Wherever You Go, There You Are

It’s pure magic! It’s Harry Potter for adults!” is how one of our favorite booksellers described John Hampel’s magical and transcendent debut novel, Wherever You Go, There You Are.

Another pegs it as “Wonderfully entertaining . . . Impossible to describe.”

Well, it’s not exactly easy to describe . . . but then there is so much here! This is a book that takes readers on a magical journey from the west coast to the Midwest, and back again. With loads of fun, magic and mystery every step of the way!

This is the outrageous and tremendously funny tale of snooty Basil Lexington, bumbling private eye and former child television star, finally meeting his match: the beautiful and sexy Synandra Wasson, herbalist, nature girl, and indefatigable keeper of Mystery Rock Hill – from which she derives, well, unusual powers.

Where else can one meet the president-to-be of the United States on a suspiciously smoking hilltop in California, witness the resurrection of James Dean, and grab a ringside seat for the clash between the ultimate mechanics of science and the sacred, (supposedly) passive, exploited earth? It’s all here in this very strange and wonderful tale of the great Midwest!

Check out some great reviews:

“In his freewheeling debut novel, Hampel dexterously weaves seemingly unrelated strands into a plot that combines mystery, science fiction, and fantasy. Hampel ably blends metaphysics with magic in a highly enjoyable and fast-paced book.” — Publisher’s Weekly

“There is no question about recommending ‘Wherever You Go, There You Are. Rarely does a book come along that has such energy and originality , that can be about complex issues within a complex literary framework and still be funny and endearing . . . For accomplishing so much so well this could be a cult classic.” — South Bend (Indiana) Tribune

“. . . The book questions where we all sit in the grand scheme of things while remaining enormously funny, mysterious, and ultimately a work of natural wonder and beauty . . . it is a gem. Besides wonderfully animated, genuine characters and fascinating-to-the-point-of-mindbending storylines, Hampel’s prose is poetic satisfaction. . .” — UWM Post

“A wonderful novel full of the humor and poetry of real life, it is also a mesmerizing tale of mystery and magic. . . . a marvelous story told with wit, humor, and a great deal of talent.” — Milwaukee Journal

“This is a snappy piece of New Age science fiction, the kind that combines technology with the powers of the mind. Here are Earth’s energies melded with the romance of a midsummer’s night deep in the country.” — ALA Booklist