<P>A Magical Tale About Forgiving Our Past and Believing in Our Future </P> <P>The enchanting, true story of <I>The Valkyries</I> begins in Rio de Janeiro when author Paulo Coelho gives his mysterious master J., the only manuscript for his book <I>The Alchemist.</I> Haunted by a devastating curse, Coelho confesses to J., "I've seen my dreams fall apart just when I seemed about to achieve them." In response, J. gives Coelho a daunting task: He must find and speak with his guardian angel. "The curse can be broken," he replies, "if you complete the task." </P> <P>Rising to the challenge, Paulo and his wife, Cristina, drop everything, pack their bags, and take off on a forty day adventure into the starkly beautiful and sometimes dangerous Mojave Desert -- where they encounter more than they bargained for. A masterful blend of the exotic locales, dramatic adventure, and magical storytelling, for which Coelho's fictional works are renowned, this true-life account is at once a modern-day adventure and a metaphysical odyssey. </P>