Val Tobin’s Current Projects: Non-Fiction and Fiction

Changed for Life: The After-Effects of Near-Death Experience

One of my current projects started as research on the after-effects of near-death experience (NDE) for my Master of Parapsychology degree (you can read about that in Val’s bio). Changed for Life explores what happens to those who’ve had a near-death experience after they return to life. As one might expect, their lives are altered. Not only have they been given a second chance at continuing their physical existence, but they are impacted at every other level as well: emotional, mental, and spiritual.

Many experiencers return from the event forever changed, and the effects aren’t limited to those who’ve had the experience. Friends, loved ones, and anyone hearing the stories experiencers tell can be affected as if they’ve had the experience themselves.

Positive Results When Event Processed in Healthy Way

Whatever the truth about the experience itself might be, there is no denying that changes occur on multiple levels. The results are positive if the experiencer is able to process the event in a healthy way. However, some experiencers have difficulty integrating the changes into their lives, which can adversely affect relationships.

Researchers, such as Dr. Raymond Moody, Dr. Kenneth Ring, and P. M. H. Atwater, have found that subjects experience a host of similar after-effects from an NDE regardless of how the NDE was induced. As well, non-experiencers can benefit from the NDE phenomenon if, according to Ring, they are exposed to NDE research and stories, or if they consciously work to emulate NDEr beliefs and values. Dr. Raymond Moody has found similar effects on non-experiencers through the process of mirror-gazing.

Death No Longer Feared and a Shift in Values

The loss of a fear of death is one of the most common changes, as is a refocusing of values. Where previously a person might have been materialistic and driven by a pursuit of wealth and status, after the experience he or she would be more focused on love and spirituality.

Moody reports in his book The Light Beyond that people change after such an experience, not because a being ordered them to, but “because they are in the presence of the standard of goodness, which makes them want to change their behavior radically” (39). This distinction is important because it illustrates that the alterations to behavior are internally driven. Experiencers act differently because they believe differently and not because they think they’ve been given some kind of Divine directive.

Stay tuned here for updates on this important non-fiction release.

Coming soon.

Val Tobin’s Current Project: A Novel that continues an Urban Fantasy Series

An avid oracle card reader, I also played around with tarot cards. While I’ve always preferred the positive messages and the focus on solutions that oracle cards exhibit, I was fascinated by the symbolism found in the regular tarot cards. I first considered writing stories based on the major arcana cards way back when I was eighteen. I even started a few stories, but I never finished them.

The idea for Tales From the Unmasqued World came about after I bought a new tarot deck to add to my collection. This deck is Ellen Dugan’s Witches Tarot, and the cards have the most gorgeous illustrations I’ve seen in years. When I do readings with them, they are more accurate and relevant than readings I’ve done with any other deck, including the angel tarot decks I have that echo the positive slant found in oracle cards.

Every time I used the cards in the Witches Tarot, I wondered what stories might be behind the pictures. I contemplated ideas for stories based on the illustrations and symbolism of the major arcana cards in the deck. The first major arcana card I’m working with is “The Fool.”

The story revolves around a recently divorced woman going through a midlife crisis who gets drawn into a search for a missing half-vampire girl. It’s set in a future world where magickals have come out of the closet to mix with humans after a pandemic and a species war decimated the human population. This draws on the unmasqued world trope, hence the name for the series.

I’ve completed three novels and am in the process of planning book four. This new story follows Dakota Lawson, Philip’s dhampir daughter. Her life appears perfect until Josh shows up again to disrupt it. This time, he’s determined to leave with her, but his actions jeopardize their lives and the lives of those around them.

Val’s Latest Release

Once again venturing into urban fantasy territory, The High Priestess: Persephone’s Return incorporates the guidance from the major arcana tarot card “The High Priestess” into the story. The first book, based on “The Fool,” is called The Fool: New Beginnings. Book two is The Magician: Infinity’s End.

This third entry into the Tales From the Unmasqued World series of novels revolves around mage Jaycie Nevil. Jaycie has found herself trapped in Hades, and as if that isn’t bad enough, someone wants to keep her there. Always questioning her own abilities, Jaycie must learn what she’s really capable of or remain trapped in the underworld forever.

The cover design, as always, is by Patti Roberts of Paradox Book Covers and Design. It captures the essence of the budding story perfectly.

You can purchase the book from Amazon. Currently, the ebook is also available for borrow from Kindle Unlimited.

Another Romantic Suspense Story in the Works

For NaNoWriMo 2022, I returned to the Injury story world. I’ve always wondered how things fared with Elizabeth Logan. She’s Dani’s best friend and struggled to make it in Hollywood, competing against Dani in numerous auditions. In fact, the pair met and became friends at an audition neither of them won.

In this new story, Dani and Liz are still best friends, and while Dani has put her career on hold, Liz’s is just taking off. She attends acting classes and continues to audition for parts. Finally, her hard work is paying off. Liz wins the coveted lead role in the new Injury series, which is based on the two movies that starred Dani.

While most fans are willing to accept that Dani isn’t reprising the role that made her famous, some find the casting choice of Liz Logan to be an affront. One fan has decided to do something about it, and threats to Liz’s life and career escalate.  To make matters worse, she’s fallen for her handsome and charming costar who has a reputation for loving and leaving his previous leading ladies.

Will risking her heart cost Liz her career and even her life?

Watch for new release Insult to Injury, coming in winter 2023.

Val Tobin’s Current Projects: Talks, Book Signings, and Events

Val will give more talks, attend more book signings, and participate in more events as soon as this freakin’ pandemic ends. To keep updated on where you can find Val and her books, check the “Meet Val” page regularly or subscribe to her newsletter (use the form on the right) or blog.