Meet Rich

Rich Shapero’s novels dare readers with giant metaphors, magnificent obsessions and potent ideas. His casts of idealistic lovers and rebellious artists all rate ideas as paramount, more important than life itself. They traverse wild landscapes and visionary realms, imagining gods who in turn imagine them. Their thoughts are warped toward a place and state that is different than the one we’re born into—an astonishing place, where the truths of our practical world are unraveled and revealed to be the illusions they are.

Like the seekers themselves, readers grapple with surprising discoveries about human potential. All fifteen of his titles are available in hardcover and as ebooks. They also combine music, visual art, animation and video in the TooFar Media app. Shapero spins provocative stories for the eyes, ears, and imagination.

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Project Cover, Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, Lava.

Rich on Story

Writing to Extremes

“Our best experiences in fiction,” Rich says, “come from identifying with people in radical circumstances. Biologists are drawn to the ‘edge’ because wild things flourish in the boundary zones. Riverbanks, ocean shallows, breaks in vegetation, the temporal boundaries between night and day, moments of seasonal change— On the personal level, it seems true, as well, that people are tested and revealed most dramatically on the frontier of the self. Opportunities for wisdom occur when we’re pushed to the brink.”

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Titles

In Rich’s fifteen published novels, truths of our practical world are unraveled and revealed to be the illusions they are.

Aspiration in the face of mortality. Reckoning with our primal selves. Imagining our potential to love fully. Waking to life in the womb. The moment of yielding to death, departing this world. The liberation and danger of uncontrolled imagination. These are the subjects of some of Rich’s stories.

“I’m drawn to the moments in life that reveal unexpected truths,” he says. “That’s what excites me.”

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Reinvented for the Digital Age

Rich’s novels are available in hardcover and multimedia formats.

“The novel,” Rich says, “is an art form understood by everyone, and it’s a wonderful vehicle for exploring ideas. Because the ideas are paramount, I’m happy enough to communicate using text on a page. The digital versions, however, allow us to draw more venturesome readers into an experience that adds shades of meaning to the novel text. That’s exciting because it allows me to explore those ideas in ways that text on a page can’t express.”

Rich’s original inspiration for making the novel a multimedia experience was William Blake and what he did two centuries ago. “Blake started with an idea and wove words and art around it. For many of his poems, he wrote music as well.” With the digital tools available to us today, Rich thought, the potential for enhancing novel text was limitless.

His first project, Wild Animus, followed the imagined journey of the protagonist using song and chant. The objective was to create one sort of understanding of Ransom’s mania through the novel text, and a different understanding through the musical journey.

With his fifteenth project, Dead but Not Ready, he’s added to each chapter a tour of his protagonist’s architectural masterpiece, with visionary renderings conceived by organic architect Robert Oshatz.

What is TooFar Media?

“It’s less a publishing company,” Rich says, “than a creative sandbox. Every project is both a novel and a multimedia experiment. I have no commercial motive. We have a small core team and dozens of collaborators—writers, artists, animators, musicians, and people with knowledge to share that’s relevant to the novel content. From the start, we have made much of the content freely available for whoever might have an interest.

Contact Rich, really. “For those who respond to what we’re doing, I hope they will let us know. TFM is a labor of love, and knowing we’ve reached someone matters to us.”

Contact Rich

Rich Shapero Store

Rich’s novels are available in beautifully printed hardcovers and more . . .

Visit the Store

Provocative Stories for the Eyes, Ears, and Imagination

The TooFar Media App contains all of Rich’s multimedia novels. Download it here.

Download App

Scan and download the TooFar Media App. Available on

iOS and Android.

Acclaim

“Shapero displays an impressive command of the unconscious.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Powerful and complex.”
—Library Journal
“Shapero is a spellbinding storyteller.”
—Howard Frank Mosher
“A delirious fusion of fiction, music and art. We love the intersection of technology and the written word.”
—The Village Voice
“A feverish meditation on the landscapes that shape our aspirations, and the roots that refuse to die.”
[Dead but Not Ready]
—@shereadsandtravels
“A story of art and illness, vision and delusion, and the uneasy truce between the human spirit and the earth it springs from.”
[Dead but Not Ready]
—MMannequin, Goodreads
“Xiphactinus is a cutting fable for the fractured soul, a confrontation with the predator within.”
[Xiphactinus]
—Moses Hacmon
“A provocative journey into the depths of identity, where every twist of fate blurs the line between man and monster.”
[Xiphactinus]
—@james_trevino
(Instagram #Bookstagrammer)
“Shapero’s biting, brilliant satire follows a hotshot Silicon Valley investor whose dizzying success draws the bloodlust of financial leviathans and legal monsters. Viciously funny, disturbingly true.”
[Xiphactinus]
—Jetta, Goodreads
“A spell-binding portrait of desire that lingers in the mind long after the final page.”
[The Hornet’s Spell]
—@thecalvinbooks
(TikTok #BookToker)
“An intriguing novel that asks provocative questions about the erotic secrets of the unconscious.”
[The Hornet’s Spell]
—Independent Book Review
“Shapero writes like a poet, weaving imagery, allegory and allusion.”
[The Hornet’s Spell]
—Erin, Goodreads
“A tautly woven, emotionally resonant tale of a couple caught between a future together and a past that may never let them go.”
[Hibiscus Mask]
—Kirkus Reviews
“A tragic, compelling mystery about the slippery foundations of identity and love.”
[Hibiscus Mask]
—@thecalvinbooks
(TikTok #BookToker)
“An excellently crafted story of survival. Thrilling and meaningful.”
[Beneath Caaqi’s Wings]
—Kirkus Reviews 
“A daring, deftly-told parable of romance and savagery that asks what adolescents, left to their own devices, are capable of doing—and undoing. Brutal, provocative, and timeless.”
[Beneath Caaqi’s Wings]
—Elizabeth Sagan
@elizabeth_sagan
“Shapero keeps the tension high with multilayered emotional and physical conflicts. Lyrical prose and exotic setting instill a powerful magnetic aura, especially in his lush descriptions of the jungle’s natural wonders.”
[Beneath Caaqi’s Wings]
—US Review of Books
“With amazing imagery, Shapero gives the reader a new vision of the hardships and threats that face a society with no adults, and the dark urges in each of us. I enjoyed it immensely and am looking forward to what Mr. Shapero will come up with next. 5 Stars!!”
[Beneath Caaqi’s Wings]
—Reader View, Goodreads
“Shapero’s rich, lyrical prose is the novel’s standout feature . . . his sentences ripple and whirl like the currents of the ocean.”
[Dreams of Delphine]
—Kirkus Reviews
“Unexpected and truly interesting.”
[Dreams of Delphine]
—Jennifer Finken, Goodreads
“The imagery in this book is rich and beautiful. Rich Shapero is a brilliant author. I will definitely read more of his work.”
[Dreams of Delphine]
—Eleanor, Goodreads
“Fast-paced, emotionally resonant tale featuring fine characterization.”
[The Slide That Buried Rightful]
—Kirkus Reviews
“A very engrossing read and . . . hard to put down.”
[The Slide That Buried Rightful]
—Shell, Goodreads
“Thought provoking.”
[The Slide That Buried Rightful]
—A. L. Stroh, Goodreads
“Original ideas, strong prose, timeless and universal.”
[Dissolve]
—Kirkus Reviews
“Shapero enchants and intrigues with his creative vision of the sublime mysteries that lie beyond . . .”
[Dissolve]
—James Trevino
@james_trevino
“Dissolve is well worth a read if you’re into magical realism. Interesting premise & characters, and very well-written.”
—Jean, Goodreads
“Original and thought-provoking. It will leave you in awe.”
[Island Fruit Remedy]
—Elizabeth Sagan
@elizabeth_sagan
“Such a delightful and juicy read!!”
[Island Fruit Remedy]
—Rudrashree Makwana, Goodreads
“The writing was beautiful, with rich lyrical images that draw you in.”
[Island Fruit Remedy]
—Bethany, Goodreads
“A wild read.”
[Island Fruit Remedy]
—Glenn Stenquist, Goodreads
“Interesting!!!”
[Island Fruit Remedy]
—Saima in NYC, Amazon
“Well written, great imagination.”
[Island Fruit Remedy]
—Chris Ruhnke, Goodreads
“A book to make you think. A fantasy of life and love, power and death . . . revenge and remorse.”
[Balcony of Fog]
—Sue Hieber, Goodreads
“This book defies description . . . The writing is excellent, and the world built is unlike anything I’ve ever read.”
[Balcony of Fog]
—Terry, Goodreads
“Takes the reader along for a passionate ride . . . I couldn’t put it down.”
[Balcony of Fog]
—Michael Parkes, Goodreads
“A very interesting book! I love the descriptions and unique story.”
[Balcony of Fog]
—Alexandria, Goodreads
“Great imagery and scene description . . . truly a different story, unlike anything else I’ve read.”
[Balcony of Fog]
—Jae Park, Goodreads
“Definitely a different read than I’m used to . . . the writing was imaginative, colorful. A safer alternative to hallucinogens.”
[Balcony of Fog]
—Dave, Goodreads
“Loved the plot contrast and the character descriptive build throughout.”
[Balcony of Fog]
—Daniel, Goodreads
“An intriguing adventure.”
[Balcony of Fog]
—Joel Timmons, Goodreads
“The imagination of the author is incredible! I think it would make an outstanding movie.”
[Balcony of Fog]
—Noose, Goodreads
“Imaginative and full of emotion . . . I saw a lot of quite deep symbolism and allegory that were quite meaningful.”
[Balcony of Fog]
—Mike Opferman, Goodreads
“Just finished . . . I loved it and hope there’s a sequel because it’s really good.”
[Balcony of Fog]
—Shawn Maple, Goodreads
“The imagery and imagination throughout are overwhelming. Don’t be surprised if you can’t put the book down or keep reading and re-reading.”
[Balcony of Fog]
—Debra Oehlberg, Goodreads
“A romantic fantasy that goes way beyond the deepest next level in this fictional universe.”
[Balcony of Fog]
—Donna Foster, Goodreads
“I really like how different [Balcony of Fog] was from anything I’ve ever read!”
—Sarah Anderson-Pagal, Goodreads
“Really great storytelling. Balcony of Fog is . . . available on the app stores, which is where this experience really shines.”
—Jaredh, Apple App Store
“Characters are so well developed that the reader can’t help but churn with emotion as each page is turned and another layer is revealed.”
[Balcony of Fog]
—baerskat, Apple App Store
“Grabbed and held my attention right away . . . a truly beautiful story.”
[Balcony of Fog]
—Joanne Bilodeau, Apple App Store
“Rich Shapero writes like a poet, weaving imagery, allegory, and allusion to create lush adventures into other worlds.”
[Balcony of Fog]
—Erin Granat, Goodreads
“Equal parts chilling and intriguing. The world [Shapero] creates is fascinating, but the real win here is the writing.”
[Balcony of Fog]
—Erika, Goodreads
“Way, way out there. Read it if you want something off the wall.”
[Rin, Tongue and Dorner]
—Melissa D. Erkapić, Goodreads
“An incredibly weird book. But I did enjoy it . . . quite entertaining.”
[Rin, Tongue and Dorner]
—Maddie Gliosci, Goodreads
“I love a good sci-fi book, so I was pulled in immediately! The book shares many sexual exploits, and they are all well written.”
[Rin, Tongue and Dorner]
—Mistydawn970
“Nothing like a good ol’ Greek mythology-like love triangle.”
[Rin, Tongue and Dorner]
—Mark, Goodreads
“Arms from the Sea is a tangible encounter with the creative spirit. A guide for reconstructing our understanding of water and our origins.”
—Moses Hacmon
“A richly tapestried underwater psychedelic dreamscape adventure . . . I can’t recommend this book highly enough.”
[Arms from the Sea]
—John, Goodreads
“A brief journey into the inner depths and all the way to the outer reaches of mind and spirit.”
[Arms from the Sea]
—Lori, Goodreads
“It was wild. I saw someone describe it as a slow burn horror and I would agree with that . . . I really enjoyed the pay off.”
[Arms from the Sea]
—Dineka, Goodreads
“I enjoyed the premise and very much liked the characters . . . It gave me poetic vibes, which I savored.”
[Arms from the Sea]
—CeriseFern, Goodreads
“Different from most novels, psychedelic. Interesting.”
[Arms from the Sea]
—Bill Winett, Goodreads
“Unexpected and original, this tale is indeed full of the hope we all seek.”
[The Hope We Seek]
—Rebecca Hoffberger, Founder/Director, American Visionary Art Museum
“The Hope We Seek . . . is the real deal: an authentic and skillfully executed story . . . a spiritual awakening to the baleful and the elegant.”
—Isla Norman, Goodreads
“I was totally captivated . . . The imagery was so rich. I will likely carry this story with me for a long time.”
[The Hope We Seek]
—Samara O’Gorman, Goodreads
“Full of mystical and imaginative insight.”
[Too Far]
—Donald Pass
“Shapero draws you into the phenomenology of the mind of a child . . . Heartbreaking, haunting, and numinous.”
[Too Far]
—William Kallfelz, Goodreads
“Stunning achievement! One of the most imaginative, beautifully written books I have read in years.”
[Too Far]
—Nancyowho, Goodreads
“Highly recommended . . . once [Shapero] gives a reason to treat his narrator as unreliable . . . I am totally up for the ride.”
[Too Far]
—Jane Kelly, Goodreads
“Does an excellent job of showing the journey of innocence and the inevitable loss of it.”
[Too Far]
—Carter Phillips, Goodreads
“I rate Too Far [five stars] for its sheer ambition and glorious descriptions of a wonderful place.”
— Alex Canna, Goodreads
“One of the two books I keep on my highest shelf . . . and will likely continue to hold a special place in my heart for the rest of my life.”
[Too Far]
—Catherine Pain, Goodreads
“I just loved the creativity that went into this story. The character development was superb . . . one of my top-shelf books of all time.”
[Too Far]
—Sunking, Goodreads
“Be open to this book as if you’re reading a long poem. Remember your innocence and wonder as a kid . . . That’s what this book is really about.”
[Too Far]
—Michelle Vu, Goodreads
“Rich Shapero writes so vividly that you can really picture in your head what you’re reading . . . full of mystery and suspense as well.”
[Too Far]
—Jozlynb, Goodreads
“Shapero is the shaman of the written word.”
[Wild Animus]
—Henry Boxer, Henry Boxer Gallery
“Reading Wild Animus is like climbing, skiing or intense adventuring. It puts you in the ‘time is now’ state.”
—Mike Libecki, World-Class Mountain Climber Contributing Writer, Climbing Magazine
“Creativity, original characters, inspiring theme, and one of very few books with a therian character.”
[Wild Animus]
—Lark KerBerethrou, Goodreads
“Great app. Imagine a more interactive Amazon Kindle platform or ‘reading’ app and this is it. A beautiful marriage of fantasy, psychology and love.”
[TooFar Media App]
—Anna Yoder, Google Play
“The future of reading.”
[TooFar Media App]
—Luthercorp., Google Play
“When you step into Rich Shapero’s world, you step into . . . substantive tales steeped in philosophical insights. Countless hours of entertainment, easy to use, and immensely enjoyable.”
[TooFar Media App]
—Petecorp57, Apple App Store
“I love the app and how it combines art, music, and literature to become an interactive app.”
[TooFar Media App]
—Mistydawn970, Apple App Store
“Great app. Spend endless hours on it.”
[TooFar Media App]
—the real lump, Google Play
“Discovered a great new Library of Fiction Writing . . . I love how there’s other media to discover too, adding visual and audio to the written word of the story. Very cool!”
[TooFar Media App]
—Caroeland, Apple App Store
“The artful style, the videos and all of the new things this experience adds to traditional reading, creates what I can only define as cinematic literature.”
[TooFar Media App]
—j-bird80976, Apple App Store
“This app is AMAZING . . . there’s art, and music, and omg. Think [Shapero] might’ve cured my headache by taking my mind off of Things.”
[TooFar Media App]
—catnip nelehjr, Google Play
“Five stars. Great app.”
[TooFar Media App]
—Riley Gertsen, Google Play
“Wow! Immersive as it is fun to read.”
[TooFar Media App]
—Thankful1, Google Play
“Great experience. This should be the new way to read books!”
[TooFar Media App]
—MontsReal, Google Play
“Love the stories and experiences this app offers!”
[TooFar Media App]
—Ashz164, Google Play
“Great books.”
[TooFar Media App]
—senamile boogie, Google Play
“Nice design . . . Awesome idea.”
[TooFar Media App]
—Destiny Miller, Google Play
“Mind opening to what could be.”
[TooFar Media App]
—Erasmo Morales, Google Play
“This app is amazing.”
[TooFar Media App]
—M M, Google Play
“Exceptional.”
[TooFar Media App]
—Kathryn McBride, Google Play
“I love being able to pick a story depending on the mood I’m in . . . a great all in one.”
[TooFar Media App]
—Christie Roberts, Google Play
“Great quarantine collection!”
[TooFar Media App]
—Kylan Greer, Google Play
“Extremely cool app . . . takes reading to a whole new level.”
[TooFar Media App]
—takitajapan, Google Play
“I LOVE the TooFar Media App. Stories are amazing and I love the design . . . Thank you!”
—Michaela Petillo, Google Play
“Essential for Art Lovers. The writing is gorgeous, the music is haunting, and the artwork is really something to behold.”
[TooFar Media App]
—LeTwitch, Google Play
“Such an interesting concept. I look forward to reading all of Shapero’s other books. The interface is intuitive and easy to use.”
[TooFar Media App]
—Younggizzle, Google Play
“Love this app!”
[TooFar Media App]
—Kayvon Greene, Google Play
“An enjoyable excursion in words, art and music.”
[TooFar Media App]
—Felonious Max, Google Play
“Worth the download.”
[TooFar Media App]
—SPIRITS, Google Play
“Good stories that really make you feel like you are experiencing them firsthand.”
[TooFar Media App]
—RTFKO, Google Play