Raymond Gaynor's Blog, page 26
October 23, 2021
FORGET PCH - WIN NOW!
The author Raymond Gaynor THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859 — Book Giveaway Contest is ON with Six Grand Prizes: a signed copy of my book to the eleventh, twenty-first, thirty-first, forty-first, fifty-first and every hundred-and-first 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.” NOTE: You must have a USA ship-to address (which I’ll ask for only if you win a Grand Prize). Contest closes 31 October 2021 San Fran time. This giveaway is ENTIRELY FREE — I pay for the book, handling and shipping within USA.
Ah, but non-Grand Prize Winners win, too: Everyone who enters will receive a special 30% off Suggested Retail Price discount coupon code good for any of the 120+ books, CDs, DVDs and merchandise from your nearest online Savant Bookstore (Savant Bookstore Atlantic, Savant Bookstore Midwest, Savant Bookstore Pacific and Savant Bookstore Honolulu) through 30 November 2021 San Fran time. And, again, handling and shipping are free within the USA. And you can take that to the bank!
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 Savant Bookstores above. Yes, you must still have a USA ship-to address for free handling and shipping.
Video Book Preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je6CC...
Ah, but non-Grand Prize Winners win, too: Everyone who enters will receive a special 30% off Suggested Retail Price discount coupon code good for any of the 120+ books, CDs, DVDs and merchandise from your nearest online Savant Bookstore (Savant Bookstore Atlantic, Savant Bookstore Midwest, Savant Bookstore Pacific and Savant Bookstore Honolulu) through 30 November 2021 San Fran time. And, again, handling and shipping are free within the USA. And you can take that to the bank!
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 Savant Bookstores above. Yes, you must still have a USA ship-to address for free handling and shipping.
Video Book Preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je6CC...
October 20, 2021
A GOLDEN GOOSE EGG!
OH, YES! If you’ve ever imagined coming across a goose that lays golden eggs, you’ve come to the right place! I’m reving up for the holiday season! The author Raymond Gaynor THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859 — Book Giveaway Contest is ON with SIX Grand Prizes: a signed copy of my book to the eleventh, twenty-first, thirty-first, forty-first, fifty-first and every hundred-and-first 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.” NOTE: You must have a USA ship-to address, which I’ll ask for only if you win a Grand Prize. Contest closes 31 October 2021 San Fran time. This giveaway is ENTIRELY FREE — I will 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 for any of the 120+ books, CDs, DVDs and merchandise from your nearest online Savant Bookstore (Savant Bookstore Atlantic, Savant Bookstore Midwest, Savant Bookstore Pacific and Savant Bookstore Honolulu) through 30 November 2021 San Fran time. And, again, handling and shipping are free within the USA. And that’s no gobbleddy-gook.
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 Savant Bookstores (see above). Yes, you must have a USA ship-to address for free handling and shipping.
Video Book Preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je6CC...
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 for any of the 120+ books, CDs, DVDs and merchandise from your nearest online Savant Bookstore (Savant Bookstore Atlantic, Savant Bookstore Midwest, Savant Bookstore Pacific and Savant Bookstore Honolulu) through 30 November 2021 San Fran time. And, again, handling and shipping are free within the USA. And that’s no gobbleddy-gook.
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 Savant Bookstores (see above). Yes, you must have a USA ship-to address for free handling and shipping.
Video Book Preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je6CC...
October 18, 2021
SPACE IN FILMING
AH, but what KIND of space are we talking here? The cold, dark void beyond Earth? The moments before or in front of the camera? Or just the extreme “hurry up and wait!” that all actors and actresses experience in the filming process? Or, in a different context, everything cut during editing? Or the distance that sometimes wells up between how well one portrayed a character, and watching oneself on the big silver screen? Well, kinda all of them. Except the first. For now, forget the cold, dark void beyond Earth for the Lights! Sound! Camera! Action! of the whole filming enchilada.
As lead actor in “STATIC (2021)” – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15420946/ – I can say with authority there are many moments before or in front of the camera that are, at best, spacey, and at worst, harrowing (with a giggle and laugh regularly interspersed). And then there’s the bloopers, outtakes and just plain stress-relieving crazies.
“Hurry up and wait,” typically a military service axiom, readily applies to acting and film making. It’s not unusual to spend months to years in pre-production, working out the finances, producer(s), director(s), screenplay, crew, cast, props, locations — the list goes on and on — before a single frame is shot. Paradoxically, once filming begins, time (seconds!) are money! It’s faster and more furious than watching a kung-fu, actions movie or being in the middle of a tornado.
As for what ends up cut, well, anything goes including not just scenes but entire characters! My experience with K. Simmons Production of STATIC (2021) and Kendrick Simmons, director, was that production stayed pretty close to the script, all 29 evolving versions of it as filming progressed! Yes, there were a few cut scenes, but the work as a whole benefited from the editing (and special effects) genius of cameraman and editor, Robert MacLean! And as for the cast, what more can I say then that it was a joy working with and learning from Eriko Okada, Shane Chisum, Ben Wilkison, Jerri Lyn Endo, Kurt Ken Kaminaka, Setsuko Tsuchiya and the rest of the cast. Weeks after the premier, I still have to admit the film not only comes together well as a whole but beautifully and, hey, I can no longer recall what ended up on the editing floor!
The first time I saw myself as cinematic viewers see me was an experience like no other. They say an actor’s worst critic is him or herself, and that being said, my overall impression of the film and my acting got better rather than worse with each viewing. However, there is still no experience I can think of like seeing one’s face on a “big screen” be it a 90-inch home television or 97-foot curved cinema screen for the first time. It elicited a wide-ranging mixture of emotions, I can’t imagine ever experiencing again. Except in my next movie. Ha, ha!
Piqued your interest? Wondering what it’s really like? I invite you to explore my actor website with lots of “behind-the-scenes” photo/video montages at https://janik.yolasite.com/actor.php. And as for what I’m doing now before my next film, I’m currently Executive Producing “The William Maltese Collection,” a bio-documentary on the life and times of that incomparable author, William Maltese, and “Finding Kate,” an adventure film based on multi-award-winning author A. G. Hayes’ novel of the same name (https://kspllc.media). And, yes, I’m hoping to play a major acting role in one or both.
The Many Faces of Daniel S. Janik: https://youtu.be/HZwaVvSaHlY
As lead actor in “STATIC (2021)” – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15420946/ – I can say with authority there are many moments before or in front of the camera that are, at best, spacey, and at worst, harrowing (with a giggle and laugh regularly interspersed). And then there’s the bloopers, outtakes and just plain stress-relieving crazies.
“Hurry up and wait,” typically a military service axiom, readily applies to acting and film making. It’s not unusual to spend months to years in pre-production, working out the finances, producer(s), director(s), screenplay, crew, cast, props, locations — the list goes on and on — before a single frame is shot. Paradoxically, once filming begins, time (seconds!) are money! It’s faster and more furious than watching a kung-fu, actions movie or being in the middle of a tornado.
As for what ends up cut, well, anything goes including not just scenes but entire characters! My experience with K. Simmons Production of STATIC (2021) and Kendrick Simmons, director, was that production stayed pretty close to the script, all 29 evolving versions of it as filming progressed! Yes, there were a few cut scenes, but the work as a whole benefited from the editing (and special effects) genius of cameraman and editor, Robert MacLean! And as for the cast, what more can I say then that it was a joy working with and learning from Eriko Okada, Shane Chisum, Ben Wilkison, Jerri Lyn Endo, Kurt Ken Kaminaka, Setsuko Tsuchiya and the rest of the cast. Weeks after the premier, I still have to admit the film not only comes together well as a whole but beautifully and, hey, I can no longer recall what ended up on the editing floor!
The first time I saw myself as cinematic viewers see me was an experience like no other. They say an actor’s worst critic is him or herself, and that being said, my overall impression of the film and my acting got better rather than worse with each viewing. However, there is still no experience I can think of like seeing one’s face on a “big screen” be it a 90-inch home television or 97-foot curved cinema screen for the first time. It elicited a wide-ranging mixture of emotions, I can’t imagine ever experiencing again. Except in my next movie. Ha, ha!
Piqued your interest? Wondering what it’s really like? I invite you to explore my actor website with lots of “behind-the-scenes” photo/video montages at https://janik.yolasite.com/actor.php. And as for what I’m doing now before my next film, I’m currently Executive Producing “The William Maltese Collection,” a bio-documentary on the life and times of that incomparable author, William Maltese, and “Finding Kate,” an adventure film based on multi-award-winning author A. G. Hayes’ novel of the same name (https://kspllc.media). And, yes, I’m hoping to play a major acting role in one or both.
The Many Faces of Daniel S. Janik: https://youtu.be/HZwaVvSaHlY
October 17, 2021
LIVING, WORKING AND, YES, ACTING IN SPACE
OF all the “promises” of future advances and advantages to commercial spaceflight, one stands out in my mind at point in its development: Filming in space. Call me a liberal, progressive, democratic, science-futurist with a”bleeding heart” for humanity, but I believe the single most significant effect of the commercialization of space was well demonstrated by the recent Russian film crew space flight (https://nypost.com/2021/10/17/russian...) and Star Trek lead actor William Shatner’s recent spaceflight, finally going where only a few have actually gone before (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2...). If science fiction in books is the start of envisioning the future, then movies, especially where actors and actresses are directly involved in filming in space are well on the way to progressing the NASA normalized idea of “living and working in space.”
I know. As an actor (aka Daniel S. Janik), I had the distinct privilege while working on assignment to NASA – Johnson Space Center, and later NASA – Marshal Space and Flight Center as well as NASA – Ames Research Center to have been certified for space flight and experienced micro-gravity flying an experiment on the “Vomit Comet.” Two events stand out for me regarding the importance of spaceflight: First is the experience of micro-gravity and all it’s implications; the second is viewing Earth from space and realizing how small and fragile our planet is upon which our lives sole depend.
In my opinion, every American student should, at some point in their education, take a ride on the microgravity plane, and ascend to an altitude in space where they can experience the Earth as it actually is, suspended in the dark, star-studded vacuum of space. Millions upon millions of dollars? Last time I checked online, each cost roughly $US 5000 to 30,000 for the experience. I actually proposed this duo for all freshmen students for a university I taught at 40 years ago sadly to the guffaws and snickers of less inclined colleagues.
Want to try something Sci-Fu for less than $US 16.95? May I suggest THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor, one of my several pen names: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859.
https://i.postimg.cc/ydLF8jcx/Vomit-C...
I know. As an actor (aka Daniel S. Janik), I had the distinct privilege while working on assignment to NASA – Johnson Space Center, and later NASA – Marshal Space and Flight Center as well as NASA – Ames Research Center to have been certified for space flight and experienced micro-gravity flying an experiment on the “Vomit Comet.” Two events stand out for me regarding the importance of spaceflight: First is the experience of micro-gravity and all it’s implications; the second is viewing Earth from space and realizing how small and fragile our planet is upon which our lives sole depend.
In my opinion, every American student should, at some point in their education, take a ride on the microgravity plane, and ascend to an altitude in space where they can experience the Earth as it actually is, suspended in the dark, star-studded vacuum of space. Millions upon millions of dollars? Last time I checked online, each cost roughly $US 5000 to 30,000 for the experience. I actually proposed this duo for all freshmen students for a university I taught at 40 years ago sadly to the guffaws and snickers of less inclined colleagues.
Want to try something Sci-Fu for less than $US 16.95? May I suggest THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor, one of my several pen names: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859.
https://i.postimg.cc/ydLF8jcx/Vomit-C...
October 15, 2021
MUSING WITH YURI DENISYUK
SOME years ago, I was fortunate to meet Yuri Denisyuk during a diplomatic trip to the former USSR. Yes, I was then working for the United States National Academy of Science/National Research Council as a Senior Research Fellow detailed to NASA. In that capacity and as a member of a People-to-People delegation, I met Yuri in his laboratory in St. Petersburg where we discussed the use of normal light holograms (for which he was famous) in analyzing the effects of micrometeorites on spacecraft “skin.” The idea was to use stereoscopic normal light holography to obtain paired holograms of pieces of spacecraft returned from space (and hopefully later in space). While there are distinct limits to resolution using normal light “photographs” or stereo photographs, by overlaying the paired holograms, one could create an interference pattern describing a metallic surface’s topography down to the angstrom level.
While I wasn’t to find out if USA’s NASA or USSR’s then Glavkosmos would ever actually utilize of deploy this intriguing technique, I was pleased to receive several of Yuri’s normal light holograms on glass plates, which I think I must still have somewhere in my storage compartment. I was deeply saddened by this genius’ passing in 2006. Now, as Daniel S. Janik, actor, for K. Simmons Productions, I find myself reflecting on the use of the Denisyuk Normal Light Hologram (DNLH) as a foundation for a entirely new kind of cinematography. Not 3-D with glasses, but holographically without. The result would be astounding. No more “trick” 3-D projections like a sword point thrust towards the audience, but an entire 4-D visual playing field, more like looking into and joining a studio set where the action is actually taking place between characters. In essence, one could, at least theoretically, see the action in 3-D from any character’s point-of-view, and at a definition far beyond anything even imaginable with current digital systems. Forget 8K. Paired DNLH’s would bring definition at least down to the molecular level and quite possibly the atomic level, something, as I said, unimaginable today.
In the Amazon genre bestseller, THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor -- https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859 -- I imagine this fully plausible technology applied to normal life: holographic “instructors” and “learners” in the schools of tomorrow; projections of oneself interacting with others while one attends to other activities; DNLH exploration of space (to be developed more in the sequel tentatively entitle “Prophecy”). The key to writing what I call Science Futuring (SciFu) rather than Fiction or Fantasy lies in technological plausibility. In terms of DNLH, I personally experienced this with one of the great minds of this and quite possibly the next century. Isn’t it time for you to meet Yuri and experience for yourself a little bit of the future world “plausibly” waiting for us?
The Edge of Madness
THE EDGE OF MADNESS is available in printed, digital and audiobook formats, and has been purchased by K. Simmons Productions for manga, animation and cinematic treatment.
While I wasn’t to find out if USA’s NASA or USSR’s then Glavkosmos would ever actually utilize of deploy this intriguing technique, I was pleased to receive several of Yuri’s normal light holograms on glass plates, which I think I must still have somewhere in my storage compartment. I was deeply saddened by this genius’ passing in 2006. Now, as Daniel S. Janik, actor, for K. Simmons Productions, I find myself reflecting on the use of the Denisyuk Normal Light Hologram (DNLH) as a foundation for a entirely new kind of cinematography. Not 3-D with glasses, but holographically without. The result would be astounding. No more “trick” 3-D projections like a sword point thrust towards the audience, but an entire 4-D visual playing field, more like looking into and joining a studio set where the action is actually taking place between characters. In essence, one could, at least theoretically, see the action in 3-D from any character’s point-of-view, and at a definition far beyond anything even imaginable with current digital systems. Forget 8K. Paired DNLH’s would bring definition at least down to the molecular level and quite possibly the atomic level, something, as I said, unimaginable today.
In the Amazon genre bestseller, THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor -- https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859 -- I imagine this fully plausible technology applied to normal life: holographic “instructors” and “learners” in the schools of tomorrow; projections of oneself interacting with others while one attends to other activities; DNLH exploration of space (to be developed more in the sequel tentatively entitle “Prophecy”). The key to writing what I call Science Futuring (SciFu) rather than Fiction or Fantasy lies in technological plausibility. In terms of DNLH, I personally experienced this with one of the great minds of this and quite possibly the next century. Isn’t it time for you to meet Yuri and experience for yourself a little bit of the future world “plausibly” waiting for us?
The Edge of Madness
THE EDGE OF MADNESS is available in printed, digital and audiobook formats, and has been purchased by K. Simmons Productions for manga, animation and cinematic treatment.
October 14, 2021
MAMA MIA!
OH, YES! I’m reving up for the holiday season! The author Raymond Gaynor THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859 — Book Giveaway Contest is ON with now SIX Grand Prizes: a signed copy of my book to the eleventh, twenty-first, thirty-first, forty-first, fifty-first and every hundred-and-first person who sends an email (only one per email address) to me at gaynor.raymond2@gmail.com with the subject line “I want a copy of THE EDGE OF MADNESS.” NOTE: You must have a USA ship-to address, which I’ll ask for only if you win a Grand Prize. Contest closes 31 October 2021 San Fran time. This giveaway is ENTIRELY FREE — I will 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 for any of the 120+ books, CDs, DVDs and merchandise from your nearest online Savant Bookstore (Savant Bookstore Atlantic, Savant Bookstore Midwest, Savant Bookstore Pacific and Savant Bookstore Honolulu) through 30 November 2021 San Fran time. And, again, handling and shipping are free within the USA.
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 Savant Bookstores (see above). Yes, you must have a USA ship-to address for free handling and shipping.
The Edge of Madness
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 for any of the 120+ books, CDs, DVDs and merchandise from your nearest online Savant Bookstore (Savant Bookstore Atlantic, Savant Bookstore Midwest, Savant Bookstore Pacific and Savant Bookstore Honolulu) through 30 November 2021 San Fran time. And, again, handling and shipping are free within the USA.
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 Savant Bookstores (see above). Yes, you must have a USA ship-to address for free handling and shipping.
The Edge of Madness
October 13, 2021
QUICK! BEFORE BOOKLAND GOES BLUE!
AFTER diving deep, the Yellow Submarine surfaces and the hatch pops open to reveal, a land of diverse flowers and colors, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Book Club Land! And just when everything looks ship shape, what shows up but the Digital Blue Meanies, a literary figment of the imagination, buffoonish leaders of printed-book-hating creatures that lead an army of green-apple wielding bonkers, shooting clowns, snapping turks, anti-book missiles and, of course, the ever-dreadful flying glove, always ready to force a gauntlet anywhere, anytime within anyone in the world. OMG! Today, Bookland goes BLUE!!!
Perhaps you’re of my time, perhaps not. But you know what I mean. It’s happening a little more every day. Turn the page on a poorly edited book and the bonkers hit you in the head with a green apple. Publish a printed book and you’ll need an armadillo jacket to fend off the shots and snaps from clowns and turks. And then there’s the anti-book missiles. Have you a book-bomb shelter or are you, author or reader, standing naked in the road, waiting? And if that isn’t enough there’s always the flying, face-slapping glove ready to monetarily slap you in the face with an insult and a laugh.
It’s not, however, how the world must or even needs to be. If you’re a doubting Thomas, grab a copy of THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor, start a crackling fire, wrap yourself in a warm armadillo coat, and sip green-apple warding hot cocoa as you turn one page after another, thrilling to the adventures of a challenging, dangerous and all-too-plausible future place where three young firebrands must find their way to live.
Send me an email to gaynor.raymond2@gmail.com and mention in the subject line “I want a copy of the Edge of Madness” and join my contest for one of five, free, author-signed copies, or at least, 30% off the Suggested Retail Price. Everyone’s a winner. Despite the blue Bookland meanies. Yes! Yes! Yes!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2uCN...
Perhaps you’re of my time, perhaps not. But you know what I mean. It’s happening a little more every day. Turn the page on a poorly edited book and the bonkers hit you in the head with a green apple. Publish a printed book and you’ll need an armadillo jacket to fend off the shots and snaps from clowns and turks. And then there’s the anti-book missiles. Have you a book-bomb shelter or are you, author or reader, standing naked in the road, waiting? And if that isn’t enough there’s always the flying, face-slapping glove ready to monetarily slap you in the face with an insult and a laugh.
It’s not, however, how the world must or even needs to be. If you’re a doubting Thomas, grab a copy of THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor, start a crackling fire, wrap yourself in a warm armadillo coat, and sip green-apple warding hot cocoa as you turn one page after another, thrilling to the adventures of a challenging, dangerous and all-too-plausible future place where three young firebrands must find their way to live.
Send me an email to gaynor.raymond2@gmail.com and mention in the subject line “I want a copy of the Edge of Madness” and join my contest for one of five, free, author-signed copies, or at least, 30% off the Suggested Retail Price. Everyone’s a winner. Despite the blue Bookland meanies. Yes! Yes! Yes!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2uCN...
October 12, 2021
HERE’S LOOKIN’ AT “STATIC,” KID!
SINCE my acting debut in the K. Simmons Production of “Static” (2021), and before accepting a role in K. Simmons Productions’ upcoming full-length action adventure movie, “Finding Kate,” I’ve been quite busy promoting my Amazon genre bestseller, THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor (aka actor Daniel S. Janik) now available in printed, eBook and audiobook formats at https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859. Including my new promotional giveaway contest:
FIVE GRAND PRIZES: a signed copy to the twenty-first, thirty-first, forty-first, fifty-first and hundred-and-first persons who send me an email (only one entry to an email address, please; multiple entries to same address will be completely discarded) at gaynor.raymond2@gmail.com, stating “I want a copy of THE EDGE OF MADNESS!” in the subject line. Caveat: You must have a USA mailing address (which I’ll ask you for only if you win) to which I can send the signed book. Hey, I’m personally paying for the book, handling and postage, so it’s really free! Contest closes midnight San Francisco Time on 31 October 2021! Spooky, yeah?
But that’s not all: The Great Pumpkin will send everyone who enters but doesn’t win a Grand Prize a special 30%-off discount code you can use to purchase one or more unsigned copies of THE EDGE OF MADNESS from your closest Savant Bookstore (Savant Bookstore Atlantic, Midwest, Pacific or Honolulu) until midnight San Francisco time 30 November 2021. Feeling Thankful? Gobble, Gobble! A great Holiday Gift and non-fattening, too!
Now back to Hawaii-wood. Fresh from “Static” and flush with success, my partner, Setsuko Tsuchiya (“Edna” in “Static”) and I are Executive Producing both “Finding Kate” — https://kspllc.media/finding-kate — and “The William Maltese Collection” — https://kspllc.media/maltese-collection. While “Finding Kate” is still in pre-production, filming for “The William Maltese Collection” is anticipated to begin within the next three weeks! Ever wanted to “be in the movies?” Why not make a free-will, tax deductible, crowdfunding donation to either or both projects!
FIVE GRAND PRIZES: a signed copy to the twenty-first, thirty-first, forty-first, fifty-first and hundred-and-first persons who send me an email (only one entry to an email address, please; multiple entries to same address will be completely discarded) at gaynor.raymond2@gmail.com, stating “I want a copy of THE EDGE OF MADNESS!” in the subject line. Caveat: You must have a USA mailing address (which I’ll ask you for only if you win) to which I can send the signed book. Hey, I’m personally paying for the book, handling and postage, so it’s really free! Contest closes midnight San Francisco Time on 31 October 2021! Spooky, yeah?
But that’s not all: The Great Pumpkin will send everyone who enters but doesn’t win a Grand Prize a special 30%-off discount code you can use to purchase one or more unsigned copies of THE EDGE OF MADNESS from your closest Savant Bookstore (Savant Bookstore Atlantic, Midwest, Pacific or Honolulu) until midnight San Francisco time 30 November 2021. Feeling Thankful? Gobble, Gobble! A great Holiday Gift and non-fattening, too!
Now back to Hawaii-wood. Fresh from “Static” and flush with success, my partner, Setsuko Tsuchiya (“Edna” in “Static”) and I are Executive Producing both “Finding Kate” — https://kspllc.media/finding-kate — and “The William Maltese Collection” — https://kspllc.media/maltese-collection. While “Finding Kate” is still in pre-production, filming for “The William Maltese Collection” is anticipated to begin within the next three weeks! Ever wanted to “be in the movies?” Why not make a free-will, tax deductible, crowdfunding donation to either or both projects!
October 11, 2021
COMMON SENSE
OR should that read “Common Cents?” Certainly in today’s world money and power always “Trump” sense. But what I’m cogitating on is the first word, “common.” To me, common implies commonality, something we share with each other as humans, with animals as fellow animals, plants as, well, living things just living a bit slower, sometimes longer but certainly different from ourselves. I don’t think there’s much “common” sense left these days, replaced instead by “uncommon” sense and “my-me-mine” individual sense. There’s always been a challenge inherent in being human as to whether we’re a cooperative or competitive species. Stanford professor, Dr. Robert Sapolsky once said we are a “tragically confused species,” and, though he was referring to sexuality and social sexual norms, I think it well-applies in general. It’s our strength and our weakness. Strength in diversity verses strength in shared purpose, the former vastly winning in this time and era.
The argument that our species is inherently deadly competitive is challenged by Bonobo studies. The argument that our species is inherently benignly cooperative is challenged simply by the current state of our planet, other species and other individuals. What we are is easily seduced by money and power, perhaps because of our unconscious, and occasionally painful consciousness, of our own demise. Without a clue as to from whence we come, why we’re here, and where we go, if anywhere, after death, I think the phrase “tragically confused” fits all too well.
What we do have is something very existential and elusive, “hope.” Not belief or faith, which remain hopeless extensions of hope relying as closely as they do on collateral money and power. Forced hope isn’t hope, nor, in my opinion, is Fate swayed by the intensity of one’s belief or faith. It’s not about collusion. Just plain ole’ hope, the one characteristic of our species that I think would make Benjamin Franklin and the God(dess) together smile and perhaps even laugh. I like to think that “hope” is our species only hope, and I think Dr. Sapolsky might agree.
Hope, however, doesn’t “spring eternal.” It’s a characteristic each of us must carefully cultivate in both easy and difficult times alike. Like in THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos) by Raymond Gaynor — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859 — in printed, digital and audio formats — but, then, I’d be pleased to hear what you think…
The Edge of Madness
The argument that our species is inherently deadly competitive is challenged by Bonobo studies. The argument that our species is inherently benignly cooperative is challenged simply by the current state of our planet, other species and other individuals. What we are is easily seduced by money and power, perhaps because of our unconscious, and occasionally painful consciousness, of our own demise. Without a clue as to from whence we come, why we’re here, and where we go, if anywhere, after death, I think the phrase “tragically confused” fits all too well.
What we do have is something very existential and elusive, “hope.” Not belief or faith, which remain hopeless extensions of hope relying as closely as they do on collateral money and power. Forced hope isn’t hope, nor, in my opinion, is Fate swayed by the intensity of one’s belief or faith. It’s not about collusion. Just plain ole’ hope, the one characteristic of our species that I think would make Benjamin Franklin and the God(dess) together smile and perhaps even laugh. I like to think that “hope” is our species only hope, and I think Dr. Sapolsky might agree.
Hope, however, doesn’t “spring eternal.” It’s a characteristic each of us must carefully cultivate in both easy and difficult times alike. Like in THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos) by Raymond Gaynor — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859 — in printed, digital and audio formats — but, then, I’d be pleased to hear what you think…
The Edge of Madness
October 10, 2021
GOING, GOING, BUT NOT GONE!
TODAY’S post is all about the Amazon genre Bestseller, THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor in printed, digital AND audiobook format — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859. You see, I’m giving away FIVE Grand Prizes: a signed copy to the twenty-first, thirty-first, forty-first, fifty-first and hundred-and-first persons who send me an email (only one entry to an email address, please; multiple entries to same address will be completely discarded) at gaynor.raymond2@gmail.com, stating “I want a copy of THE EDGE OF MADNESS!” in the subject line. Starts today, 10 October 2021. Caveat: You must have a USA mailing address (which I’ll ask you for only if you win) to which I can send the signed book. Hey, I’m personally paying for the book, handling and postage, so it’s really free! Five chances to win! Contest closes midnight San Francisco Time on 31 October 2021! Spooky, yeah?
But that’s not all: The Great Pumpkin will send everyone who enters per above (but, so sorry, didn’t win a Grand Prize) a special 30%-off discount code you can use to purchase one or more unsigned copies of THE EDGE OF MADNESS from your closest Savant Bookstore (Savant Bookstore Atlantic, Midwest, Pacific or Honolulu) until midnight San Francisco time 30 November 2021. Again, you must have a USA mailing address to which the book(s) can be sent, and handling and postage are free! Are you feeling Thankful? Gobble, Gobble! Great for a Holiday Gift and totally non-fattening, too.
And, for those readers who simply can’t wait, here’s a 10%-off discount code (“ONLINE“) you can use anytime, including NOW, to purchase an unsullied, unsigned, Savant/Aignos printed book, CD, DVD or other indicated merchandise from any Savant Bookstore (www.savantbookstoreatlantic.com, http://www.savantbookstoremidwest.com, http://www.savantbookstorepacific.com or http://www.savantbookstorehonolulu.com). Again, you must have a USA mailing address, and, yet again, shipping and handling are free! Am I nice or am I nice?
Hey, I’ve done my part, so what are you waiting for? No fine print. Going, Going, But Not [Yet] Gone!
The Edge of Madness
Video Book Preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je6CC...
But that’s not all: The Great Pumpkin will send everyone who enters per above (but, so sorry, didn’t win a Grand Prize) a special 30%-off discount code you can use to purchase one or more unsigned copies of THE EDGE OF MADNESS from your closest Savant Bookstore (Savant Bookstore Atlantic, Midwest, Pacific or Honolulu) until midnight San Francisco time 30 November 2021. Again, you must have a USA mailing address to which the book(s) can be sent, and handling and postage are free! Are you feeling Thankful? Gobble, Gobble! Great for a Holiday Gift and totally non-fattening, too.
And, for those readers who simply can’t wait, here’s a 10%-off discount code (“ONLINE“) you can use anytime, including NOW, to purchase an unsullied, unsigned, Savant/Aignos printed book, CD, DVD or other indicated merchandise from any Savant Bookstore (www.savantbookstoreatlantic.com, http://www.savantbookstoremidwest.com, http://www.savantbookstorepacific.com or http://www.savantbookstorehonolulu.com). Again, you must have a USA mailing address, and, yet again, shipping and handling are free! Am I nice or am I nice?
Hey, I’ve done my part, so what are you waiting for? No fine print. Going, Going, But Not [Yet] Gone!
The Edge of Madness
Video Book Preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je6CC...
