Waking From A Seductive Fantasy
An Enticing World of Love, Murder, and the Supernatural
by Lana Gutman

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Waking From A Seductive Fantasy chronicles Lana Gutman’s cathartic journey following the devastating loss of her spouse, celebrated musician David Maestro, who died by suicide. Lana’s husband was a popular, admired entertainer notorious for his romantic entanglements and multitude of groupies. When they married, Lana discovered David’s traumatic history through his recurring nightmares and increasing depression. They saw multiple therapists specializing in depressive disorders, yet David rejected their advice, choosing to self-medicate with marijuana, alcohol, and even womanizing. Lana believes she maintained a paranormal connection with David, and sensed him in her home as cold energy. There was another presence lingering with David, and it felt menacing. Lana wondered if this other entity was linked to her husband’s violent past in San Quentin Penitentiary, where he was sentenced to life for murder. David’s music kept him alive while he was incarcerated. He recruited other prison musicians to form a group called “The Contraband,” and they opened for entertainers visiting the penitentiary. David was given a chance to record his own songs which were highly praised by professionals in the music industry. After being paroled for good behavior, he rarely capitalized on the success of his album, and played small clubs, collecting women like souvenirs in a hedonistic existence. The hopelessness and despair that plagued David is already a national epidemic, and Lana’s goal in sharing his life is to expose the crisis of clinical depression insidiously poisoning our loved ones, as it did to her beloved Maestro. Lana writes intimately about the universal themes and insight gained from her spiritual encounter with David, and the transcendent odyssey they took together.

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"A stunning story which epitomizes the life and tribulations of an artist's journey into the excesses of epicurean pleasure fueled by love, lust, drugs, and its tragic ending leaving a trail of broken hearts and unfulfilled dreams." —Dr. G., Beliti Azafrani, Ph.D. "With emotionally riveting prose, Lana Gutman has written a cautionary tale about a wife’s unwavering love for a magnetic, brilliant musician and her commitment to their doomed marriage. In Waking From A Seductive Fantasy, we are shown how quickly paradise can turn to horror when mental health issues are ignored. This is an important book for everyone to read, a lighthouse exposing a growing problem that has cast a deadly shadow across America." —Hollywood Weekly Magazine.

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Lana Gutman wrote Waking From A Seductive Fantasy for the spiritual peace she needed after the tragic suicide of her husband. Lana’s cathartic revelations writing this book transformed her grief into cautionary tales of human behavior which she hopes will lead couples to healthier, loving relationships. She was raised in Ukraine and lives in Los Angeles, and has garnered a reputation for producing upscale entertainment events. Lana is completing a fantasy novel series, an original screenplay in development, and producing a feature-length film reflecting environmental themes. Her years in Armenia and traveling internationally has given Lana a multicultural vibrancy which she brings to Hollywood. “Waking From A Seductive Fantasy” is the fulfillment of Lana’s personal commitment to spread awareness about the consequences of ignoring addictions and not recognizing the fatal signs of depression.

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Lana Gutman