Timeless Gardens & Other Beautiful Miseries

by T.J. McGowan

Ellis Foster is, in many ways, a man which time had forgotten. Unintentionally orphaned from existence, he is now the gatekeeper to an insatiable void hidden in the fabric of our reality. One where seconds, minutes, and hours do not exist, and grief is both fuel for survival and the very essence of extraordinary beauty. And, within those cracks and crevices of the unknown, he will soon come to learn there also dwells truths not so pretty.

Laura Nagan, derailed by unexpected loss and anchored to irrevocable hopelessness, stands at a crossroad where pain outweighs peace, and her life is no longer a place she wishes to exist in. However, in a moment of coincidence, or possibly even fate, she finds herself with an opportunity at a second chance when her world collides with Ellis.

Are answers out there for them, in the inexplicable corners of the universe? Can solace be found within entwining voids of their past, present, and future? Or, might certain horrors lurk in the darker parts of uncharted existence?

Venture into the small town of Hollow Hills, into the lives of these two people, to uncover the true depths of grief; to discover what it means to be trapped, and perhaps what it means to be free.

This book is for those who know grief, seek the healing powers of love, strive to identify the true meaning of home and family, ponder the fluidity of time and mortality, or simply want to leap beyond the veil of what sits in front of them, in order to dip their toes into the mysterious, magical, and unapologetic pools of nature and human connectedness.

Don’t be afraid. Step inside.

302 pages, Paperback

Published May 3, 2022

About the author

T.J. McGowan aka The Everyday Bite is a Bronx based writer, poet, and spoken word artist who has performed all over the Tri-State. His written work has been published in Flash Fiction Mag, Collective Unrest, 35MM, Mojave Heart, Vamp Cat, United: Red, BX Writers, to name a few. His body-autonomy poem, I Am Not Her Bones, and its incendiary performance was recipient of the 2019 Poem of the Year at the Word Masters Poetry Gala. The written version can be found in Wide Eyes Publishing's anthology, War Crimes Against the Uterus.

He has one full-length poetry collection, We Are Not One Thing, currently available for purchase. In addition to that, he is one half of the the trip-rock poetry and meditative metal duo, Subtle Bodies, most recently writing/directing the short poetic film for their debut EP, Apocalyptic Hearts.

When not slinging poetry or music, he spends his days as an Associate Producer for a Film & TV company based in NYC, contributing to script and creative copy on most of the productions that pass through the doors. He is also way more interesting than this bio, so come out to one of his shows and chop it up with him. Contrary to the stage name, he does not bite...unless provoked.

Reviews

[Carson Bowie · Rating 5 out of 5]

TJ has always been a talented poet and his passion for film taught me that he loves a good story. So when I heard he was releasing his first fiction novel, I had to score a copy. I never do well at comparing books to books, I tend to use a broader range of pop culture and life experience to reflect on stories. I’d personally describe his new release as the love child of Stephen King and Quentin Tarantino, albeit with more reasonable dialogue, and the cussing (mostly) stripped away. This is a great example of how telling a linear story, in a non linear way, can hook a reader and pull them deeper. With the turn of each page I was gutted further and further while we explore the history of what we’d just seen in the previous chapter, it’s a pattern that repeats in minor ways throughout the book, foreshadowing the way it will come together in the end. The writing is simple, it’s very often tell instead of show, but done in a manner that kept me engaged and hooked for the two days it took me to devour it. Every time I had to put it down I was irritated that I hadn’t yet learned what TJ had in store in the pages ahead. It hurt me in a few places, and I couldn’t see everything coming, which as someone who dissects every story I encounter as I go through it, usually predicting every next step, is the highest compliment I can give. Without giving away any spoilers, this book will pull you into something painful, fluid and surreal, where sadness is made beautiful, and one where you feel as though disaster may be only a few page turns away. If you’re looking for something that breaks the formulas you’re used to, and something you never expected, I’d recommend Timeless Gardens and Other Beautiful Miseries.

[mmck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered the poetry of TJ on Instagram and have devoured his work as he shares it. I couldn’t wait to pick up his first novel _Timeless Gardens and Other Beautiful Miseries_ and I will be honest in saying that after 25 pages, I needed to close it up and take a moment. TJ navigates the world of grief in such a way that you don’t feel pity or sadness for the characters, he (somehow!) makes it beautiful. This story is a descriptive unfolding of intersecting and intertwined storylines, a spellbinding journey of important emotions in human nature. He puts into words what most of us cannot about grief, making _Timeless Gardens and Other Beautiful Miseries_ wholly absorbing. You will not understand the “why” of this journey until TJ places a big fat red bow on it.

[Tara Yerks]

What waves of emotions I went through reading this amazing book! I shed tears, became angry, fell in love with the characters in this book. I could not put it down and I’m ready to read it all over again just finishing it a few moments ago. What an amazing way to write about grief and how all of us experience in different ways, for different reasons and how our minds constantly remind us of what was. Just amazing!!

[Justin Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had me locked in by the first couple of chapters! T.J. paints this beautiful heart tugging world where I even get attached to the most minor of characters. This book is very well written and T.J. does a great job of not only making me feel, but also questioning my morals and beliefs the deeper the story goes.

[Diane McGowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! I couldn't put it down! Captivating and heart wrenching. Leaves you wanting more!

[Anthony Desmond]

One of the smoothest reads I've ever had the pleasure of diving into. TJ is a phenomenal writer and doesn't miss.

[Jessica Collazo · Rating 5 out of 5]

TJ has always had this way of making tragedy sound beautiful. In his debut novel, it’s no surprise that he did the same thing. I enjoyed reading this book!

[Steven Svymbersky · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was no suprise that a book about the nature of grief woiuld be very sad at times, and this book really tugs at the heartstrings, but it is also offers some hope to the characters. Excellent writing and a wonderfully imaginative story. I really appreciated that the author didn't try and sugar coat the heaviness of the character's grief. It all rang true and had a strong effect on me as I read it.