Industrial News

On a voyage to India in 1999, John Shors, author of “Beneath a Marble Sky” (ISBN 0451218469), and wife visited the Taj Mahal. The experience of walking within its chambers, hearing voices echo in the same manner as they did hundreds of years ago, and touching the sculpted walls was overwhelming for Shors. “Seeing the wonder of the Taj Mahal, and understanding that a man built it for his wife—a woman he cherished above all else in life—was uniquely inspiring,” explains Shors. “Indian poets have been writing about this love story for centuries. And yet, not many people in the West know the tale.” Taken by the beauty of this remarkable story, Shors realized he had to tell it.

“Beneath a Marble Sky” draws the reader back to a time forgotten, introducing you vividly to the characters who make up the story behind the creation of the Taj Mahal. Richly authentic and poetically written, this extraordinary work of historical fiction is narrated by Jahanara, daughter of Emperor Shah Jahan. Jahanara recounts her parent’s love story, the tragic death of her mother, her father’s desire to honor Arjumand by creating the Taj Mahal, and her own passionate love affair with the its brilliant architect. Intertwined within the love stories is the saga of Jahanara’s two brothers, with each trying to gain control of the throne of India amidst a major civil war.

Capturing immediate interest from Hollywood, “Beneath a Marble Sky” is currently being made into a major motion picture. Inspired by Shors’s novel, Eriq LaSalle (Dr. Benton on “ER”) flew to India for three weeks, and bought the movie rights to “Beneath a Marble Sky” through his production company, Humble Journey Films. “I couldn’t be happier that we had so much interest from Hollywood,” says Shors. “Countless readers have told me that ‘Beneath a Marble Sky’ would make a great movie, and it’s further gratifying that filmmakers in Hollywood think the same thing.”

Shors graduated in 1991 from Colorado College, where he studied creative writing and received an English degree. Immediately pursuing his dream of living in Asia, Shors held an English teacher position in Kyoto, Japan for three years. He then went on to backpack across Asia, visiting ten countries over the course of the next few years. Upon returning to America, Shors became a newspaper reporter in his home state of Iowa. Within two years he won three statewide awards in journalism, including one for best investigative reporting. Relocating to Boulder, Colorado, Shors began a career as a public relations executive, working for clients ranging from Fortune 100 companies to local nonprofits. Shors still lives in Boulder, with his wife and two young children. “Beneath a Marble Sky” (ISBN 0451218469), his first novel, can be purchased at bookstores across the country. For more information, go to http://www.beneathamarblesky.com