Synopses & Reviews
Chronicling nearly two decades of Jessica Maxwell's all-true accidental spiritual adventure and filled with astonishing stories, witty insights, and breathtaking revelations,
Roll Around Heaven will surely inspire each reader to embrace the power of the divine in his or her own life.
An adventure writer by trade, Jessica had never given God a second thought until, as she describes it, "He/She/It grabbed me by the ear, marched me into the divine principal's office, and told me to quit goofing off and start paying attention." On her amazing journey, Jessica travels the globe on magazine sporting assignments, only to end up talking about God with Islamic women in Dubai, chasing away evil spirits in a Himalayan hotel, and receiving Celtic revelations on the holy isle of Iona.
Jessica soon learns that her earthbound goals are mere day hikes compared to her soaring ascent to heaven on earth. Spiced with humor, rich with original insight, tart with irreverence, and sweetened with compassion for the modern pilgrim, Roll Around Heaven offers readers a perfect recipe for spiritual success in a chronically baffling world.
Review
"Readers who enjoyed Eat, Pray, Love will...enjoy every minute of this rollicking spiritual ride. An inspirational feast for the faithful and enlightening food for thought for the more cynical." Booklist
Synopsis
An all-true accidental spiritual adventure that led one nonbeliever to lunch with Deepak Chopra, dance with Stephen Hawking, heal animals with Yogananda, sing Christmas carols with an enlightened rabbi, banish evil spirits with a Himalayan Rinpoche, talk all night with the daughters of Islam, find true love in a Presbyterian choir, share Celtic visions on the isle of Iona, and learn an abiding respect for all paths to God.
Filled with far-flung settings, polished prose, and travel writer Jessica Maxwell's eye-opening and often humorous experiences, Roll Around Heaven will resonate with seekers and cynics, nature lovers and travel enthusiasts, and readers from all walks of life.
About the Author
The daughter of a Scottish New Zealander and an Arabic-Cajun, Jessica Maxwell has the whole wide world in her blood. True to her pedigree, she is a widely published international adventure writer, author and photographer with a special emphasis on food, conservation, womenand#8217;s journeys and spiritual transformation. The youngest writer to pen Esquireand#8217;s Travel column (1985 and#8211; 1997), she created and wrote Audubonand#8217;s True Nature in-the-field conservation column (1992 and#8211;andnbsp;1997) before authoring travel books on flyfishing, golf and womenand#8217;s adventure. She is a longtime contributor to the LIFE section of Forbes, and regular presence in andlt;iandgt;AARP The Magazine, Gourmet,andlt;/iandgt; and andlt;iandgt;Moreandlt;/iandgt;. andlt;BRandgt;A former California beach girl, she earned a degree in Magazine Journalism at the University of Oregonand#8211;including spending her junior year in Aix-en-Provenceand#8211;and now lives in Western Oregon, with her trial attorney husband Tom and#8220;Mr. Quotableand#8221; Andersen at Gaiety Hill House, a historic Georgian manor where she happily serves their guests afternoon tea and grand feasts, especially when her beloved stepsons, Ben and Eli, are in town...unless sheand#8217;s out stalking giant Norwegian grouse or chasing away evil spirits with a Himalayan Rinpoche.
Exclusive Essay
Read an exclusive essay by Jessica Maxwell