"Let me remember the things I don't know."

Although these words are a misinterpretation of a line from one of his favorite Creedence Clearwater Revival songs, the epigraph to Richard N. Strack's novel, "Upon a Field of Gold," reveals a certain truth not only about the book, but about Strack himself.Strack has spent a good deal of time remembering things he didn't know over the last few years. He's cobbled that knowledge together and crafted a novel based in fact, but fictionalized to create a memorable tale that transcends time.It all began about four years ago, Strack says, when the image of a Confederate soldier popped into his head."I could vividly see his Confederate cap. He had a young face, blond, curly hair," says Strack. "I dismissed it. I made no connection."The second time, Strack was at the hospital getting a blood test. While he sat in the waiting room, he envisioned the young man again in his Confederate uniform, marching up a hill."I knew it was Gettysburg," says Strack.That wasn't all. The year 1844 popped into his head. Since he was positive the setting was Gettysburg, the battle of which occurred in 1863, he did the math. If this soldier, whose name he determined was Joshua Park, was born in 1844, he would have been 19 years old in 1863.Not long after this experience, Strack's wife, Stacie, hosted a psychic party at their home. Although he was an avowed skeptic, he agreed to a private session. The psychic almost immediately told him he was a Confederate soldier who died in the Civil War.His response: "Yeah, right."Despite his sarcasm, she continued, telling him that his father, who died when Strack was a freshman in college, was there with them. Not only was Strack still skeptical, he now thought she was downright cruel. But what she said next, changed everything.Rising from her seat, the woman told Strack that she was standing, because his father couldn't sit. For the last seven years of his life, Strack's father struggled with emphysema, sitting only when he ate or when he drove. Otherwise, he stood, leaning on the backs of chairs, trying to catch his breath.Strack says no one still alive at the time knew this about his father, not even Stacie.Spurred on by his visions of Joshua Park and his session with the psychic, Strack paid a visit to a hypnotherapist/past life regressor. An account of that session is included in the book.Strack says his story is not about reincarnation."I have a problem with that word. It locks people into certain beliefs, one of which is you get to live again if you make a mistake in life - you get a chance to make it right. That's not what this book is about."The other thing, he says, is that his experience didn't begin until he was much older."Kids sense they are reincarnated," says Strack. "That's why I'm iffy with the word. If I had to make up my own words, I'd call it a soul transfer."With his expanded mindset, Strack has been able to look back and reflect on coincidences linking him to a past life. He's drawn on some of those experiences to paint a more vivid picture with his storytelling.He says he initially tried writing a memoir he called "Looking For Me at Gettysburg," but it just didn't seem to be going anywhere. Then two years ago, up in the middle of the night with restless legs, he knew he had to do something about this Confederate soldier's abbreviated life."I sat down and started writing this book," says Strack. "The first few pages rolled out of me. I could picture the guys around the campfire, their dialogue. I convinced myself (Joshua Park) had an incomplete life and an incomplete love. That's what motivated me to tell this story."In "Upon a Field of Gold," fireworks trigger a vivid flashback for 60-year-old Dan Bryant, who can't shake the vision of seeing himself wearing a Confederate soldier's uniform at the Battle of Gettysburg. The memories continue as Bryant sees himself as 19-year-old Joshua Park of the Alabama Thirteenth regiment, who left the love of his life, Becky, behind to fight for the Confederacy. Before he heads off to war, Becky promises him if anything happens to him, they will be reunited in another life.Meanwhile, Bryant has a current love, his wife, Mary Jo, who has no desire to share her husband with a ghost from the past, or indulge his new obsession with a past life.Like Strack's own story, his novel doesn't fit into a nice, neat classification; instead, he calls it a genre crossover - speculative fiction, paranormal, romance and historical fiction. Essentially, a little something for everyone.While "Upon a Field of Gold" doesn't end with a cliffhanger, Strack says Joshua Park's story isn't exactly over. He's already working on the sequel: "Catch and Release.""I can't tell you the plot," he says. "It gives too much from the first book."Strack has already lined up several radio interviews to promote "Upon a Field of Gold" running in Harrisburg, Minneapolis, Florida and South Dakota, with nearly a dozen more to come.He'll be doing a reading and book signing at 6 p.m. May 31 at the Dimmick Library in Jim Thorpe.Signed copies of "Upon a Field of Gold" can be ordered on Strack's website, uponafieldofgold.com, where there are also links to Amazon for e-book or print copies.Strack hopes readers will give "Upon a Field of Gold" a chance."Come into my story and explore the power of the soul and how spiritual guides work in our lives to help us find our destinies."Originally from central New Jersey, Strack now lives in Jim Thorpe, which is also the primary setting for "Upon a Field of Gold." He has a BA from Rutgers University and a master's in teaching from Marygrove College. He taught English and philosophy at Colonia High School in New Jersey for most of his career. He retired from teaching a few years ago and now writes a column, features and covers sports for the Times News.He and Stacie have two children, Richie and Sadie.