Passages Home: from Iraq to America

By Jeff Dwyer

A captivating work of fiction based on the real experience of an American tragedy, PASSAGES HOME follows an Iraq War veteran, Jason, as he struggles to over-come post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Traveling northward along California's coast, he arrives in the mystical town of Mendocino where he encounters several special people who quietly, almost secretly, offer friendship and guidance that dissipate his anger and anxiety and provide pathways by which Jason begins to regain his true self. By working in the vineyards and a local winery, he learns of the great power of nature's transformations. He receives healing messages when he sees parallels between his cataclysmic life-change and the life-span of grapes he harvests from ancient vines. Every vine reminds him of a life of struggle, against heat, drought, wind, and rain. Yet, the vines and their grapes survive the challenges to produce something strong and beautiful that endured the harvest and crush only to emerge as a timeless thing of greater beauty, vitality, and strength. The challenges of a forest fire and a great flood finally rid Jason of his alter-ego, the vicious warrior he was during his tours in Iraq. The tender messages and powerful wisdom revealed by Jason's experiences in Mendocino transform his view of the world, dissipate his post-traumatic stress disorder, and restore the peaceful life he once knew. PASSAGES HOME speaks to the heart of those who suffer with PTSD and their loved ones, letting them know that a passage can be made to that cherished safe haven, home.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1449989551
• ISBN13: 9781449989552
• Release Date: July 2010
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 274 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.6" x 6.0"