About Jason Cole:
A Delaware teenager. A deranged mass murderer. A controversial pop star.

Three people from vastly different walks of life, yet they all share one thing in common: They all smoked Salvia divinorum, the world’s most powerful naturally-occurring hallucinogenic drug.

Used for hundreds of years by Mazatec shamans, salvia has in recent years transformed from a sacred divination tool into a YouTube spectacle and party drug, used by both Tucson shooter Jared Loughner and pop-star provocateur Miley Cyrus.

But what really goes on behind the scenes of a salvia trip? Is it a fleeting hallucination, or something more? After experiencing a salvia trip that revealed profound and terrifying revelations about the nature of reality, Jason Cole was hungry for answers. Is reality an illusion? Is consciousness? Is there another world hiding behind the façade of our everyday existence—and if so, is it heaven . . . or hell?

Part memoir, part investigation, Summer of Salvia sheds light on a little-known yet remarkably powerful drug harboring truths about the nature of existence that are at once enlightening and frightening. Though people from all walks of life have tried salvia, they all have one thing in common: After exposing themselves to the true nature of reality, their lives are never the same.

What inspires you to write?
The main inspiration for my book "Summer of Salvia" is the drug Salvia divinorum. About 7 or 8 years ago, I smoked salvia, the world's most powerful naturally-occurring hallucinogen. It rocked my world, and made me question everything I knew. How could I NOT write a book about it?

Tell us about your writing process.
The first half of my book, "Summer of Salvia," is mainly autobiographical so it was very easy to simply recall it from memory. The second half took more effort. I had to research the history, modern use and philosophical implications of Salvia divinorum.

What advice would you give other writers?
Never stop writing — even if you're having bad writer's block, write something else until inspiration strikes.

How did you decide how to publish your books?
I had considered pursuing traditional publishing, but in the end, I liked the degree of control self-publishing afforded.

What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I definitely think more and more authors will gravitate toward self-publishing.

What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer

What genres do you write?: Nonfiction

What formats are your books in?: eBook, Print, Both eBook and Print

Website(s)
Jason Cole Home Page Link

Your Social Media Links
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.