Gerald Everett Jones's Blog: Gerald Everett Jones - Author, page 9
October 12, 2024
Mick & Moira & Brad - Chapter 27 Audiobook
Mick meets with Eggs at his unconventional home to discuss Moira's future. Eggs reveals doubts about Moira's suitability for the Vegas audience, citing Mick's perceived bias. Despite Mick's defense, Eggs announces delays in the Vegas booking and plans to prioritize Chiffawn's return. Additionally, Derek P…
October 10, 2024
Mick & Moira & Brad - Chapter 26 Audiobook
Moira wakes up to find a message from Brad, signaling his departure and implying Mick's involvement. Confused by the cryptic message, she ponders Mick's intentions regarding her and her career. Meanwhile, Mick returns to Los Angeles, contemplating the success of Moira's show and facing uncertainties about her…
October 9, 2024
Book Reviews: 'The Book of Illusions' by Paul Auster
In my review of Hollywood: The Oral History, I remarked on my learning that even notable filmmakers didn’t necessarily think they were making enduring art. Edward Dmytryk, award-winning director of Crossfire (1947), described his feelings then about the industry’s place in history:
If we had all known that they were going to be still running these pictures forty or fifty years later… and asking us to get up and talk about them… we probably would have shot them differently… We thought the movie would go out and be run for a few weeks or a few months in the theater and then would be completely forgotten.
This notion may be doubly true of films from the silent era. Filmmakers in this nacent industry couldn’t be sure that the medium itself would ever be more than a diversion. As well, technicians in the industry were well aware that the silver-nitrate-based film stocks in use at the time were prone to deteriorate and even to catch fire. According to Brittanica.com:
An estimated 11,000 movies were made in the U.S. from 1912 through 1929, during film’s silent age. About 70 percent of movies from that era are thought to be lost forever. Some were lost to physical damage such as from fire and chemical decay, while others were deemed too costly to store by the studios that made them.
The late Paul Auster’s brilliant novel about a pioneering filmmaker emphasizes the ephemeral nature of both art and life itself.
I’m here appending my review of Dominic Smith’s historical novel about the silent era, The Electric Hotel. Both Auster and Smith are spinning fanciful stories about works of art that have disappeared forever.
October 8, 2024
New York City Big Book Award Announcement
(PRLeap.com) LaPuerta Books and Media announces that the fourth novel in the popular series of mystery thrillers, Preacher Stalls the Second Coming by Gerald Everett Jones, has won Distinguished Favorite (Silver) recognition from the NYC BIG BOOK AWARD®.
The reluctant, nonprofessional investigator of the Preacher Evan Wycliff mysteries is a Baptist minister in a small farm town in Southern Missouri. He gets drawn into intrigues because his congregants bring him problems that no one else seems to have any interest in solving.
Triggering this most recent dilemma, a crazed scientist knocks on Evan's door with a bizarre warning - the Deep State may be planning to fake the Second Coming of Christ with advanced virtual-reality technology. Meanwhile, a faith-healing evangelist is luring poor and homeless people to a religious retreat with promises of ample food, then exhorting them to prepare for the End Times by starving themselves to death. Evan can't ignore these unbelievable stories when a young woman from his church disappears inside the cult leader's farm.
In a rave released by Publishers Weekly, the BookLife reviewer commented: "Like its predecessors, Preacher Stalls the Second Coming blends unusually humane and thoughtful procedural sleuthing with a brisk pace, winning local color, and ace scenecraft and surprises, all powered by a strong undercurrent of moral and spiritual inquiry."
Each of the four novels in the series has received an award from NYC Big Book, which is open each year to submissions from mainstream publishers as well as indie presses. The series debut, Preacher Finds a Corpse, received Winner (Gold) in 2020. In the same year, the second installment, Preacher Fakes a Miracle, received Distinguished Favorite; thus, author Jones walked away with both top prizes in Mystery. In 2022, the third book, Preacher Raises the Dead, was awarded Distinguished Favorite in the Medical Mystery/Thriller category.
Jones's colleague Marvin J. Wolf, author of the Rabbi Ben Mysteries, including A Scribe Dies in Brooklyn, said of the series: "This is literature masquerading as a mystery. Carefully yet powerfully, Gerald Jones creates a small, stunning world in a tiny midwestern town, infusing each character with not just life but wit, charm, and occasionally menace. This is the kind of writing one expects from John Irving or Jane Smiley."
"I guess the NYC Big Book judges like my stuff," Jones quips. "Of the 14 novels I've written, 26 have won awards from various competitions since 2020. Most of those competitions are limited to indie authors and small presses. But New York City Big Book is especially prestigious because the judges are also reading entries from the Big Five publishing houses. So when I won the top two slots in Mystery in 2020, I felt I could rightly claim those books are second to none."
The annual New York City Big Book Award competition is judged by experts from different aspects of the book industry, including publishers, writers, editors, designers, booksellers, librarians and professional copywriters. Winners and distinguished favorites are based on overall excellence.
NYC Big Book Award received book submissions worldwide. Journalists, well established authors, small and large press, and first time indie authors participated in record numbers. Entries this year were received from the United States as well as countries such as Australia, Canada, China, Cyprus, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Scotland, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. Cities represented included Asheville, Beijing, Colorado Springs, Dublin, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Melbourne, New York, Portland, San Francisco, Singapore, Tel Aviv, and Vancouver were among the entries.
Publishers included Atmosphere Press, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Beaufort Books, Beyond Words Publishing, Blackstone Publishing, Familius Publishing, Flatiron Books, Hachette Go, HarperCollins Leadership, Oceanview Publishing, Old Stone Press, Rowman & Littlefield, Simon & Schuster, Ulysses Press, Watkins Publishing, and Westminster John Knox Press, to name a few.
"We were delighted to see so many quality publishers and authors from around the world participate this year. I can't wait to share these books with a global readership," said awards sponsor Gabrielle Olczak.
Gerald Everett Jones is a freelance writer who lives in Santa Monica, California. He is a board member of the Writers and Publishers Network (WPN), a Film Independent (FIND) Fellow, host of the GetPublished! Radio podcast, and creator of the Thinking About Thinking blog on Substack. He holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honors from the College of Letters, Wesleyan University, where he studied under novelists Peter Boynton (Stone Island), F.D. Reeve (The Red Machines), and Jerzy Kosinski (The Painted Bird, Being There). Find out more at geraldeverettjones.com
Thinking About Thinking is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts as well as premium content, including audiobooks, interviews, and podcasts, consider becoming a paid subscriber.
Mick & Moira & Brad - Chapter 25 Audiobook
Mick and Brad confront each other in the parking lot after Moira's performance. Tensions rise as Brad accuses Mick of playing games with Moira's emotions for business gain. Mick defends his actions, prioritizing Moira's career over personal feelings. Their heated exchange reveals underlying complexities in …
October 7, 2024
Book Review: 'Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow' by Gabrielle Zevin
I have lived through the advent of computers, the Internet, and smartphones. I anticipate IoT and VR as daily immersive experience. I admit that reading this novel makes me feel old and crusty. I am not a gamer, never have been. Oh, I played chess daily when my university education was interrupted because I was recovering from tuberculosis in the late 1960s. And in my first year living in school in an all-male dormitory, I was dubbed “the reluctant fourth” for any game of bridge. My wife Georja delights in all games, especially any kind of cards. But she cheats skillfully at Monopoly - and delights in it - which I learned is kind of the point if you want to have fun with capitalism.
To me, gaming has no point. I obviously don’t get it.
My very first novel, My Inflatable Friend, is a skirt-chasing romantic comedy about a young man who fails continually upward. About the time it was released, the game Leisure Suit Larry was hot. I guessed that a game could be built on my novel in that mock-machismo genre. Back then, I had several conversations with a pioneer game developer, and it became quickly apparent that I had no idea how computer games must work. It must have something to do with gaining points and suffering penalties, but the paradigm for this kind of experience seemed alien from my original storytelling. I wanted the story to have a point, and I wanted to control the outcome. I gave up on the idea of turning my novel into a game.
Later, I became involved in an abortive book project as a supplement to Activision’s announced game, MechWarrior. I learned that, at the level of code, such games are interactions between two databases - one for the player and one for the opponent of the moment - tables of choices and weapons and their associated powers. When I pick up an axe, I have added power. But my opponent has a crossbow and more power. The engine is a dynamic math equation of capabilities and outcomes, depending on the choices of player and automaton. Rock, paper, scissors - repeat until you get tired or die!
Ho hum, I thought.
I do also remember there were discussions among the members of the Writers Guild about the advent of feature movies with alternate endings. The theater audience would be able to vote for how it all turned out.
Perhaps not surprisingly, movie audiences craved the author’s vision, the storyteller’s personal expression. Interactive movies, as originally conceived, didn’t become a thing.
But a game is not the same as an interactive story. In a movie with alternate endings, the audience is a focus group. In a game, the player is a coauthor. Therein lies the crucial difference.
Bestseller novel from Knopf. Movie in development at Paramount.
October 6, 2024
Mick & Moira & Brad - Chapters 25 - 27
Tuesday, October 08: Chapter 25 - After the Showdown
Narrated beautifully by Erin Alexis.
Audiobook episodes will post on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 5am US Eastern Time - from August 13 to November 2. Paid subscribers to the Thinking About Thinking blog posts get all 36 episodes at no extra charge - including episodes already posted - in the site Podcasts tab (or on Apple, Spotify, and other distros). All subscribers will receive the next week’s release schedule on Sunday evenings.
Mick and Brad confront each other in the parking lot after Moira's performance. Tensions rise as Brad accuses Mick of playing games with Moira's emotions for business gain. Mick defends his actions, prioritizing Moira's career over personal feelings. Their heated exchange reveals underlying complexities in their relationships and leaves unresolved tension hanging in the air.
Thursday, October 10: Chapter 26 - Morning MessagesMoira wakes up to find a message from Brad, signaling his departure and implying Mick's involvement. Confused by the cryptic message, she ponders Mick's intentions regarding her and her career. Meanwhile, Mick returns to Los Angeles, contemplating the success of Moira's show and facing uncertainties about her future. As they navigate their separate paths, both Moira and Mick grapple with unanswered questions and looming decisions.
Saturday, October 12: Chapter 27 - Unveiling IntentionsMick meets with Eggs at his unconventional home to discuss Moira's future. Eggs reveals doubts about Moira's suitability for the Vegas audience, citing Mick's perceived bias. Despite Mick's defense, Eggs announces delays in the Vegas booking and plans to prioritize Chiffawn's return. Additionally, Derek Pryce's role in Chiffawn's show and his personal life shake up Mick's expectations. Mick is left grappling with uncertain career prospects for Moira and personal revelations about his colleagues.
Feed your curiosity with a paid subscription to this Thinking About Thinking blog. With a paid subscription ($5 / month or $30 / year), you’ll gain access to all the content that’s here, including podcasts, and you’ll be helping us build our worldwide community through storytelling and self-expression.
October 5, 2024
Mick & Moira & Brad - Chapter 24 Audiobook
As the curtain rises on Moira's grand debut, each character grapples with their own hopes, fears, and uncertainties. Moira, poised for her transformation, reflects on the weight of her impending success and the relationships that define her journey. Brad, navigating the complexities of his emotions and invest…
October 3, 2024
Mick & Moira & Brad - Chapter 23 Audiobook
As the tension builds towards the opening night of "Follow This!" in Berlin, Brad navigates complex logistics to ensure his attendance while keeping his presence a secret from Moira. Meanwhile, conversations between Brad and Mick reveal underlying tensions and uncertainties about Moira's future and their respect…
October 1, 2024
Mick & Moira & Brad - Chapter 22 Audiobook
As Moira navigates the final preparations and tensions before the debut of "Follow This!" in Berlin, she grapples with nerves, expectations, and the complexities of her relationships with Mick and Brad. With the show looming and emotions running high, Moira must confront the uncertainty of her future in …
Gerald Everett Jones - Author
- Gerald Everett Jones's profile
- 489 followers
