Hill Holler

Published by Vanguard Press, The Compass (ISBN-10: 1593155425, ISBN-13: 9781593155421) by Tammy Kling and John Spencer Ellis is a soul stirring narrative of one man’s journey into the depths of self discovery. Following a terrible accident involving Johnathan’s wife and young daughter, he can no longer stand the life he finds himself living. Johnathan simply walks away from it all one day and travels amongst unfamiliar lands and people.

During his unplanned trek Johnathan encounters characters whose outward appearances reflect ordinariness, initially at least. The longer Johnathan spends with them however, the more he learns about how special they are. He also realizes how little time he’s spent paying attention to life’s mystical undercurrents and the connections we have with people that cross our paths, however briefly.

As his journey progresses and despite - or perhaps because of - his grief engulfing him periodically, Johnathan discovers more about life and himself than he could ever have dreamed of.


This slim volume of a life transformed, while unique and distinctive in its own way, is reminiscent of such books as The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield and Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach. Both of those are two of my personal favorites. (I hope the co-authors won’t mind me aligning them with such illustrious company. It’s a sincere compliment on my part.)

The Compass would fit snugly alongside those classics in any personal enlightenment fan’s bookshelf and not seem at all out of place. This book reminds us to stop and reflect awhile on why we live the lives we do and what our real true purpose is or if we even know it. To look with fresh eyes at those we encounter and to question more deeply ourselves and others rather than assume we have all the answers. To feel alive, dream our dreams and let go when the time is right of whatever holds us back.

Tammy Kling and John Spencer Ellis have brought remarkably complex ideas about universal wisdom to the printed page in a simple manner. The co-authors’ easy going style of storytelling raises questions I found myself mulling over for days. They have this talent of doing so with only a smattering of words, such as: What if you changed your expectations of your life?

That one alone kept my brain whirling!

There are many equally challenging questions and life lessons captured in this 224 page novel and yet no pomposity. Tammy and John guide you gently and share ideas and concepts via Johnathan’s journey without being pushy, overbearing or “in your face”, unlike some other personal development books.

The Compass leaves you with an unspoken whisper to make up your own mind on what you’ll take away from it rather than screaming in your ears with a bullhorn. And that’s as it should be.

Finding out who you are is always an adventure. I’ve believed for years that the routes to self discovery can be found everywhere - in people, in books, on the radio for example. You just need to be open to listening.

The Compass may well speak a new message to your intuitive side every time you read it. That’s a trait I’d found only in my well thumbed favorites by Mr Redfield and Mr Bach up until now. It was a nice surprise to add The Compass to that special group.

If you feel directionless and a little bit lost or simply want to feel uplifted about life’s possibilities again, this is one Compass to keep close at hand whether you’re halfway up a mountain or on your couch. Excellent! 5 stars.


Available at all good bookstores including Amazon.