Rich Shapero is experimenting with a unique storytelling art form that intricately interweaves book and music. His current project is called Wild Animus. Wild Animus, the novel (released in 2004), tells the story of a man whose quest for the foundations of the heart drives him to the Alaskan wilderness where, alone with his dangerous ideas, he transforms himself into a wild creature pursued by a pack of strangely familiar wolves. The music of Wild Animus is being released on three CDs—The Ram (2007), The Wolves and Animus (summer, 2008). Experienced as a whole, the music expresses the emotional core of the story, and the novel serves as its narrative shell—essentially extended liner notes for the music. Rich has chosen to circumvent traditional, corporate retail distribution. Instead, he’s taking Wild Animus directly to people whom he hopes might connect with it, distributing complimentary copies at arts festivals and universities around the world.