Novel guides readers on a spiritual quest to December 21, 2012

2012 marks the end of the world - at least that's what the ancient Mayans believed. With over 173 million hits on Google for 2012, mounting interest in this prophecy has become a cultural phenomenon. In his new novel, The Twelve, William Gladstone, an expert on the implications and impact of 2012 and ancient religions, draws on his own life experiences to create the dramatic story of Max Doff -- and his whirlwind journey from birth to December 21, 2012.

In The Twelve, William Gladstone builds a world of hope -- creating a story that predicts a positive world change instead of a Hollywood-inspired cataclysmic end. A successful businessman educated at Harvard and Yale, Gladstone uses himself as the model for Max.

As a child, Max lives in a world of colors and numbers, not speaking until the age of six. Woven throughout the story of Max's life is his attempt to understand an extraordinary near death experience that occurred when he was fifteen years old.

While out of body, Max is presented with twelve unique names but is unable to remember all but one upon returning to life. While Max cannot discern the significance of the twelve names, he is unable to shake the sense that they have deep meaning. All of The Twelve seem connected, and all seem important to what will happen at the exact moment the world, as we know it, may end.

As he grows up, matriculates at Yale and Harvard, he has the good fortune in working right away for Rod Serling's television special In Search of Ancient Mysteries. The production sends Max traveling around the globe to Jerusalem, Athens, London, India, Istanbul, China, Japan, Peru and Mexico having his own series of life-changing mysterious experiences.

In the telling of the story, as Max Doff's insights and experiences allow us to better comprehend the human condition, The Twelve reveals the core principals upon which each reader can rely on in their personal journeys. The story within the pages of The Twelve is just the beginning of what the reader will likely experience. On a much deeper level, The Twelve is also a practical and spiritual 2012 guide. The climax of the novel is synchronized with many of the scientific and spiritual predictions that were related to the meaning and purpose of the year 2012 - which has been prophesized as the end of time or the transformation of consciousness on planet earth.

Whether reading for the fun and excitement of the unconventional life and character of Max Doff and his unexpected triumphs and failures, or at the deeper level of searching for the higher purpose, The Twelve is a novel to be experienced and enjoyed. For those able to transport themselves into the world of Max Doff, The Twelve is a thriller and an encoded book of unexpected wisdom... a reading experience that cannot be easily forgotten.