Local man’s book explores ancient symbols
Lee LeCaptain, previously of Escanaba, poses with his new book, "What is the Real Holy Grail"? (Courtesy photo)
A shot of a page of Lee LeCaptain's book, "What is the Real Holy Grail?" (Photo via Facebook)
Lee LeCaptain, an Escanaba native, is the owner of the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show. He said his experience as a performer influenced the narrative of his new book. (Courtesy photo)
Shown is a hardcover copy of Lee LeCaptain's new book that explores ancient symbols and human mysteries. The book is available for sale on a number of platforms. (Courtesy photo)
Lee LeCaptain, previously of Escanaba, poses with his new book, "What is the Real Holy Grail"? (Courtesy photo)
A shot of a page of Lee LeCaptain's book, "What is the Real Holy Grail?" (Photo via Facebook)
Lee LeCaptain, an Escanaba native, is the owner of the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show. He said his experience as a performer influenced the narrative of his new book. (Courtesy photo)
Shown is a hardcover copy of Lee LeCaptain's new book that explores ancient symbols and human mysteries. The book is available for sale on a number of platforms. (Courtesy photo)
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ESCANABA -- A man who was raised in Escanaba has authored a book that is attracting attention in multiple countries. Its focus? Something that has intrigued humanity for millenia -- the Holy Grail.
Written by Lee LeCaptain, “What is the Real Holy Grail?” was published by Christian Faith Publishing, Inc. and released last month.
“‘What Is the Real Holy Grail?’ explores the beginning of time and the story of humanity through a fascinating trail of ancient symbols, scriptures, artifacts, mythology and folklore reaching from the earliest civilizations all the way to the modern world,” LeCaptain explained. “My hope is that these ideas can remind us that, despite our different cultures, religions, languages and beliefs, we may have far more in common than we realize. Perhaps we are not separate peoples with separate origins, but one human family with one shared beginning.”
LeCaptain attended Holy Name Middle School and graduated from Escanaba High School in 1978. He happens to be the founder of the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, which now runs from St. Cloud, Florida. Though LeCaptain and his wife relocated to Florida in 1989 in order to take advantage of the longer season, “Escanaba will always be my home,” he said.
LeCaptain’s research into ancient symbols began about 14 years ago, when he learned about an axe carved with ancient symbols, rumored to have been made for the Vatican by the Knights Templar.
Diving into the stories behind the axe, LeCaptain reportedly connected with university professors, historians, scientists, priests, ministers, rabbis and researchers.
“Their knowledge, questions, and perspectives helped guide me along a path of discovery,” LeCaptain shared. “Each conversation and each new piece of information opened another door, leading me deeper into a world of ancient history, archaeology, symbolism, and forgotten traditions.”
He said that a question kept niggling at him: “What if some of the most important parts of our human story have been misunderstood, forgotten, or hidden beneath centuries of tradition, power, and interpretation?”
While works published by other authors have speculated on themes touched on in “What is the Real Holy Grail?” and/or fictionalized stories around them, LeCaptain said that his book stands apart because it’s investigative, started from a real object, not rooted in myth. However, though his is not a work of fiction, it does draw from legends and folklore, “because I believe those stories can help bridge some of the gaps created by time preserving ideas and traditions that might otherwise have been lost,” LeCaptain said.
Ultimately, his creation is about “50% fact, 35% probability or interpretation, and only 15% fiction or speculation,” according to his estimates.
After over a decade of research, LeCaptain came up with a manuscript to send to a publishing company in January of this year.
“One of my biggest challenges was figuring out how to take such a massive amount of information and turn it into something people would actually want to read,” he said. “I didn’t want to write an encyclopedia. I wanted to create an educational and thought-provoking book that was accessible, engaging, and easy to follow.”
His experience producing and performing with the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show actually contributed to the style he used when writing: “I am used to standing in front of an audience and telling a story in a way that keeps people interested and wanting to hear what comes next,” LeCaptain said. “Without really planning it, I brought that same approach into my writing. I wrote the book almost as though I were standing in front of an audience telling the story directly to them.”
When ready to move forward with finalizing the book for production, LeCaptain found the team at Christian Faith Publishing to be helpful and professional.
“Their editing staff was sensational. We went through at least three different editing processes, carefully reviewing, refining and polishing the manuscript to get it right. I really appreciated the attention they gave to the book while still allowing me to maintain my own voice and style,” the author noted.
While “What is the Real Holy Grail?” is his first published book, the Escanaba native said that he’s got a couple other books in the works — one is about the Knights Templar; two others are about two children growing up in Escanaba.
Interested readers may purchase “What is the Real Holy Grail?” through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christian Faith Publishing, Rakuten Kobo, Walmart, Google Play Books, Books-A-Million, Booktopia, Bookshop.org, Strand Books, VitalSource, therealholygrail.com and other retailers. Paperback, hardcover and eBook editions are available.
“The book is an easy and accessible read, but it is packed with history, research, symbols, ancient traditions, and ideas to explore. I don’t tell the reader what they have to believe. I present the evidence, connect the dots, and let the reader decide for themselves,” LeCaptain said.
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R. R. Branstrom may be contacted at rbranstrom@dailypress.net.