FALLING INTO THE LIGHT

A poignant fictional tale of one man's spiritual journey, who just so happens to be the Dalai Lama.

-Independent Book Review

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IN THE PRESS

M.J. Wiley's historical novel is part fiction and part meditation... Wiley thrives in his characterization of his protagonist and his characterization of 19th century America... This fictionalized story of the Dalai Lama makes for some truly compulsive reading.

INDEPENDENT BOOK REVIEW

This is a spiritual odyssey that is replete with insights and wisdom... It is nuanced, beautifully written, and superb storytelling. This book is an inspirational spiritual guide for all.

THE BOOK COMMENTARY

Li's humility as a protagonist is refreshing. He’s someone I’m glad to have met and am
better off because of it, and I’m confident that other readers will feel the same.

INDEPENDENT BOOK REVIEW

READER REVIEWS

"Beautifully written, historically interesting, inspirational, and timely. A must read!" - K.S.

" I absolutely loved “Falling In to the Light”. I’m recommending it to the book club I’m with. Thank you!! - L.R.

"This was an enjoyable read vividly describing life in America during the 1800s. .... Kudos to the author for an unconventional storyline and interesting premise." - H.H.

"This is a type of book I have wanted to read for a long time. The way the author has presented the story is perfect! I highly recommend this book to everyone out there…" - M.A.

"Great book! Loved the story…refreshing, positive and a joy to read." - B.W.

"Falling into The Light is an adventurous, historical, and a very spiritual quest …. cannot wait to see if there is a sequel." - S.S.

"Falling Into The Light is a great adventure novel. It not only pulls you into a young man’s adventure in finding new territories to explore, but in finding himself and his responsibility in the new world." - J.W.

"A MUST READ! Highly recommend for any and all ages curious about Eastern religion, 1800's America, or just wanting a good coming-of-age story." - E.J.

"This story is great.... suggested for all !" - K.K.

STORYLINE GALLERY

Potala Palace, Lhasa Tibet

Built in the seventh century as the primary residence for the Dalai Lama and a spiritual center for the Buddhist cultures throughout Asia.

Pacific Mail Steamship c.1860

Original lithograph of the wooden side-paddle-wheel steamer "China," built for Pacific Mail's pioneering trans-Pacific route between San Francisco and Shanghai. (source; FoundSF.org)

Steamship Steerage Compartment

On steamships, Steerage compartment was the default choice of many immigrants during the 19th century. The conditions were likely to be relatively harsh compared to modern standards. (Courtesy; Smithsonian Institution Libraries)

Chinatown c.1860

Life wasn’t always easy for Chinese immigrants in San Francisco’s Chinatown, the largest and the oldest Chinese community in North America during the 19th century

Chinese Railroad Workers_Sierra_Nevada

The extension of the existing eastern railway network, from outside Omaha, Nebraska, to Oakland, California required the collective efforts of the Transcontinental, Western Pacific, Central Pacific, and Union Pacific Railroad companies. After the white man abandoned the railroad in favor of gold rush prospecting, many contractors turned to Chinese immigrants, an interested and available workforce. Chinese workers helped solidify the western future of the United States.
(Source; Bancroft Library, UC Berkeley)

Transcontinental Railroad workers c.1865 Photo by Alfred A. Hart

"Railroad work was hard work, and the days were long. Paddy’s team worked mostly on laying down new track. This was not as dirty of a job as blasting and excavation but required a strong back to lift long sections of steel track and swing a sledgehammer all day. The crews pretty much worked sunup to sundown, seven days per week." - Falling Into the Light

White House Conservatory

Under the James Buchanan administration, a glass conservatory was built on the White House grounds, providing a fresh source of plants and flowers. (Source; The Lehrman Institute)

Across The Continent - "Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way"

Symbolizing “Manifest Destiny”, a locomotive follows the mountain peaks West as it divides log cabins from unsettled wilderness, while American Indians sit on horseback in the train's fading smoke, hinting at the old ways of life that are destroyed to make way for the new.

Prairie Schoolhouse c.1860

A staple of Western folklore, the one-room schoolhouse became an essential part of the 19th-century frontier. Education was not something taken for granted, certainly not in those places where women and children joined the male pioneers.

Fort Laramie Military Camp (Artist Alfred Jacob Miller)

Founded as a private trading post in the 1830s to service the overland fur trade; in 1849, it was purchased by the United States Army. Located near the best and lowest crossing point of the Rocky Mountains at South Pass, the fort became a popular stopping point for migrants on the Oregon Trail.

Rabbit Ears Peak, Colorado

The Ute people lived in harmony with their environment. They spent winters in desert lowlands and migrated to the mountain ranges of Colorado for summer. They came to know not only the terrain but the plants and animals that inhabited the lands. The Utes developed a unique relationship with the environment learning to give and take from Mother Earth.

Grand Canyon of the Colorado River

"As beautiful as the desert was, mother nature felt compelled to carve a majestic canyon five thousand feet deep into the earth’s crust, revealing the colorful rock formations of her past. The white sandstone rim stood tall at the top of the canyon, giving way to endless layers of history spoken in reds, purples, and pinks leading down into the bottomless depths of time." - Falling Into the Light

AUTHOR BIO

M.J.Wiley grew up on the Front Range of Colorado. It was through exploring the Rocky Mountains that his passion for nature and the history of the American frontier was intimately instilled. He also spent much of his adult life working in foreign countries, where his interest in Eastern cultures and philosophies emerged. With these memories as his backdrop, Marcus spent several years creating this fictional story that reflects the beauty and insights of his collective past.

CONTACT

For any media inquiries, please contact M.J. Wiley

Tel: 970-231-2000 | MJWiley.Author@gmail.com

FALLING INTO THE LIGHT

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