The enduring power of story—and how to read in a way that honors your unique pace, presence, and soulful receptivity to the books you engage with...
Dear kindred reader,
In an age of nonstop information and relentless productivity, the act of sitting down with a novel—yes, a fictional one—can feel almost radical. But it’s also essential. Story is how we metabolize mystery, how we make meaning from chaos, and how we remember what it means to be human.
If you’ve ever felt guilty for reading fiction, know this: the science is on your side.
What the Research Says
Studies have shown that reading literary fiction enhances empathy, theory of mind, and emotional intelligence. A 2013 study published in Science demonstrated that participants who read literary fiction scored higher on tests measuring social perception and emotional awareness than those who read nonfiction or popular fiction.
Fiction activates the default mode network of the brain—the same network engaged during introspection, memory, and imagination. It helps us practice being other people, live through other timelines, and encounter our own emotions in the safe mirror of story.
Books That Have Moved Us—Old & New
Think of the novels that shaped our culture and opened our hearts:
- Contact by Carl Sagan — a haunting exploration of a journey that probes human perception, spirituality, and the possibility of ancient extraterrestrial influence on humanity
- Anathem by Neal Stephenson — this story ties ancient intellectual traditions to a crisis involving parallel realities
- The Overstory by Richard Powers — where trees become characters and time stretches its wings
- The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield — an adventure into dimensions and reality
- The Midnight Library by Matt Haig — a modern favorite that explores regret, possibility, and parallel lives
And we welcome new voices to the fold—novels that weave together science, spirit, and the unknown. Stories that speak to this liminal moment we’re living through.
Traversing the Wild Unknown — A Hybrid Experience
When I wrote my recent novel Traversing the Wild Unknown, I knew it couldn’t be just a book. It needed to be a journey—layered with meaning, full of unexpected inner growth that follows accepting a daunting challenge, and definitely the book had to explore multidimensionality.
That’s why I’m offering a hybrid reading experience:
Read the paperback or Kindle edition at your own rhythm, www.leekemter.com or order the book from your local bookstore.
Then, every few chapters, pause and 🎧 listen—to immersive chapters on audio, read aloud by me, the author.
This back-and-forth rhythm is powerful. This will:
- Deepen connection to the emotional arc of the story
- Give your eyes a rest while your heart still listens
- Break up the reading experience without disrupting it
- Offer intimacy—hearing the voice that wrote the story speak it aloud
- Honor the different ways we process meaning (auditory + visual + emotional)
Whether you read by candlelight in your paperback, dive in via Kindle or Kobo, or with headphones on a quiet walk—you can move through the book in a way that honors your life and your tempo.
Why This Matters
Fiction opens space for imagination and deep reflection. It invites us to remember, reimagine, and reconnect with the multidimensionality of ourselves. In a world that feels increasingly fractured, that’s no small thing.
So if your soul is hungry for beauty, if your mind craves depth, if your heart wants to be stirred—come journey with me.
Read, listen, and by all means, enjoy traversing the wild unknown.
To the best reading adventures ever,
Traversing the Wild Unknown — A Hybrid Reading/Audio Experience
Share the experience with friends. Make it an adventure among fellow explorers of our world and of our shared evolution in extraordinary times.