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| The Winners for the 2008 Pulitzer Prize in
Fiction have been announced and The
Vagabond
Healer was not a finalist! It was still
an
honor to be considered. |
 "One of the finest pieces of fiction I have ever read." From the review posted on Amazon.com by Debra Gaynor, reviewer for Reader Views (www.readerviews.com). |
 Click here for a sample chapter of The Vagabond Healer in audio or text |
The Vagabond Healer by James R. Olson Paperback = $19.95 ISBN: 1-4241-6938-0 To order your Autographed Paperback at $17.95, with free shipping (U.S. and Canada only) from Books By Olson, click the Add To Cart button.
Reader Views has done an indepth interview with James Olson revealing behind the scenes thoughts about writing The Vagabond Healer. The interview presents unique insights into the author and the characters. Well worth reading. Read the Author Interview |
To place your order at Barnes & Noble for The Vagabond Healer Click on the Barnes & Noble logo. 
 Winner of Reader Views Reviewers Choice Award in Fiction |
| Sam Johnson narrates the story of Eddy Foster,
who was born with a power that is both
a
gift and a curse. His gift is the ability
to cure virtually any sickness, mental
or
physical, with a single touch. His
curse
becomes evident when Eddy heals and
momentarily
glimpses the inner recesses of a person's
soul, exposing their deepest fears.
The people
he touches realize he has penetrated
the
masks they all wear to keep the world
from
recognizing their true faces. Fear
that Eddy
will expose those deep, dark secrets
causes
even those whom he has cured to turn
against
him. Frightened people strike out violently,
irrationally at what they fear. Reactions to Eddy's power have turned him into an outcast, forced to live as a vagabond, never remaining long in one locale. Accompanied by his dog, Mica, he wanders the country searching for a place where his power will not create envy and violence. In the small town of Cranston, his healing touch changes Lisa Bennett's life, and for the first time Eddy has a reason to stop running. However, he quickly learns fear and brutality have followed him. Lisa's father has also experienced Eddy's touch and to protect his hidden past Ernest Bennett must eliminate Eddy and anyone else who might expose his darkest secret. Eddy must decide whether he will stand and fight, or run again to protect those around him from the escalating violence. |
| Here is what readers are saying about THE
VAGABOND HEALER |
| "Mr. Olson has created a wonderful mixture
of friendship, love, and miracles. Imagine
having the power to heal with one touch,
but with a downside of seeing into that person's
soul. You would have to carry the burden
of their secrets with you for the rest of
your life, not telling anyone. Well, Eddy
Foster has that gift and curse. Eddy stops
at a service station in Cranston, where he
meets Sam Johnson, who offers him shelter,
food, and work. When Eddy accidentally bumps
into the richest man in the county, Ernest
Bennett, he sees Ernest's darkest secret.
Trouble starts for Eddy. Then Eddy falls
in love with Mr. Bennett's only daughter,
Lisa. He is forced to choose between running
from Cranston and breaking the hearts of
everyone that loves him or stay and fight
for his reason to live." - Kayla Valek, Mineola Texas High School. "Once again, Jim Olson has created a masterpiece. I've enjoyed all his books, but his one stands out above the rest. The ability to come up with unusual but believable plots, characters and scenes makes his books engrossing and hard to put down. Right away, the reader is drawn to the characters, particularly Eddy and just when you think you have everything figured out, the story twists and turns and leaves you not ever wanting the story to end. I highly recommend this book but make sure you have plenty of time to read it in one sitting. You won't want to put it down. Thanks for a lovely experience because I felt like I was actually right there living this book." - Lanna Richards, author of Heart of Stones. "James Olson has written a moving book about a young man with a gift. He is a loner, a vagabond, who walks the old highway to a filling station in Cranston. The owner, Sam Johnson, gets water for this young man, and his dog - When they shake hands, Sam feels warm and comfortable...He doesn't understand it - There is an instant kinship and Sam asks this man, Eddy Foster, if he could help make a car he was trying to fix work, he may have some work for him - To Sam's surprise, Eddy has the engine purring in minutes - Sam takes Eddy, and his dog, Mica to his house for dinner and companionship - Sam's wife Mary is dying from cancer - not too much time left for her - when Sam comes to see about his wife at home, (who has been cared for during the work day by friends), she asks Sam to introduce her to this young man that he took a liking to - Eddy and Mica come into the room and Eddy takes her hand. She feels the warmth also, be she feels at peace with this stranger and his dog, like she is grateful Sam will have someone to talk to when he dies. Something happens...The next morning, Mary is in the kitchen with Eddy and Mica, cooking breakfast! She feels like her old self and she and Sam go to their doctor to see what is goning on - There is no trace of cancer in Mary any more. Was it a great miracle? or is there something else? So goes this sweet story - The relationship this young man has with the Johnsons and others in the town is wondrous - But there are people in town who don't want anyone to know their secrets and somehow Eddy has the ability to see - This book makes me remember Richard Bach's Illusions, a fantastic book. It is that magical - don't get me wrong - it doesn't have the same ending but the flavor is there and it is a book of hope, love and miracles." - "ellen in atlanta" from the review at Amazon. "The Vagabond Healer is James Olson's fictional commentary on goodness and the angels that walk among us. Olson's work leads the reader to pause and think about how we might receive Christ and His healing miracles in today's cynical world of science...The author's ability to weave a good story keeps the reader moving quickly through the pages of this book. Solidly believable dialogue and warm, rich characters make the book a surprisingly easy read...Good people and bad, the reader will recognize the characters as people you meet every day. From the gentle grandfatherly fellow and his wife who once lived next door to your aunt to the wealthy entrepreneur soured by his loneliness and bitterness for humanity, the characters have a real world context...Unique, well written, and touching to read, this book leaves the reader deeply affected by its simple message of love, honesty, and service to others. The story's afterglow makes the reader want to let all around them see their true self. Sweetly told, this earnest story is masterfully presented and leaves a positive lasting impression on the reader." - Shannon Evans, My Writing Mentor, www.mywritingmentor.com "The Vagabond Healer is a thoughtful novel about a young vagabond with a unique spiritual gift - the power to cure sickness through his touch. Yet when he taps into his power, he gains a momentary glimpse of the depths of his subject's soul, including their deepest secrets and fears. When he meets Lisa Bennett, he discovers a reason to stop running, yet her father Ernest Bennett has received Eddy's healing and is aware that Eddy knows of the darkness in his past. To protect his secrets, Ernest decides to eliminate Eddy, and anyone else who may know. At times comtemplative of divine mystery, at times crushing in its exploration of human ruthlessness, The Vagabond Healer is an unforgettable read cover to cover." - Michael Dunford, the Midwest Book Review "The Vagabond Healer" by James R. Olson is one of the most touching books I've ever read. Mr. Olson is an extremely talented author. The plot is heartwarming and kept me on the edge of my seat. Olson manages to convey emotion in a way that few authors can. I was drawn into the plot and brought to tears on several occasions. Sam and Mary Johnson are the kind of people we all want to be. Sam has a few rough edges and came across as being very human. Eddy is a very vulnerable character. He displays selfless love and yet has a fear of having those he loves being hurt. Eddy could willingly sacrifice his life for others. Ernest is the perfect antagonist for this story. He is ruthless and arrogant; he's the worst of humanity. The cover is beautifully done with the profile of a young man where the air around him appears to have a mystery. I truly enjoyed this book and read it at one sitting; I literally could not put it down. I highly recommend this book to those that enjoy Christian fiction. Well done Mr. Olson." Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views. "If you haven't read The Vagabond Healer, you should! If you start reading in the evening, put on the coffee and get prepared to stay up until you have finished reading it. It's that good! I know, I stayed up most of the night reading Jim's book from cover to cover." Carol McCarty, Pittsburg, TX. "I just loved The Vagabond Healer. I've read every one of your novels, and although I've enjoyed them all, this is the best you've done yet. I couldn't put the book down until I'd finished it. The characters were so warm and human. I particularly liked Sam, who is so wise in a down to earth way. Keep up your wonderful writing." Josephine Kirchen, Manitowoc, WI |
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