Author Spotlight

Grace Zacaroli

The Carpenter and The Apprentice is the first book in a five-novel series set in the ancient Middle East that crosses several genres, including historical fiction, literary fiction, spiritual fiction, and adventure. The novel has been compared to Paolo Coelho’s The Alchemist and will appeal to a similar readership. The series focuses on the personal and spiritual growth of several characters who endeavor to apply key spiritual lessons while enduring the danger, chaos, and heartbreak of war. Coming from diverse faith traditions and cultures, they are united through their appreciation of and adherence to the teachings of the carpenter, a sage who came to live among them several years before the story begins.

At the heart of my writing is a combined love of story, interesting and complex characters, and spiritual growth. As a former psychotherapist, I have been privileged to hear the stories and deep, inner experience of many people over the years. Every one of them has taught me something about the human condition and the way we heal and grow. I have been fascinated by spiritual matters since my early teens and consider myself a lifelong learner in the realm of spiritual growth and the faith and wisdom traditions of the world. That interest likely stems in part from an insatiable curiosity and in part from a heartfelt dedication to doing whatever I can to help create a world that is more peaceful, more harmonious, more rooted in love, and more unified. I believe that I can best accomplish that goal by sharing what I have learned and experienced over the years through writing and through service to others.

We learn, I believe, and grow most easily, and often most profoundly, through stories and parables. When we can walk through a question or a teaching alongside a character, we often step into that material with a more open, curious, and engaged attitude. The wisdom shared then becomes something we can live, not just understand intellectually. Writing these stories has also deepened my own understanding, and it has inspired me to ask more questions, to seek more teachings and insights and, in the words of the carpenter himself, to experience more meaning. I hope this will be true for my readers as well! I would much rather hear from people what they are thinking, feeling, and experiencing as they read the stories than simply writing about them myself.

I am currently working on the third book in the series, which I hope to release by the end of the year, while continuing to refine the outlines of the fourth and fifth novels. This process is exciting! I am always amazed by what comes through. A serialized version of The Carpenter and The Apprentice is available at no cost on my Substack account: https://substack.com/@gracezacaroli. There, readers will also find a few verses I’ve written and be able to send feedback and messages.

About the Author: Grace Zacaroli is a former psychotherapist, dedicated to personal and spiritual growth. Residing in western New York, she currently supports individuals undergoing cancer treatment and continues to practice yoga and Reiki. Grace is the proud parent of an adult son, one of her greatest teachers and a constant source of joy. Mountain Home is the second novel in her spiritual adventure series, following The Carpenter and The Apprentice. Her work resonates with readers interested in personal and spiritual growth, spirituality, philosophy, social change, and culture.

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