Testimonials
"The evolution and inspired manifestation of the creative mind and soul as told within a 70s backdrop! A book to be enjoyed by any and all who appreciate the arts."
-Amazon review by Kathleen F. Sobolewski
"Divine language - music through prose."
-Amazon review
"What an unusual and delightful book. A surprise, a treat; something that removed me from my Hackensack of an existence, landing me gently, squarely into Mark’s frenetic, passionate, magical world.
This story impels us into the pursuit and glorification of our own imagination, yet as we read, we – unwittingly or not - tumble into the lush and abundant imaginations of the authors.
The Backstage Man is beautifully written. May it come front and center stage to many readers."
-Amazon review
"Great book! I would encourage anyone who has ever had a spark of creativity inside of them to read it!”
-Barry Silverman, Branding Consultant
"I believe this is the only book I’ve ever read that actually describes music in words (or pictures painted with words). Music is rarely the hero of a story though it is a driving force for many of us!”
-Susan Roher, Advertising Creative Director
"Both of my sons were, separately, 'backstaged' by Ed Shankman many years ago, during the years following the first draft of this book of wonder. I can vouch for the truth in the notion that each person is a place where energy passes through, and by consciously being still, we have an opportunity to be a conduit to great creation. The story of my sons is for another time.
But now, reading the fully realized Backstage Man, I can see the hands and minds of both authors, who, while I know how much work they put into this over the years, backstaged each other to let it happen. A narrative more mythic than literal moves the story forward with this idea of creative recognition as the central idea. A setting that at first appears dated in the 70s is an apt doorway into a universe where true inspiration occurs at the cellular level of consciousness. It is, simply, IS. I close my eyes and see Ed as Tarzanna describes Marcus: '...you typically raise your finger in the air like Thomas Jefferson...' Marcus is doing this when he loudly proclaims: '...art is an opening of the heart so that the energy in all things can move through us. ... The artist opens the valve to allow the energy in. ... He resists the temptation to interfere, because once the energy has entered, the project is out of the artist's hands.'
The book seems to drift along, while it is actually driving the characters toward the light with subtle humor, deep thinking, fearful revelations, and ecstasy achieved in every art. Get this book. See it. Feel it. Let it happen."
-Facebook review by Cheryl Gaston