Personal notes from Quin;
First, again, please do consider donating to Prichard Prep School, especially as you consider year-end tax ramifications, since you get a DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR tax credit from your state income taxes.
SECOND:
If you haven’t already ordered my new novel, Mad Jones, Heretic, I urge you to do so for Christmas. So far it is getting wonderful word-of-mouth reviews, and terrific reviews at Amazon.com. (If you have already read it and liked it, PLEASE go to Amazon and give it a good review!!)
Here is a rundown of a lot of the coverage of Mad.
Please read Mad yourself, and consider giving it as a gift.
In case you missed it, here’s what the novel is about:
A grief-stricken modern-day Martin Luther posts religious theses on Gulf Coast church walls and attracts instant controversy, setting up a satirical tale of modern religion, media and politics.
Meet Mad Jones, a high school history teacher who, in the midst of unspeakable tragedy, literally nails religious theses to church doors. He does so with no expectation that they will be taken seriously, or even widely read—but, in this age of modern electronic communications and instant celebrity, young Madison Jones very quickly develops a large following and engenders significant levels of controversy. The media, quite typically, misunderstand and misrepresent his ultimate message; religious leaders debate his theses, at times with ulterior motives; and soon politicians are jumping in to comment from whichever standpoint best fits their partisan purposes.
Mad Jones, Heretic delivers sharp satire on modern religion, politics, and media, all at the same time, along with insightful representations of the vagaries of today’s celebrity culture and the lunacy of Internet comment threads. Controversies surrounding race and sexual morality enter in as well. Additionally, its setting at the end of the 20th Century, in the midst of the Y2K computer scare, provides the perfect vehicle to dissect millennialist themes as well.
Underlying all of this are some very serious theological reflections, woven naturally through a plot filled with sympathetic and memorable characters. Ultimately, true character—both good and bad—reveals itself, and both faith and human decency are tested once again. Grace and redemption, though, are always possible. Thank you — Quin
