• Age: 12 to 18
• Grade: 7 to 12

The shadow of Lukas Wunand’s darkened soul haunts the Faculty of Business at prestigious St. Peter’s University. Lukas is both an icon and enigma to his fellow students. One morning, Lukas sees a girl from his early teens, Kara. Or does he? Long buried emotions begin to rise. On a campus unnerved by a string of unsolved assaults against women, Lukas’ behavior grows more anarchic and worrisome to friends as graduation approaches. What hold does the mere memory of Kara have on Lukas? The story of Lukas Wunand does not begin nor end with his climatic, drunken and bloodied one-man performance on a theatre stage in the wee hours of the morning. It begins with the hauntingly beautiful story of a young Lukas and the Hindi girl who one day shone a light into his soul. Can Lukas’ friends put the pieces together and save Lucas before it is too late or is Lukas doomed? Munching on the Sun is more than a story of an idealist trying to survive. Lukas’ tale of redemption, forgiveness, and love will steal your soul.

Mark Paul Oleksiw's profile page

Mark Paul Oleksiw discovered the art of putting words together to propel the reader on a journey when he wrote his first composition in grade school. Many moons, experiences and zany characters later, his debut novel, the coming of age tale of a 1980’s music-loving teen, The Boys Who Danced With Moon, represents part of his voyage.

Mark's second novel, the coming-of-age journey of Lukas Wunand, Munching on the Sun, is earning rave reviews and will be launched for all to enjoy on September 6th, 2018. Look for it and take a literary journey that will win your heart and steal your soul.

Born in the Montreal suburbs in the late 1960’s, Mark survived cold winters and the business world. In between, he graduated from McGill University, where he was co-editor of his faculty’s satirical and sometimes politically incorrect monthly magazine. Mark grew up a fan of guitar-driven music, great lyrics and was grunge before grunge, at least in his mind.

Mark now lives in the western part of his hometown with his wife, three teenage sons, and cat. When not working on a novel, he is listening to music, daydreaming or just being mischievous. His works are based on his fascination with offbeat characters, the challenges of growing up and the search for, well, you will just have to find out! You can join Mark on his journey by checking out his website or following him on Twitter.

"I don’t think I can put into words how blessed I feel to have requested this book, it has ultimately taken a piece of my Heart and tucked it within its pages. It is without a doubt one of the most sophisticated YA novels that I’ve read, dealing with some serious topics. The author never put a foot wrong and I can’t recommend this book enough (although it pains me to share)." NetGalley reviewer

"Munching on the Sun encapsulates what it is like to have big questions about life while you're falling in love and growing up."- Foreword Clarion Reviews

"Love can make the heart glow or plunge it into an endless night of despair. Returning to the land of the living is not a journey for wimps. The novel MUNCHING ON THE SUN opens a Pandora's box of memories where evil might wear many faces, including your own...It is said a life without hope is a fate worse than death. Author Mark Paul Oleksiw takes a colorful cast on a VI Act journey towards reclaiming the beauty of life in the unusual novel, MUNCHING ON THE SUN." - IndieReader.com

"Oleksiw's Munching on the Sun is a fast-paced, skillfully plotted thriller, but still manages to discuss important, dark themes. Oleksiw's work is certainly original. The events that Lukas experiences in the novel are both relatable and realistic, and they will resonate with readers."-The Booklife Prize (Publishers Weekly)

div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(15, 17, 17); font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">

"As much a YA romance as a struggle for a young man to find closure. Superbly plotted and populated with a host of unforgettable characters." The Wishing Shelf Book Reviews