Raymond Gaynor's Blog, page 24

A WORD IN EDGEWISE, PLEASE

ONE thing about advertising: It shoots straight to the target center. It’s also, I’ve learned, the telltale sign of something untrue. “A book you MUST read!” Really? “What everyone’s saying!” Huh? “You gotta have one!” For sure? “The best of the best!” Awe, come on! Having made my claim for the edgewise and oblique, the Amazon genre bestseller, THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor, is a book you MUST read. Everyone’s saying it’s the best of the best and you gotta get a copy. Well, you don’t have to read it; and not everyone’s saying it’s the best of the best. Furthermore you don’t gotta get a copy. But I hope you will, and you’ll find it more than just intriguing, you’ll find it totally immersive.

In writing it, I’ve created a new book genre (a SciFu, or plausible, science-based future study), that whether you “like” it or not, is a mirror into the future of what will inevitably replace today. I’m writing a sequel called “Prophecy,” so if you get a copy now, you’ll be ready for the sequel. It’s even proven itself as an Amazon genre bestseller. And, I’ve still got the contest going with SIX Grand Prizes: an author-signed, first-edition copy of TEOM to the first, eleventh, twenty-first, thirty-first, forty-first, fifty-first and so forth person who sends an email (one per email address) to me at “gaynor.raymond2@gmail.com” with the subject line “I want a copy of THE EDGE OF MADNESS.” CAVEAT: You must have a USA ship-to address, which I’ll ask for only if you win a Grand Prize. Contest closes 30 November 2021 San Fran time. This giveaway is ENTIRELY FREE — I pay handling and shipping within the USA.

Ah, but non-Grand Prize Winners don’t despair: Everyone who enters will receive a special 30% off Suggested Retail Price Discount Coupon Code good at your nearest online Savant Bookstore: Savant Bookstore Atlantic (https://www.savantbookstoreatlantic.com), Savant Bookstore Midwest (https://www.savantbookstoremidwest.com), Savant Bookstore Pacific (https://www.savantbookstorepacific.com) and Savant Bookstore Honolulu (https://www.savantbookstorehonolulu.com). And, again, handling and shipping are free within the USA. And that’s something to be thankful for!

Can’t wait? Use “ONLINE” discount coupon code for an immediate 10% off any Savant/Aignos printed book, CD, DVD or other indicated merchandise from any four above Savant Bookstores. Yes, you must have a USA ship-to address for free handling and shipping.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je6CC...

AI: ARTIFICIAL, ALIEN OR BOTH?

NOW that’s GOT to have caught your interest! In our world of increasing AI presence, is it artificial or alien or both?

Let’s start with artificial, meaning perhaps autonomous more than non-human, since currently humans write the basic code that’s used in artificial intelligence operations. Autonomous, meaning perhaps that once awakened it doesn’t need a lot of continued human input other than to reboot or fix erroneous code.

Now let’s tackle alien, meaning here not necessarily from other life forms in the universe, but rather code typically written initially by humans, that, in the process of an AI “learning” and adapting, might result in code that is no longer meaningful or even readable by humans. It’s this form of AI that I’m most interested in. Check out https://news.mit.edu/2019/toward-arti... to start, then jump ahead to https://www.wired.com/story/ai-latest.... But what I’m talking about is https://www.fastcompany.com/90132632/.... That is AIs can be tasked with beginning anew, creating their own coding from scratch that ultimately can’t be read or understood by human software engineers. A “good” thing? Or a “bad” thing?

My main concern is with the “meaning” behind AI code; that is, it’s purpose, and in the long run, it’s side effects. Especially so, if the AI code doesn’t have a human “empathic” component, which, to my knowledge, has yet to be designed or constructed. And I don’t just mean empathy for other AIs. I mean humans. The only thing that seems to stand between humans and their penchant for self-destruction is empathy — the ability to walk in another’s moccasins and feel the sharp pebbles as they push into the soles (substitute “souls” if you like).

Which brings me to my closing question: Do AIs have “souls?” Or, more poignantly, if they don’t at first, can they create their own? I’m serious here. I’m busy writing a Sci-Fu novel with A. G. Hayes called “68 Via Condotti: Vatican Inc” in which the Pope secretly visits a Brazilian AI manufacturing plant with exactly that question in mind. If AIs have souls, then it’s the Church and by delegation the Pope’s obligation to “save those souls.” Finally ask, from what? Then go figure and grab a copy of:

68 Via Condotti: Book One: Eternity Ltd

SAVANT BOOKSTORE (ONLINE)

AS a consequence of COVID-19, my principal publisher, Savant Books and Publications, has moved all former face-to-face bookstore activities including book, CD, DVD and merchandise purchases strictly ONLINE and created four regional bookstores to get your purchases to you faster.

https://www.savantbookstoreatlantic.com

https://www.savantbookstoremidwest.com

https://www.savantbookstorepacific.com

https://www.savantbookstorehonolulu.com

All of the above will bring you directly to our secure Square Up Market where you can order any of the 120+ printed books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs and branded merchandise. Use special Pre-Holiday Sale discount coupon code “PREHOLIDAYSALE” for 25% off Suggested Retail Price with fast, free shipping within the USA through Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving already passed by the time you read this? Then use our “always” discount coupon code “ONLINE” for 10% of Suggested Retail Price with fast, free shipping within the USA.

Don’t live within the USA? Have no fear — get free shipping anywhere in the world at https://www.bookdepository.com.

While you’re there, be sure to check out the newest Savant Books and Publications releases, including the Amazon genre bestseller THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor at https://savant-bookstore-honolulu.squ..., SHEP’S ADVENTURES (Savant 2021) by George Hudson, and the soon to be released RETRIBUTION (Savant 2021) by multi-award-winning author Richard Rose.

Need a totally free Holiday gift? Send your friends this link to my nearly-daily blog at https://garymartine.yolasite.com/word...

Author Photo at https://ibb.co/Yjrbh7Q

Happy Holidays to All!

THE IMMIGRANT’S GRANDSON

MOST established American’s are, have or at least well know one. They’re the “success” stories of the United States of America where most everyone gets an opportunity to better their life. To some that means wealth. To others, power. To yet others — the folks I most identify with — the opportunity of living the life for which so many these days are dying.

As a successful author with the usual train of published books and awards, while working on my own next novel, in this case, “Prophecy,” the sequel to the Amazon genre bestseller THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859 — I like to do editing. Personally, I prefer editing for an established publisher, to augment income, increase my own writing abilities and help other writer/authors on the difficult pathway to becoming professional authors. Currently I’m editing author Vern Turner’s “The Immigrant’s Grandson,” a definite “feel good” novel about a successful immigrant family, based on a central character’s challenges, struggles and ultimate success. In a world of Kung-Fu, SuperHeroes-flying-through-the-air, Immortals and a host of utterly depressing dystopian tales, “The Immigrant’s Grandson” is a welcome relief, exemplifying the good (but not necessarily goody-goody) that is also a part of our Great Nation.

We’ve just finished content editing, and will soon address line (sentence) editing, then word ending, moving on after that to polishing (removing all those ever-present, recalcitrant, irritating spelling and punctuation errors) and finally on to proofing by a separate proofreader before the work is finally released. In the end, it’s the quality of the read that readers remember and associate with the story and ultimately author. And I have a distinct feeling that “The Immigrant’s Grandson” and Vern Turner will be well remembered for this one. Anticipated release mid-2022 by Savant Books and Publications.

https://vernturner.com/books/

STILL COMING…

RECEIVED the proof copies of the DVD for “Static (2021)” and it’s GREAT right down to the BTS (behind the scenes) and Meet the Cast and Crew extras. A few more tweeks to the cover and it will be ready for release. Should receive the second proof in another 5 days or so, hopefully “perfect as is.”

AND in the meantime, don’t forget the author Raymond Gaynor THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859 — Book Giveaway Contest is still ON with SIX Grand Prizes: a signed copy of my book to the first, eleventh, twenty-first, thirty-first, forty-first, fifty-first and so forth person who sends an email (one per email address) to me at gaynor.raymond2@gmail.com with the subject line “I want a copy of THE EDGE OF MADNESS.” CAVEATS: You must have a USA ship-to address, which I’ll ask for only if you win a Grand Prize. Contest extended to Thanksgiving Day San Fran time. This giveaway is ENTIRELY FREE — I pay handling and shipping within the USA.

Ah, but non-Grand Prize Winners also win: Everyone who enters will receive a special 30% off Suggested Retail Price Discount Coupon Code good at your nearest online Savant Bookstore: Savant Bookstore Atlantic (https://www.savantbookstoreatlantic.com), Savant Bookstore Midwest (https://www.savantbookstoremidwest.com), Savant Bookstore Pacific (https://www.savantbookstorepacific.com) and Savant Bookstore Honolulu (https://www.savantbookstorehonolulu.com). And, again, handling and shipping are free within the USA. And that’s something for which to always be thankful.

Can’t wait? Use “ONLINE” discount coupon code for an immediate 10% off any Savant/Aignos printed book, CD, DVD or other indicated merchandise from any four above Savant Bookstores. Yes, you must have a USA ship-to address for free handling and shipping. Are you an international reader? Check out https://www.bookdepository.com/The-Ed... and receive free international shipping! What are you waiting for? Go for it!

Video Book Preview at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je6CC...

IT’S COMING…!

AS the lead actor in the K. Simmons Production of “Static (2021)” — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15420946 — since the world premiere in September, I’ve been anxiously awaiting it’s release as on DVD/Blu-Ray. I’m happy to say that the long wait is about to end. K. Simmons Productions is said to be awaiting the final proofs before releasing “Static” to the public for the holidays. And what better gift than a good human drama? Static is baed on the teleplay of the same name written by author and screenwriter Richard Rose — https://richardroseauthor.com.

For those anxiously awaiting alongside me, there’s still my website — https://janik.yolasite.com/actor.php — replete with posters, trailer and lots of behind-the-scenes photos and videos taken during filming to enjoy while waiting.

Savant Books and Publications, a film sponsor, is negotiating for both DVD and Blu-Ray to be available for purchase through all four online Savant Bookstores as soon as it’s released. Watch this blog for more information.

And FYI, I’m currently negotiating to appear in the K. Simmons Productions of The William Maltese Collection, a tribute to the incomparable author and champion of gay erotica whom I’ve known for years, currently in production, and in Finding Kate, an action-adventure set in fabled Hawaii-wood based on the novel of the same name by A. G. Hayes, in currently in pre-production — https://kspllc.media.

Official "Static" Poster at https://i.postimg.cc/3JzLtNVD/0-Stati...

IT’S OKAY TOTO, WE’RE BACK IN KANSAS…

OR are we? Everyday now I hear, “The pandemic is over!” from another excited individual. Really? With the N. Y. Times reporting 98,00+ new cases and 1,216 reported COVID-related deaths in the USA yesterday, I can’t quite “grok” that the pandemic is over, hooray (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...). And with the World Health Organization reporting 527,295 new cases and close to 8,000 reported COVID-related deaths in the world yesterday, I’m not even sold on the fantasy that COVID is finally over, and we can “return back to normal” in terms of abandoning masks, social distancing and vaccination. But then, maybe it’s all a conspiracy (nope) or another “Big Lie” (nope, again). Maybe it’s reality (yep) and the proverbial “shot across the bow” that the way we are doing things — concentrating people into crowds to sell them products — isn’t a useful approach anymore. Me, I strongly favor “personal services” over “crowd sales” as the “new” way to do things in the “new” world, assuming a “new” normal.

This paradigm shift applies across the board to authors as well. The search is on for ways to present books to potential readers that take on the new paradigm of a “personal service.” How exactly to best do that is, in my humble opin, the gauntlet cast before the “new” generation. But, to be honestly honest (as opposed to the “new” dishonestly honest ethic that seems to be floating around), the reward won’t be in actually finding and capitalizing on this new approach so much as participating in the journey there. It’s what we have yet to learn about ourselves and our relationship to Gaia and the God(dess) that will be the ultimate reward.

Paradigm shifting is what it’s all about these days of dis-integration, challenging us to reassemble the pieces into a new paradigm that better “fits” the increasingly populated little blue marble flying through space upon which we live and entirely depend. I could write a book about this, but it’s already been written: TOTAL MELTDOWN (Borgo/Wildside 2009) by Raymond Gaynor and William Maltese (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1434403556), and the sequel, THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859). Check them out. You might be surprised at where the journey will take you!

Video Book Preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je6CC...

SCHROEDINGER’S SCAT

YEAH, well, you remember Schroedinger’s Cat? A cat is trapped in a box with a tiny bit of radioactive substance. When the radioactive substance decays past a certain point, causes a poison to be released that kills the cat. At any one moment in time, the cat may be alive or dead. So, is it alive or dead? Well, I figure it’s the same with the AI in my computers (especially the one inhabiting my smart phone). At any point in time a random error may occur within the AI’s programming, rendering it ineffective (meaning in today’s smart phone context, dead). So is it conscious or not? Some would argue that even apparently operating without problem, it’s already dead, given the next update has most probably already been written rendering it less than effective already. A ghost in a host? An elephant in a room?

Interesting mind question. But the really big question (or implication of all this) is whether anything is either alive or dead. Or is everything in a constant state of less than totally alive and more than beginning dead, challenging the very meaning of what it means to be alive. Are we, like the proverbial half-glass of wine, more alive, or more dead? Or simply both? Or, more interestingly, neither. What I mean by this last category isn’t that we don’t exist, but rather that we really don’t know whether we exist of not, given we don’t really know what it means to fully exist. Not convinced? Consider how many times you’ve scanned something written and passed over the item you’re looking for, only to discover it on a second pass. Was it there or not? A bit crazy-making? For heaven’s sake, don’t ask the AI voice inside your computer or phone! There’s no telling what it might reply.

On the other hand, consider taking up where the singularly naughty political thriller TOTAL MELTDOWN (Borgo/Wildside 2009) by Raymond Gaynor and William Maltese left off: The world of NewAmerica, a shadow of its former United States of America, providing a challenging and dangerous future place for three young firebrands to live. Does such a plausible future exist or not, especially if convincingly written? And, if not, is it more like the proverbial tree falling in a forest with no one to hear or see it fall, even though it both exists and directly or indirectly as Quantum Mechanics might suggest, effects the reality we live in simply by being called into thought-existence? Go figure.

The Edge of Madness

WISHING WELL

ALMOST everyone has approached water — in a well, around a fountain, under a bridge, in a brook or stream — and made a wish. But today, I want to muse about not the wishing well, but simply wishing well. Doing it right. Yesterday I posted about needs, wants, hopes and desires. Now it’s time to talk about how to wish well.

I don’t say this lightly. Not because of magic or compelling people to make a wish come true, but because, in the most basic sense, making a wish is all about directly upping one’s consciousness surrounding that wish, and, indirectly, inviting the universe to “connect.” By upping one’s consciousness, things that might have been completely missed, for example the “message” in an advertisement sign, are suddenly made aware, and with that, serendipitous, sometimes serpiginous “connections.” Freud championed the idea that the unconscious is primarily responsible for most of what we think and do; modern scientists have stated that we only have access to 10% of our brains potential. By upping one’s consciousness, it focuses the unconscious to work “behind the scenes” and bring the wish, or at least a pathway to the resolution of the wish, into better focus. “Seeing is believing” is part and parcel to this.

By wishing, especially sharing the wish or sudden revelations that occur while secretly wishing, invites others to participate in making the wish come true. Everyone has a vested interest in making wishes come true. After all, everyone at one time or another wishes. In this sense, one invites the universe to assist, reveal or at least connect in the journey from making the wish to seeing it to a conclusion.

Wishes are powerful, and can effect not just the wisher, but everyone surrounding the wisher, and in some instances, change the world. Wishing well, that is, with empathy and caring for others, is paramount to the “good” or “light” and their absence to the “bad” or “dark” (notice I didn’t jump right to mentioning “evil”). But it’s not a 50-50 phenomena. That is, darkness pervades when one wishes without empathy or caring, but can be disspelled by one “good” wish, just as a single flame lights a darkened room or cave. Wishing, especially figuring out how to make certain one wishes not just effectively but well, is a key concept explored in the Amazon genre bestseller, THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor. In it, professional acronymeur and Wiccan high priestess Simi Andry Jan [Jan-Rho] seizes an opportunity to make a much needed wish and explores the result. Was it a wish well wished? I invite you to join her in exploring the nature of wishes, and their outcomes, then consider wishing for the sequel, entitled “Prophecy,” to be quickly published. Wish well; you might be surprised at the outcome of your wish.

The Edge of Madness

THE EDGE OF MADNESS is available on sale through Thanksgiving 2021 in printed and digital format. It’s also available in audiobook format, and has been purchased by K. Simmons Productions for manga, animation and cinematic treatment.

WHAT’S IN A WISH?

“IF wishes were horses, then beggars would ride” is a popular saying, so, given that billions of people make wishes every day, why aren’t there more horseback riders? And don’t just say, there’s a shortage of horses. According to that fount of information, Wikipedia, “a wish is a hope or desire for something. In fiction, wishes can be used as plot devices…In fiction a wish is a supernatural demand placed on the recipient’s unlimited request [list]. When it is the center of a tale, the wish is usually a template for a morality tale…” Okay, so let’s examine this in a bit more detail.

First, a wish, in my book(s) is a need, want, hope or desire. I say need because, in my opin, more wishes come from need than hope or desire, given the estimated 4.6 billion people (making up roughly 60 percent of the planet’s population) who are living on less than $US 10 per day and not thriving, and around 735 million people are living in extreme poverty on less than $US 1 per day. This is in contradistinction to the reported 56 million millionaires globally in 2021 with a total net worth of $US 192 trillion, who make up about 1% of the population. It’s not hard to extrapolate the number of “need” wishers verses the number of “desire” wishers. “Want” and “Hope” wishes probably exceed “need” wishes, but are arguably less important.

Looking more closely at the estimated 4.6 billion people with “need” wishes — one could loosely call these people “impoverished” — according to again, that pinnacle of truth, Wikipedia, “poverty is the state of not having enough material possessions or income for a person’s basic needs” and “can have diverse social, economic, and political causes and effects.” So what kind of “need” wishes are floating about the universe and, hey, does it make any difference really?

Published in 2018 in Science, a paper “describes an online experiment in which researchers sought to determine what percentage of total population a minority needs to reach the critical mass necessary to reverse a majority viewpoint. The tipping point, they found, is just 25 percent. At and slightly above that level, contrarians were able to “convert” anywhere from 72 to 100 percent of the population of their respective groups. Prior to the efforts of the minority, the population had been in 100 percent agreement about their original position (https://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...)”. Hummm. So wishes CAN make a huge difference, be they from need, want, hope or desire, one of many surprising issues that appears in THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor. Be careful what you wish for, and grab a copy of THE EDGE OF MADNESS, now on sale through Thanksgiving! So beggars CAN ride after all!

The Edge of Madness

Available in printed, digital and audiobook formats. An Amazon genre bestseller purchased for manga, animation and cinematic treatment by K. Simmons Productions.