Florida scenes and the ones in Canada (city and rural) played off each other really well. The sensory detail is extraordinary.
The philosophical/psychological concepts explored (especially in the stage play) do get a bit dense. It's rough going in places, but the characters are so interesting I couldn't help hanging on to the end.
DEAD MENTORS is a book with many layers. I'd describe it as "subtext on steroids"--and yet it also manages to entertain.
Sophia Deming is a disenchanted woman. Stuck in a suffocating position in the healthcare industry, she feels terminally cut off from the creative life she craves. The novel is told through the eyes of John Burns, a psychic who gave Sophia the reading that set her off on her spiritual quest. Through his visions we follow Sophia's travels between her home in Florida to her native Canada as she struggles to rediscover her authentic self. A turning point comes when she and her sisters are cleaning out the family's holiday cottage and come upon a play written by their mother. The main character is a scientist living in a future society where citizens are forced to take mood-stabilizing drugs that stunt all individuality and innovative thought, which closely parallels Sophia's feelings about her own situation.
There's a wonderful Gothic feel here. This otherworldly sensibility is helped by the presence of several ghosts--some actual spiritual entities, others more memory imprints of the past--and Sophia's own richly symbolic dream life. Yet the story is at its best when Sophia is interacting with her husband, and when she and her sisters are together laughing, remembering, and causing mayhem in one another's lives. Sophia and Nigel have wonderful chemistry. I also enjoyed the glimpses into John Burns's life on Prince Edward Island with his wife and mother-in-law.
Ironically, it's John's narration that made it so difficult to orient myself at the start of the story. Observing Sophia at such a great remove, and with John's constant commentary, made it hard to engage with her at first. That said, once I was sure of my footing, the narration became enjoyable. John's head is a peaceful place to linger.
Nichols does an excellent job creating her settings. The Florida scenes and the ones in Canada (city and rural) played off each other really well. The sensory detail is extraordinary.
The philosophical/psychological concepts explored (especially in the stage play) do get a bit dense. It's rough going in places, but the characters are so interesting I couldn't help hanging on to the end.
DEAD MENTORS is a book with many layers. I'd describe it as "subtext on steroids"--and yet it also manages to entertain.
February 8, 2015
Dead Mentors by Sandra Nichols has to be the most unique and interesting book I’ve read in a very long time!! Dead Mentors is so unique and thought provoking I hope I can do it justice in this review. This book is nourishment for the soul and food for the brain. This is a book that will truly make you think.
Dead Mentors is told from three different points of view. Blended together so expertly!! Dead Mentors is narrated by Dr. John Burns, clairvoyant therapist, Although Dr. Burns only meets Sophia once he watches her life unfold by channeling her psychically. This is by far the most interesting book I’ve ever read. You get to follow Dr. Burns, Sophia and Sophia’s family. Including her mother’s ghost. Sophia is a lonely South Florida healthcare manager; she hates where she works, she has tons regrets, and failed ambitions. After a reading with Dr. Burns; Sonya leaves the reading, disappointed with Burns’s forecast.
Not only do you learn about Dr. Burns and his life but; Sophia’s two sisters, her ailing father, and her mother, who died of cancer years before. It’s so fascinating reading about Sophia’s journey through the eyes of Dr. Burns.
During a trip home, Sophia discovers a play her mother wrote while she was dying of cancer. The play is dedicated to Sophia. Sophia starts a new path for her own life, a life that will let her truly LIVE!! Sophia learns through the play that life’s choices are hers. She can continue to trudge through her life as she is or she can “know her true self” and live a meaningful true life.
The play “The Antiquity” takes place in the family cottage in Peterborough, Ontario. The Antiquity’s main character, Russell Durnin, a biomedical scientist, finds the missing link to his research among the paranormal inhabitants of a futuristic prison. As Sophia begins a journey to bring The Antiquity to life, she encounters a series of misfortunes that mirror those of Durnin and that force her to confront her darkest fears. On opening night of the play, as her mother’s portrait is unveiled upon the stage, Sophia discovers the secret of her emotional captivity.
Dead Mentors is beautifully written, that suggests most of us have lost our connection to the greater universe.
Dead Mentors makes me want to find my own psychic therapist. Dead Mentors is one of those books that you’ll want to read again and again!
Dead Mentors is told from three different points of view. Blended together so expertly!! Dead Mentors is narrated by Dr. John Burns, clairvoyant therapist, Although Dr. Burns only meets Sophia once he watches her life unfold by channeling her psychically. This is by far the most interesting book I’ve ever read. You get to follow Dr. Burns, Sophia and Sophia’s family. Including her mother’s ghost. Sophia is a lonely South Florida healthcare manager; she hates where she works, she has tons regrets, and failed ambitions. After a reading with Dr. Burns; Sonya leaves the reading, disappointed with Burns’s forecast.
Not only do you learn about Dr. Burns and his life but; Sophia’s two sisters, her ailing father, and her mother, who died of cancer years before. It’s so fascinating reading about Sophia’s journey through the eyes of Dr. Burns.
During a trip home, Sophia discovers a play her mother wrote while she was dying of cancer. The play is dedicated to Sophia. Sophia starts a new path for her own life, a life that will let her truly LIVE!! Sophia learns through the play that life’s choices are hers. She can continue to trudge through her life as she is or she can “know her true self” and live a meaningful true life.
The play “The Antiquity” takes place in the family cottage in Peterborough, Ontario. The Antiquity’s main character, Russell Durnin, a biomedical scientist, finds the missing link to his research among the paranormal inhabitants of a futuristic prison. As Sophia begins a journey to bring The Antiquity to life, she encounters a series of misfortunes that mirror those of Durnin and that force her to confront her darkest fears. On opening night of the play, as her mother’s portrait is unveiled upon the stage, Sophia discovers the secret of her emotional captivity.
Dead Mentors is beautifully written, that suggests most of us have lost our connection to the greater universe.
Dead Mentors makes me want to find my own psychic therapist. Dead Mentors is one of those books that you’ll want to read again and again!
January 26, 2015
I've always been extremely intrigued by those who can read auras and souls, or psychics in general. Sophia Deming goes into John Burns office for a reading, and ends up leaving with a quest to find answers in her life. You're taken on a journey of Sophia's life through the eyes of John by remote viewing. Sandra Nichols does a great job at describing Sophia's life through John, which is a unique talent, as many authors I think would struggle with this.
The very descriptive author has a very unique writing style that I found to be entertaining and riveting. You can't possibly consider skimming over this book. If you skip one sentence, you're missing out on vital information. Unlike some other books, I was not inclined to skim over any parts, and made sure to absorb every word.
She depicts clear images on everything she describes. Reading Ms. Sandra's book was fun and entertaining. It was just the type of book I usually crave. I like the books that make you think. I found myself rolling around in thoughts about the book, even when I wasn't reading it. I just enjoyed the overall sense of feeling I got when reading Dead Mentors.
The book was unpredictable and kept me on my toes guessing what would happen next. It's definitely the type of book you can read over and over and find new things you didn't notice or think about. I know I plan on reading this book again. I know my love for the book will only grow every time I open it. Without a doubt a 5/5 book.
The very descriptive author has a very unique writing style that I found to be entertaining and riveting. You can't possibly consider skimming over this book. If you skip one sentence, you're missing out on vital information. Unlike some other books, I was not inclined to skim over any parts, and made sure to absorb every word.
She depicts clear images on everything she describes. Reading Ms. Sandra's book was fun and entertaining. It was just the type of book I usually crave. I like the books that make you think. I found myself rolling around in thoughts about the book, even when I wasn't reading it. I just enjoyed the overall sense of feeling I got when reading Dead Mentors.
The book was unpredictable and kept me on my toes guessing what would happen next. It's definitely the type of book you can read over and over and find new things you didn't notice or think about. I know I plan on reading this book again. I know my love for the book will only grow every time I open it. Without a doubt a 5/5 book.
September 22, 2014
I was given the chance to read this book and I am so grateful for the opportunity. Dead Mentors is such a well written story about Sophia and her mission to find her true self and her mother who was involved in a recital that she was not aware of. I liked how the author had used another person to tell the story of Sophia through John Burns by channeling her. I also liked how Sophia & her sisters had survived all the obstacles they had to endure through their quest. And I also liked this passage in the book: Man is fully responsible for his nature and his choices. Very well said. I cried on some parts of the book, but it was a feel-good cry. Hoping to read more of Sandra Nichols' masterpiece soon.
December 23, 2014
I was sent this book for an honest review and found it thought-provoking at the very least.
It is certainly a different kind of book, an intelligent read, and one to make you think on many levels. It is about a woman's journey of self-discovery through the somewhat unusual eyes of someone else. It is a powerful book, not only that makes you think, but feel the very real thoughts and feelings of a woman who doesn't appreciate her worth.
I don't like to give spoilers, so it is difficult to say too much, but it is the perfect read for those who like to think and wonder about the 'spirit' of the world and our place in it - and written very well.
It is certainly a different kind of book, an intelligent read, and one to make you think on many levels. It is about a woman's journey of self-discovery through the somewhat unusual eyes of someone else. It is a powerful book, not only that makes you think, but feel the very real thoughts and feelings of a woman who doesn't appreciate her worth.
I don't like to give spoilers, so it is difficult to say too much, but it is the perfect read for those who like to think and wonder about the 'spirit' of the world and our place in it - and written very well.
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