The Mountains Shall Depart

Luke grows up on his family farm in the mid-1940s, mesmerized but confused by the grown-up world around him where work ethic determines one's success and mandatory Sunday worship services puts the fear of God into everyone. When the unexpected occurs and Luke realizes there’s nothing he could have done to prevent it, he leaves his childhood behind and sets off on a spiritual journey to discover his place in the world.

Luke grows up on his family farm in the mid-1940s, mesmerized but confused by the grown-up world around him where work ethic determines one's success and mandatory Sunday worship services puts the fear of God into everyone. When the unexpected occurs and Luke realizes there’s nothing he could have done to prevent it, he leaves his childhood behind and sets off on a spiritual journey to discover his place in the world. With the help of an Alaskan shaman, Luke sheds the tragedy of his childhood and becomes a man eager to face his destiny. In the end is Luke’s beginning.

Robert E. Holzhei is the author of 425 published outdoor travel stories and two self-published books: Canadian Fly-In Fishing Adventure and Alaskan Spirit Journey. He is the recipient of five national writing awards from the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers, including 1st Place in the Best of Best Newspaper Story and six 3rd-place awards (including three presidential awards). He has also been recognized by the Michigan Education Association, the Michigan Outdoor Writers Association and the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association. Holzhei has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Michigan State University in English Literature with an emphasis in writing and minor in psychology. He also has a Master of Arts degree in secondary education from Michigan State University, as well as having completed post-graduate classes at law school. Writing developed into a life-long pursuit as he attended Delta Junior College in Michigan, later transferring to M.S.U. As a secondary teacher at St. Johns High School in Michigan, Holzhei taught English and advised the school newspaper which received awards from the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association. He was also instrumental bringing the press association to M.S.U. and starting a summer workshop for high school students, which continues to draw young journalists from Michigan and also across the U.S. Holzhei continues to travel across the United States from the Florida Keys to Northern Ontario, Canada, to gather material for his stories. He was one of twelve writers selected from the United States to participate in a writer's event sponsored by the Gulf Shores, Alabama Convention & Visitor's Bureau and the Beenders-Walker Group, that represents a variety of C.V.B's across the U.S.