Books with author Mr. Mark Paul Oleksiw

Mark Paul Oleksiw's debut novel explores the power of friendship and memories in a hauntingly touching coming-of-age story.WINNER OF 2018 RED RIBBON (The Wishing Shelf Book Awards) Feedback from readers:"‘A highly-charged, often gripping young adult mystery."- The Wishing Shelf Book Awards"THE BOYS WHO DANCED WITH THE MOON is a tender and poetic look at adolescent boyhood, and its currents will draw the reader along almost as powerfully as those of the river at its heart."- Indiereader.com“Why didn’t we ever dance if we had all this great music?”-Moony.The StoryCan you ever escape the past? Kiran Wells, a thirtysomething professional living on the West Coast, thought he was safe until an anonymous letter arrives from his hometown. Its only contents- an old newspaper clipping about a drowning twenty years earlier. Leaving career and friends behind, Kiran returns to the place of his youth to find the conjurer of his past.Kiran is a quiet and shy teenager with a taste for alternative music growing up in a suburban northern town during the mid-80's. The arrival of two students, the confident and rebellious Marius and the naive, cloak-wearing Moony, awaken Kiran. On the eve of graduation, fate turns the volume off in Kiran’s world and his memory fades to black.Returning to his hometown, Kiran is forced to confront the demons that haunt him. His future depends on whatever hope he has left and the life or death decision he must ultimately make. Will he hear the music again?

Mark Paul Oleksiw's debut novel explores the power of friendship and memories in a hauntingly touching coming-of-age story.WINNER OF 2018 RED RIBBON (The Wishing Shelf Book Awards) Feedback from readers:"‘A highly-charged, often gripping young adult mystery."- The Wishing Shelf Book Awards"THE BOYS WHO DANCED WITH THE MOON is a tender and poetic look at adolescent boyhood, and its currents will draw the reader along almost as powerfully as those of the river at its heart."- Indiereader.com“Why didn’t we ever dance if we had all this great music?”-Moony.The StoryCan you ever escape the past? Kiran Wells, a thirtysomething professional living on the West Coast, thought he was safe until an anonymous letter arrives from his hometown. Its only contents- an old newspaper clipping about a drowning twenty years earlier. Leaving career and friends behind, Kiran returns to the place of his youth to find the conjurer of his past.Kiran is a quiet and shy teenager with a taste for alternative music growing up in a suburban northern town during the mid-80's. The arrival of two students, the confident and rebellious Marius and the naive, cloak-wearing Moony, awaken Kiran. On the eve of graduation, fate turns the volume off in Kiran’s world and his memory fades to black.Returning to his hometown, Kiran is forced to confront the demons that haunt him. His future depends on whatever hope he has left and the life or death decision he must ultimately make. Will he hear the music again?

Adults feared the cave and declared it "off-limits". Young Billy believed his friend’s wild story and followed him inside. In Billy’s mind, a hero believes, and a friend has to follow. How much is Billy willing to believe, and how far would he follow? How much are YOU willing to believe and does the cave scare you too?Mark Paul Oleksiw's third novel, Time's Musicians, is a coming-of-age journey into the powers of one's mind. Billy learned at a young age that being "weird" was a badge of honor. Now the reclusive creator of a popular comic book, Billy reaches out to a retired psychologist as the events of the past begin to merge with the present in this unique psychological thriller. Enjoy Billy’s quest to find his song and end the silence once and for all. The cave awaits!The Reviews"Time's Musicians is a suspenseful musing on existence, relationships, truth, and purpose, offering a satisfying conclusion, along with plenty of profound questions that will persist long after reading the last page" –Self-Publishing Review ★★★★½ "A complex, well-written story of boys coming of age and the darkness they must face."– Wishing Shelf Book Review ★★★★★"Time's Musicians is a suspenseful novel whose characters search for redemption, hoping to solve long-standing mysteries." - Clarion Foreword Reviews ★★★The StoryTime's Musicians is a compelling story of the wonders of the mind, friendship, and the eternal search for belonging and truth.A retired psychologist, Carrie Woodson, receives an email from someone she evaluated years earlier, a college student, facing serious charges for his actions on campus. The student urgently requests her assistance. Carrie desires to once and for all solve the riddle that she considers a failure in her career.Her former "patient" was a brilliant university student who threw away his future over a "prank" on an eccentric genius engaged in a controversial new field of study. Years later, he is now a comic book creator with a cult following living in exile. Why does he seek Carrie's help now? Will Carrie finally untie all the knots and find the truth?Time's Musicians is the story of two boys, both foster children, who fatefully meet each other at a summer camp in their teens. Both share a need to search for truth and find a connection with the universe. They reconnect in university to be creative, imaginative and push their minds to the limit. Their friendship is deeper and more complex than anyone can imagine. Did it cause one to turn on the other and descend into jealousy or worse, insanity? Or is there more at stake than even Carrie could imagine?You will enjoy this coming of age journey which explores the bond of friendship and the human spirit.

Lukas Wunand appears to be a drunk, miserable university student. He seems to be descending into madness. Whatever could have caused it? Must about a girl, a special girl! A girl is only part of Lukas’ story and not the only demon haunting him.This uniquely powerful and thought-provoking coming-of-age novel will steal your heart. You won't forget this timeless story of the young idealist and immigrant Hindi girl who captures his soul.More than just a love story or romance, the second novel by Mark Paul Oleksiw is the emotional, thrilling, and inspirational story of a young man struggling to overcome his inner demons and find redemption.From the readers/reviewers:"MUNCHING ON THE SUN encapsulates what it is like to have big questions about life while you're falling in love and growing up." Clarion Foreword Reviews."In MUNCHING ON THE SUN, Mark Paul Oleksiw crafts a coming-of-age story of love and redemption that traces a childhood romance into the present day,"- BlueInk Review."It is said a life without hope is a fate worse than death. Author Mark Paul Oleksiw takes a colorful cast on a six Act journey towards reclaiming the beauty of life in the unusual novel, MUNCHING ON THE SUN."- Indiereader.com."It is without a doubt one of the most sophisticated young adult novels that I've read, dealing with some serious topics. The author never put a foot wrong and I can't recommend this book enough."- Netgalley reviewer.The StoryLukas Wunand is a popular, idealistic, and rebellious student at a prestigious university. Something, though, is not right. Behind his dark eyes is a soul haunted by the lost love of his teen years. One morning, he believes to have seen her, Kara, on campus. Or has he?Obsessed with his memories of Kara and unable to find her, the secrets of his past percolate to the surface. Lukas' behavior becomes both erratic and anarchic during a time of unsolved assaults against women at the school. Can Lukas' friends save him, or will his search for love and forgiveness destroy him?As the story of Lukas' childhood and teen years is told, we learn of the profound influence of his friendship with the young immigrant girl and how it blossomed into a love for the ages but also set the stage for the drama in the present.Munching on the Sun is a unique fast-paced, a coming-of-age love story told with heart and charm. Join Lukas in his quest to reclaim the beauty of life, the innocence of youth, and rediscover the wonders of that one love capable of illuminating a soul.You will never forget Lukas Wunand and the colorful cast of characters who weave their way into his life."When tongues are burnt of the taste of the sun, only the soul can speak without a voice. Nothing is louder or more melodic." - Kara

The second novel from Mark Paul Oleksiw is the emotional, thrilling and inspirational story of a young man struggling to overcome his inner demons and find redemption on the campus of a prestigious university.A lost love returns to haunt the troubled soul of a popular student. This thrilling, beautiful, and thought-provoking coming-of-age novel will steal your heart. You won't soon forget this timeless story of the young idealist and immigrant Hindi girl who captures his soul.From the readers/reviewers:"Munching on the Sun encapsulates what it is like to have big questions about life while you’re falling in love and growing up." Clarion Foreward Reviews."In Munching on the Sun, Mark Paul Oleksiw crafts a coming-of-age story of love and redemption that traces a childhood romance into the present day,"- BlueInk Review."It is said a life without hope is a fate worse than death. Author Mark Paul Oleksiw takes a colorful cast on a six Act journey towards reclaiming the beauty of life in the unusual novel, MUNCHING ON THE SUN."- Indiereader.com."It is without a doubt one of the most sophisticated young adult novels that I’ve read, dealing with some serious topics. The author never put a foot wrong and I can’t recommend this book enough."- Netgalley reviewer.The StoryLukas Wunand is a popular, idealistic, and rebellious student at a prestigious university. Something, though, is not right. Behind his dark eyes is a soul haunted by the lost love of his teen years. One morning, he believes to have seen her, Kara, on campus. Or has he?Obsessed with his memories of Kara and unable to find her, the secrets of his past percolate to the surface. Lukas’ behavior becomes both erratic and anarchic during a time of unsolved assaults against women at the school. Can Lukas’ friends save him or will his search for love and forgiveness destroy him?As the story of Lukas' childhood and teen years is told, we learn of the profound influence of his friendship with the young immigrant girl and how it blossomed into a love for the ages but, also set the stage for the drama in the present.Munching on the Sun is a unique fast-paced, a coming-of-age love story told with heart and charm. Join Lukas in his quest to reclaim the beauty of life, the innocence of youth and rediscover the wonders of that one love capable of illuminating a soul.You will never forget Lukas Wunand and the colorful cast of characters who weave their way into his life."When tongues are burnt of the taste of the sun, only the soul can speak without a voice."

Mark Paul OIeksiw's third novel, Time's Musicians, is both a psychological thriller and a moving tale of a young man's quest to find his truths and face the demons and mysteries of his youth. A thought-provoking read for young adults and seekers of all ages.The Reviews “A complex, well-written story of boys coming of age and the darkness they must face." - Wishing Shelf Book Review (Awarded 5 Starts)"A bizarre, mind-bending story unfurls on the pages of Time’s Musicians by Mark Paul Oleksiw, an author with an imagination only matched by his delicate and authentic style. In this decade-spanning novel, the idea of connections across time and space mix with our boundaries of mental health, love, and reality itself." - The Independent Review of BooksThe StoryAs a child, Billy believed in black holes and time travel. Now, in his thirties, Billy is the reclusive creator of a popular comic book. On the eve of its final edition, Billy’s behavior grows erratic as he mysteriously requests assistance from the retired psychologist who evaluated him ten years earlier, Dr. Carrie Woodson.Time’s Musicians is the third novel by Mark Paul Oleksiw. It is the story of two eccentric outsiders, Billy and John, who meet at summer camp. Both brilliant, they reunite as college roommates seeking answers to life’s great questions. A “prank”by Billy changes their relationship and future forever. Carrie’s quest for the truth leads her to realize the boys’ friendship was more complicated than anyone imagined. What would cause Billy to turn on John, pure jealousy or worse, insanity? Will Carrie finally solve the puzzle before it’s too late?Time’s Musicians is a suspenseful, coming-of-age story exploring the eternal search for light within the darkness of the human condition. In between moments of silence, there is a song awaiting musicians to play it.