The Midori (Paperback or Softback)

In the heart of the struggling Rio Grande bosque, the river-once a vibrant force connecting cottonwood roots, animal life, and humans-has been silenced by misuse and environmental neglect. In a final act of grief and hope, the river births the Midori, ten water spirits charged with restoring lost connections and healing the fractured web of life. Among them is Richard, a contemplative soul who senses a greater purpose beyond the Midori's comfortable rhythms in their adobe sanctuary of Anahuac.

Richard heeds the river's call and seeks out Charlie Roebuck, a grieving, isolated teenager in coastal Connecticut. Charlie's life is haunted by a family tragedy and constrained by forces he struggles to escape. When Richard appears to him on a quiet fishing dock, Charlie embarks on a journey that begins with escape-and becomes a lifelong transformation for both him and Richard, his mentor.

Told with lyrical depth and quiet urgency, The Midori is a contemporary myth exploring grief, environmental loss, transformation, and the power of radical empathy. It is a tale for readers who believe in the unseen connections between nature and humanity, the quest for clearing the invasive species in our minds, and the enduring light of a soul that listens deeply to the orchestra of spirits just beyond the portal of our senses.

Dr. Katzman is currently an Emeritus Professor at the University of New Mexico and Adjunct Professor at Yale. He is the Director of Education at Silver Hill Hospital, providing educational resources for clinicians across the globe and teaching trainees across mental health disciplines. He has received important teaching awards, and his work in attachment and psychodynamic psychotherapy has been published in multiple peer-reviewed journals. Jeff also has longstanding interests in the applications of improvisational theater, working with clinicians to develop the capacity for collaboration and spontaneity. He directs programs in resilience for clinicians to prevent burnout and also works with clients in a private practice. He has studied multiple spiritual paths, most recently focused on the ideas of Kabbalah, some of which guided the creation of this novel.In addition to his scholarly work, Jeff has also published three books. His love for improvisation is captured in his books Life Unscripted and Ensemble! His 2012 novel, The Storymaker, was a semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel competition featuring 10,000 entries. He currently lives with his wife in New Rochelle, New York near their three adult children after living in New Mexico for thirty years.