Dead Wrestlers, Broken Necks & The Women Who Screwed Me Over: A Main Event of Photography & Fiction

by Jake Aurelian

Literary

Finalist Award (Short Fiction) in the 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Awards

2nd Place/Runner Up (General Fiction) in the 2012 Hollywood Book Festival.

Untold secrets. The Russian Mafia trolling nightspots. Demented circus clowns. Silent film stars haunting Hollywood hills. Fake mimes. Assassins. Unworldly craft hovering over fields. Public displays of rejection. Strongmen lifting heavy stuff. Costumed mayhem. Diner shootouts. Time jumpers. Heroes with lawnmowers. Outlaw bikers lookin’ for love. Nostalgia running amok. Dead Wrestlers, Broken Necks & the Women Who Screwed Me short fiction exploring dreams and nightmares, the unfortunates we’ve all had the displeasure of encountering, the random incidents that alter our lives and the gritty underbelly of American society.

This collection of reflections and observations is philosophical and provocative, yet humorous—a commentary on society, dissection of relationships, passing comments and brief encounters. An addictive book of sardonic fiction and satire, Dead Wrestlers, Broken Necks & The Women Who Screwed Me Over reflects a rarely seen side of humanity—combining too-real-to-be-true tales with dark photography. (Featuring cameos by John Belushi, D.B. Cooper, Phil Silvers, Grigori Rasputin, Randy “Macho Man” Savage, “The Black Dahlia” Elizabeth Short, Roswell Aliens and others!)

Buzz Magazine (August 2012): "...[a] fresh and honest voice ... Dead Wrestlers, Broken Necks & The Women Who Screwed Me Over creates a world of strange characters, nostalgic ephemera and honest emotion. The stories are sometimes raw, other times experimental, yet always provide an entertaining look at life and memory in our bleak, media-saturated century."

238 pages, Paperback

First published June 14, 2011

About the author

Jake Aurelian graduated from the University of Illinois in 2000 with a degree in Media Studies/Communication & Rhetoric. Aurelian has taught English and media at the college level, and to date, has authored eight books (fiction, non-fiction and children's) and over 500 pop culture articles.

On Halloween 2012, Jake Aurelian took an obscure character from his fiction books, an angry clown named Ripper, and turned the character into a stand-up comedy and online comedy video gimmick; billed as "an unpredictable cartoon character come to life," Ripper the Clown morphs truth, fiction, pop culture and social commentary into comedy chaos. As his clown alter-ego, Aurelian performs material from his books; no other author has done anything even remotely similar, and the clown character quickly gained notice from NBC, award-winning movie producers and notables within the entertainment industry.

Ripper's zombie (spoof) novel, The Life & Mimes (& Zombie Apocalypse) of Ripper the Clown: The Autobiography of an Unconventional Zombie simultaneously redefines and spoofs the zombie genre.

The Life & Mimes... has won the following literary awards:

Finalist, Comedy/Humor: 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Awards

First Place, General Fiction: 2014 Halloween Book Festival.

Runner-Up / 2nd Place, General Fiction 2014 London (England) Book Festival

Runner-Up / 2nd Place, General Fiction: 2014 Hollywood Book Festival

Honorable Mention, General Fiction, 2014 Great Midwest Book Festival (Chicago)

Honorable Mention, General Fiction, 2014 New England Book Festival

Honorable Mention, General Fiction, 2015 Los Angeles Book Festival

Smile Politely review of The Life & Mimes...

http://smilepolitely.com/arts/undead_...

Buzz magazine interview:

http://readbuzz.com/life/2014/clowing...

Ripper the Clown on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/user/Ripperth...

Aurelian's collection of gritty, quirky short fiction, "Dead Wrestlers, Broken Necks & The Women Who Screwed Me Over: A Main Event of Fiction and Photography" (2011) has received rave reviews on Amazon.com for its diversity of fiction genres, "the immaculate writing," the laugh-out-loud humor, "crazy scenarios" and the author's "addictive" storytelling.

"Dead Wrestlers..." was the recipient of a Finalist Award (Short Fiction) in the 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and received 2nd Place/Runner Up (General Fiction) in the 2012 Hollywood Book Festival. After reading "Dead Wrestlers, Broken Necks & the Women Who Screwed Me Over," legendary and iconic pro wrestler, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, posted on his Facebook page: "This is a very good book, folks, savvy stuff ... get your copy TODAY!"

Aurelian's "Living Well is the Best Revenge" (2012, crime fiction) received 1st Place (General Fiction) at the 2013 Hollywood Book Festival, Honorable Mention at both the 2013 New England Book Festival and 2013 London [England] Book Festival. In addition, "Living Well..." was the recipient of a Finalist Award (Novella) in the 2013 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Told in a true crime style, most readers believe that "Living Well is the Best Revenge" is an intense work of non-fiction.

"We Leave With Our Guns Out!" (2012, short fiction, bad romance) received Honorable Mention (General Fiction) at the 2013 Hollywood Book Festival.

He is the co-author of Michale Callahan's "Too Politically Sensitive" (2009, true crime/political); featured on three episodes of CBS' "48 Hours" and "On the Case with Paula Zahn."

The illustrated "Obama-Wama-Ding-Dong: A Children's Book for Adults About the Political Climate of America" (2012) is a reflective look at Barack Obama's meteoric rise to fame and presidency coupled with analysis of the mainstream media's unhealthy obsession with Obama. Aurelian's "Children's Book for Adults" format was called "profound" by Right On! Weekly and has been featured on the nationally syndicated George Jarkesy S

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

When the author approached me to review this book, I knew that I had two options; offer a flowery review that would surely please the author and make the book look like something that the New York Times ought to scoop up for its Sunday edition, or offer something from the heart (and the gut) to show people what I thought, as a tried and tested reader. I chose the latter and I can only hope that is the high road for all involved.

Seeing the numerous awards the book obtained in its literary journeys around the world, I remain gobsmacked. I am, perhaps, not up to snuff when it comes to good literature, even of the short story variety, but I was left disappointed and wondering where these hidden gems might be found that garnered so much attention. All I found were numerous stories that left me scratching my head and wishing I got those minutes back in my life. Perhaps a snifter of brandy would have made them better, I am not sure, but I have flattened my forehead in bafflement throughout the collection.
There were some cute stories in there, one or two that did actually have me stifling a laugh out in public. I will admit, Aurelian does have a way with words and can inject some humour into them at needed times. These nuggets of humour came at good moments, while I pushed through some of the molasses selections, these little stories did help me forge on.

Not to be the iceberg that sinks this apparent Titanic collection of short stories, but perhaps these are best ingested one story a night, just to be on the safe side.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had intended to read this book a couple of stories at a time, but once I started I couldn't put it down. Each story was fun and delightfully weird, and I found myself laughing out loud more than once. From Juggalos to classic film stars to bad dates, Jake Aurelian tackles each subject with cleverness and good humor, making every single story funny and unique.

I found this book beyond refreshing--while many anthologies are a mixed bag, Mr. Aurelian put so much care and effort into each of his stories that I enjoyed all of them. I highly recommend this book, and hope to read more from the author in the future.

[Katlyn Womack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up a copy of this book after reading one of the author's other works. I'm glad I did!

You know those times in your life when you say to yourself, “Nobody is going to believe what just happened to me!”? This book is full of those kinds of stories. It makes you wonder if these are those types of moments directly from the author's life, or if he just has a VERY colorful imagination. Either way, this is a great book.

You will laugh at every single story. I can't see how anyone could give this less than four stars!