Fiction
Afterlife Crisis and soundtrack
Steve Mayfield
Synergy Books
2008
ISBN-13: 978-1-934454-24-4
Soft cover
150 pages
http://www.afterlifecrisis.com/
On January 19, 2004, Frank Moon dies from a heart attack. Shortly after his death, Frank finds himself in a world he thinks is heaven. In Afterlife Crisis, author Steve Mayfield spins a fictional tale around a character dealing with timely issues. What Frank learns is that, no matter what trials a person endures, every human being has something special to give, even if it is as simple as his own warmth.
Before his death, Frank, a fifty-something entrepreneur, is struggling to keep his family afloat following his downsizing after over twenty years of service in an managerial position. He spends a short time in the Resting Place, the mistaken heaven. In this place there is love, support, positive vibes, good music (think the Temptations and the Fifth Dimension) and great conversation: "Eventually, the discussions began centering around warmth-not the temperature but the human state."
It is in the Resting Place that Frank learns the significance of human warmth. Luna, a visionary, takes Frank into the Warm Room and reveals his warmth rating. After reviewing scenes of his life that corresponded to the four components of warmth (compassion, tolerance, risk, and knowledge), Frank is given a warmth rating of 8.618, which is quite high. As a result, he is asked to return to earth: "We need your warmth to help some people out of a jam..." When he returns, the author recounts Frank's trauma from being downsized and his decision to purchase a tutoring franchise. It is in a school where he offers regular services that Frank uses his warmth to save lives.
Afterlife Crisis comes with a seven song soundtrack that closely follows the events in the book. Mayfield and his band, The Houndz, perform all of the songs. Mayfield's sound is smooth and puts one in the mind of James Taylor. And the band... well, the band is hot. My favorite cut on the CD is the upbeat "Downsizing Blues" because of the fierce guitar and horn solos, and the lyrics, which capture Frank's plight: "I got a double mortgage, many bills I got to pay. My two lovely daughters got a brother on the way." In the medium tempo cut, "The Far Side," The Houndz sing about finding passion, much like the passion Frank discovers when he purchases his business: "Find yourself a dream, then hang on for the ride of your life to the far side." The lyrics for all seven songs are included in the back of the book.
This a short tale with a powerful message about humanity and how people can overcome problems while also giving of themselves. Mayfield's book shows that we all have something to offer, even when we believe we have nothing left.
Afterlife Crisis is a wonderful, enlightening story set to an easy, soul-stirring beat.
Melissa Levine
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