To Be a Rose by E. B. Mason (Anne Bowen) has received acclaim from Hailey Koth of the US Review of Books. Koth highlighted that “Mason masterfully blends memories, philosophical musings, and visions to create a dreamlike memoir, where it can be difficult at times to parse out fact from fiction.”
Edmund works as an Air Force consultant to the Afghanistan Ministry of Defense. Soon after his arrival, he becomes progressively short of breath and is whisked away to the field hospital outside of Kabul. Ultimately diagnosed with life-threatening cryptogenic organizing pneumonia, medics rush to stabilize him as his mind drifts through the past: his childhood in Germany, meeting his wife Anne, living abroad before moving back to the States, and then arriving and melding into the diverse and quirky team in Afghanistan. At each step of the way, the scent or sight of roses in bloom is tucked into the background of his reminiscences. As his condition continues to deteriorate and he is airlifted to yet another facility, he passes into a weeks-long dream state, where he meets angels, devils, and everyone in between as he makes the journey home.
Author Edmund B. Mason earned his B.F.A. from the University of Louisiana and his master’s degree from Central Michigan University. He served as a Logistics and Engineering Officer in the United States Air Force, working extensively in Turkey, North Africa, and Italy. After his military career, he worked for a defense contractor. Following his illness, he retired, tended to his rose garden, and wrote from his home in Maryland. Mr. Mason passed away in 2011. To Be a Rose is his first published book. His wife, Anne Bowen, continues to honor his legacy and remembers his talent for weaving poetic prose with intricate storytelling—making each novel an immersive, thought-provoking experience. To Be a Rose is a testament to Mason’s gift for creating emotionally rich stories that leave a lasting impression.
This literary masterpiece was featured in the February 2025 issue of The New York Times Book Review (NYTBR) magazine. The book was also showcased at the London Book Fair (LBF) at Olympia London from March 11–13, 2025. Later that same month, it was featured at the 62nd edition of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair (BCBF) in Bologna, Italy, from March 31 to April 3, 2025.
Anne Bowen, the author’s wife, was recently featured in the Author Spotlight of ARPress. For deeper insights into the memoir and its themes, you can watch her interview here:
The US Review of Books (USRB) recommends To Be a Rose by E. B. Mason (Anne Bowen). Here’s the review from the USRB that highlights:
“Set in 2005, Mason’s raw, heartfelt, and honest memoir recounts his brush with death, leading to weeks spent in a coma, and the lessons he learned during his travel to the afterlife and back. Poignant, thoughtful, and at times irreverently hilarious, this is an incredible story of one man’s journey from the brink of death back to life. Mason masterfully blends memories, philosophical musings, and visions to create a dreamlike memoir, where it can be difficult at times to parse out fact from fiction. Some aspects of his story are not for the faint of heart, as it includes talk of rape and the casualties of war. However, although tackling heavy issues and deep philosophical questions, the author also sprinkles his work with humor and apropos remarks such as, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme.” With a sharp yet compassionate voice, Mason delivers a tale that deftly challenges and inspires.”