Inside Out: Ground-Breaking, Intense Semi-Autobiographical Novel Throws Actor Behind Bars. But He Knows This Prison All Too Well; Masterfully crafted by Jack Kearney, ‘Inside Out’ weaves together an engrossing story of a young actor who, after volunteering for a unique project to teach drama to inmates of the local medium-security prison, months later finds himself locked in a cell as a convict

Inside Out: Ground-Breaking, Intense Semi-Autobiographical Novel Throws Actor Behind Bars. But He Knows This Prison All Too Well…..

Masterfully crafted by Jack Kearney, ‘Inside Out’ weaves together an engrossing story of a young actor who, after volunteering for a unique project to teach drama to inmates of the local medium-security prison, months later finds himself locked in a cell as a convict. It wasn’t meant to be this way; protagonist Danny Belson is a ‘good guy’ from the outside. He is in fact innocent, but being on the inside can change anyone.  This searing and thought-provoking read takes its cues from a similar (yet thankfully less criminal!) experience in the author’s own life.

Clearlake, CA – In the late 1970s, struggling actor Jack Kearney was part of a world’s first experiment; to help the head of his own weekly workshop as she conducts a weekend improvisation workshop for inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution, Lompoc, California. It was an educational feat that had never been attempted before, and left all involved with a host of new perspectives on their lives and the world around them.

But Kearney couldn’t shake one thought; what if, by a sick twist of fate, he wound up back behind the twelve-foot stone walls as an inmate? A true creative visionary, Kearney has rekindled the idea after almost four decades and turned it into a compelling new thriller.

The aptly-titled ‘Inside Out’ plays Kearney’s fantasy out with gripping aplomb; words of warning for anyone who thinks staying on the ‘outside’ is a right.

Synopsis:

As an actor, Danny Belson has played many criminal types, but as the prisoner transport bus pulls out of the LA county jail, the realization of his conviction overwhelms him. The irony is that only six months ago he taught an acting workshop at the same institution he is now going to be incarcerated in. Danny had been chosen to take part in California’s answer to New Jersey’s highly acclaimed “Scared Straight” by actually working with the inmates of the Medium Security Federal Prison in Lompoc. In his short stay, Danny made some interesting friends as well as unforgiving enemies.

Utilizing a groundbreaking format, Follow Danny as he goes from a care free beach volleyball loving, pool shooting, actor, who’s only worry is knowing when his next audition will come, to a convicted murderer. Written using flashbacks, with no chapters, learn what a struggling actor goes through, and how, after his incarceration, Danny’s life is turned INSIDE OUT.

“I believe that this is the first book to take an absolute non-criminal type and toss him into a situation where he knows some of the inmates already,” explains Kearney. “Ironically, because of the workshop he has made some friends as well as enemies. When his foes attack him, his friends help to avenge his attackers. Readers will be tormented with this dilemma and hopefully be left with plenty to think about in their own lives.”

Continuing, “There’s no chapters, giving the narrative a vivid cinematic feel that has forced many beta readers to consume it in a single sitting. Told through a series of flashbacks, it’s a totally-unique reading experience that I hope will become a hallmark of my style. Oh yes…for those with a vengeance streak…there’s a stop-at-nothing ‘payback’ in the prison. Whether they succeed or not depends on you reading the book!”

But it’s not just the narrative gripping readers by the throat.

“Never believe it when they say that you can’t judge a book by its cover! I’ve created what I and my beta readers firmly believe is a masterpiece. In fact, many are finding that it’s drawing them into the story before they have even discovered what it’s about. With thousands of new books being released each week, this was designed from the ground up to stand out from the crowd,” he adds.

With the novel expected to see high demand, interested readers are urged to secure their copies as soon as possible.

‘Inside Out’, from Page Publishing, is available now: http://amzn.to/1MrN6Vn.

About the author, in his own words:

For most of my life I was a struggling actor. I appeared on such shows as Mash, WKRP in Cincinnati, and General Hospital. For a short time, I even taught an acting workshop. Today I am a struggling acting coach in Northern California, but back in the mid seventies I was a recent graduate of the very prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts where I was part of the first graduating class in Los Angeles. After that I joined the ranks of the other sixty thousand would be stars that acted in showcase plays, occasionally went on a professional audition, and attended a weekly workshop.

Waiting for that big break I had many survival jobs typical of the actors of the 70’s and 80’s. But sales seemed to offer the only possible way to make a living and contrary to popular belief, I discovered that a salesperson is made not born. In fact, commissioned sales can be almost as frustrating as breaking into show business. I am currently working out of my home, on commission, for a newsletter publishing company.

I have been married twice. My first, which ended in divorce gave me my beautiful daughter Shannon. I lost my second wife of ten years to cancer in 2012. Now 63, I currently reside in Northern California with my Yorkie-Poo Toby.