2011 IPPY Book Awards ~BRONZE MEDAL WINNER~ for Visionary fiction
Karma Peace, a frustrated 36 year-old writer, is two quarts low on confidence and three floats shy a parade. Unwilling to accept a questionable diagnosis of mild schizophrenia and postpartum psychosis, she abandons her husband and twin three-year-olds for the land of India. There, she crosses swords with Whisperthing – the hateful voice of her dead mother − while receiving valuable life lessons from an invisible, chocolate-thieving guru named Babaji, who has been with her since childhood, but magically materializes upon her arrival in Delhi.
From there, Karma stumbles across India, desperately searching for clues about her past life as a British Raj soldier, and the suspicious death of his paramour, a Hindu temple dancer. Only then can she finish the novel she’s been working on for nearly two decades, called Truth Is a Stranger. But even with six stolen months at her disposal, Karma finds traveling in India rough. Whisperthing becomes increasingly vicious, and the past-life dreams and visions haunt her, leaving her more confused than ever. Then she meets a parapsychologist, a whirling dervish of sorts, who introduces her to the present incarnation of her past-life lover, a ten-year-old Indian girl whose masochistic and suicidal tendencies have driven her own parents to the brink.
As Karma fights one battle, she finds herself embroiled in two, strangled with guilt over abandoning her precious family, as well as over suspected wrongs committed in a former life – past sins responsible for a beautiful Indian girl’s self-destruction in this life. When she receives word from her husband, Warren, that he and the girls are coming to India to cheer her on, the Sati flames are turned on high as she battles to destroy her madness once and for all.
“Karma Peace is a well-written treat. It is a definite page-turner and one of the best new novels in 2010.”
-TopBookReviewers.com
“Karma Peace is not only a well-written metaphysical journey of a woman looking to find peace within herself, but it’s also fun, exciting, and full of good drama and characterization. I love this book!”
-William Greenleaf, Author of The Tartarus Incident, Starjacked!, and the upcoming Bloodright
“Inveterate world traveler, Connie M. Van Cleve, takes readers and her heroine on a
sweeping journey through India in this debut novel… recommended for those who enjoy lovely stories of personal growth and protagonists of unsuspected strength.”
-ForeWord Clarion Reviews
“Karma Peace is a powerful story about healing and forgiveness. The author
skillfully interweaves past and present lives, and every encounter is meaningful
for the heroine. This book reflects both the humanity and divinity which are a part
of everyone. I highly recommend this book.”
-Jane Van De Velde, DNP, RN,
Reiki Master/Teacher & Writer
“I was enthralled by Karma Peace and her journey into NOW. It’s a real page-
turner, chock full of spiritual lessons, as well as surprises in every chapter.”
-Jean Adrienne, Creator of Quantum Change,
Author, Talk Radio Host
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