Pilgrimage

Daniel O'Brien, with a degree in Advanced Japanese studies, writes novels infused with Japanese cultural points that incorporate both history and mystery. He lives in Minnesota and is grateful for how well Japanese Ghost in America has been received, including his college friend who bought it thinking she would not like it and had to admit that she did like the book. Daniel teaches Eastern Studies and Humane Letters at Eagle Ridge Academy High School in Minnetonka, Minnesota.
Pilgrimage features Jimmy Swenson of Japanese Ghost in America. Jimmy, a high school teacher in Minnesota, is sideswiped by the emotional void left from Saori the Ghost's return to Heian Japan. He has been bitten by the self-development bug. As one who meditates, Jimmy has insight into what his personal issues are. However, he goes on a pilgrimage in Japan to figure out his purpose in life. Along the way, friendships are formed in surprising ways. How can trouble, incited by a secretive group, be lurking along the famous pilgrimage route in Shikoku, Japan? Can Jimmy manifest the Buddhist idea of compassion to save himself and his new friends while discovering his purpose in life?
Not your ordinary story of a famous hiking route in Japan! There's mystery, action, and an ongoing pursuit of spiritual ideals. Readers of all ages can learn about Japan while trekking through forests in danger of Shogun-style samurai capture. The author and I have sat on meditation cushions side by side and hiked the trails that set the background in the book. I never could have imagined what emerged from those experiences!
~Richard Sadowsky, Japanese-English translator
I am so excited to read Daniel O'Brien's sequel to Japanese Ghost in America, Pilgrimage, and continue Jimmy's fascinating journey.
~Mary Johnson, High School Counselor and avid Daniel O'Brien fan
Beyond being a fun adventure, Pilgrimage is, at its core, a moving tribute to the beauty of Japan and the transformative power of compassion.
~High School Literature and History Teacher who read Japanese Ghost in America