Replay Central, Virtual Dire Series, Jan-May 2025 (and all the rest)

January 2025

Eileen Pollack 

George S. Peterson

February 2025

Ellen Kombiyil

M.K. Jackson

March 2025

 Chad Parenteau

 Kerry Beth Neville

April 2025

Lawrence Kessenich

Linda Carney-Goodrich 

May 2025

Amy Alvarez

Kurt Baumeister

====================================================

The Rest of the Replay Centrals

Autumn 2024 (link to replay)

Jackie Corley, Dawn Tripp, Sara Letourneau, Kristin Bok, Edward Belfar, JoeAnn Hart, Margaret Young, Gabby Gilliam, Lee Varon 

Summer 2024 (link to replay website)

Susan Zalkind, Jessica Anya Blau, Gregory Wolos, Melissa Cundieff, Ben Tanzer, John Amen

Spring 2024 (link to replay website)

Doug Crandell, Mathew Olzmann, William Orem, Martin Ott, M.P. Carver, Phil Temples, Mag Gabbert, Robert Fleming, Danielle Legros George, Michael Keith, Mark Wish

Autumn-Winter 2023 (link to replay website)

Marianne Leone, Tiffany Davenport, Jennifer Friedman Lang, Ray Guidrox, Gary Grossman, Elizabeth McKim, Carla Panciera, Dr. Dannagal G. Young, Ellis Elliot, Enzo Silon Surin, Josh Barkan, Laura Zigman, Tom Laughlin

Spring/Summer 2023 (links to website)

Jane Roper, John Wesick, Jennifer Martelli, John Fulton, Tricia Barker Barton, Cynthia Atkins, Katie Moulton, Yael Goldstein Love, Julia Lisella

Winter 2023 (link to website)

Suzanne Frischkorn, Kim Addonizio, Thomas McNeely, Jenna Le, Sarah Bridgins, Lee Matthew Goldberg, Lise Hanes, Dr. Paula Perez, Michael Mark, Maya Williams, Hannah Sward, Caitlin Avery, Carla Swartz, Stacy TenHouton, Donna Spruijt-Metz, Morgan Baker

Autumn 2022 (link to website) 

Jonathan Papernick, A.K. Small, Aaron Tillman, David Rockland, Kimberly Ann Priest, Sain Griffiths, Harris Gardner, Lisa Taylor, Michael Keith, Jim Shepard, Zach VandeZande, Rusty Barnes, Daniel Nester. Kurk Lovelace (reading from Annemarie O'Connell's book), and Nina Shope

Spring/Summer 2022 (link to website) 

Sara Lippmann, Robin McLean, Gregory Orr, Rich Murphy, Diane Suess, Ron Tanner, Aleathea Drehmer, Christina Adams, Sharon Applegate Greenwald, Lucas Scheelk, 

Joseph Milosch, Barbara Legere, Ellene Glenn Moore, Vincent Cellucci and Chris Shipman

Winter 2022

Renuka Raghaven, Jessica Cuello, Jen Knox, Daniel Biegelson, Alison Stine, 

John Rosenthal, Peter Crowley, Maggie Doherty, Erin Khar, Elan Barnehama, 

Marguerite Guzman Bouvard

Autumn 2021

DeMisty Bellinger, Cheryl Pappas, Matt Bell, Michael Keith, Gloria Mindock, 

Molly Gaudry, CD Collins, Kevin Prufer, Beth Robinson/Chris Joseph, Alina Stefanuscu, Meg Smith, Gregory Wolos, Damian Dressic, Jason Wright, Blake Butler 

Summer 2021

Natalie Brobin Bonfig, John Domini, Anna VQ Ross, Rachel Yoder

Spring 2021

Sandra Simonds, George Wallace, Caroline Levitt, Charles Coe, Susan Henderson, 

Major Jackson, Kara Vernor, Meredith Goldstein, Kimberly Ann Priest, Joanna Rakoff

Winter 2021

Rick Moody , Laurette Folk, Mark Saba, Sarah Anne Johnson, 

Josh Barkan/ Jennifer Haigh, Keetje Kuipers, January O'Neil,  Elle Nash, 

Danielle Zaccagnino, Marty Beckerman, Nathan Graziano , Steven Cramer

Autumn 2020

Carly Israel, Daphne Kalotay, Ryan Ridge, Marge Piercy, Kerry Beth Neville, 

Yuyutsu Sharma, Chris Joseph, Elizabeth Gordon McKim, Diana Spechler, 

Jonathan Escoffrey, Dewitt Henry, Brian Sonia-Wallace, Rebecca Fishow,

 Marguerite Bouvard, Pamela Painter, Kim Chinquee, Jessica Keener, Amy King

Virtual Dire Literary Series----Here comes the Summer (schedule)

 

June

5  Elizabeth Hazen

19:  Bob Walicki

July

10  

24:  

August

7  

21:  Hosho McCreesh 

October 23, Susan Michele

Review of the #1 new release, Shadows of the Seen, seen in the Somerville Times (PLUS links to all things Seen)

 Timothy Gager has long been a fixture in Boston’s literary underground – a prolific writer, spoken-word regular, and a familiar face to anyone who’s spent time at the intersection of art and recovery in New England. With Shadows of the Seen, his latest and most ambitious novel to date, Gager steps fully into the national conversation with a work that confronts the psychic aftershocks of gun violence, addiction, and political hypocrisy in modern-day America.

Set in New Jersey and Tennessee, Shadows of the Seen follows four interwoven characters whose lives are quietly unraveling. The book opens with Candace, a politician whose well-curated image is shaken after a mass shooting forces her to reckon with both her platform and her past. Her storyline anchors the book, providing a moral throughline for a novel more interested in psychological depth than linear plot.

Gager, who has written candidly about his own struggles with depression and substance use, brings a clinician’s precision and a poet’s empathy into his work. Nowhere is that more evident than in the character of Lucky – a man ravaged by addiction and brain lesions, whose purpose reads not as hopelessness, but as unfiltered honesty. His chapters are not easy to read, but they are among the most affecting.

There’s also Peter, whose blackouts and panic attacks suggest a life teetering on the edge of violence. His sections simmer with dread, not because he’s a threat, but because Gager so effectively captures the experience of mental illness from the inside out – confused, circular, and terrifyingly isolating. Then there’s Bobby-Joe, a political opportunist, husband of Candace, whose self-interest serves as a foil to Candace’s late-breaking conscience. Though less nuanced than the others, he adds a necessary bite of satire to a book heavy with emotional weight.

This is not a novel that traffics in silver linings. Gager doesn’t resolve trauma, he dissects it. The structure is fragmented, the tone often bleak, and the emotional realism unflinching. That can make for a difficult read– but it’s also what makes the book feel honest. Shadows of the Seen doesn’t sensationalize mental illness or addiction; it renders them with the flat affect of lived experience.

At times, Gager’s reach exceeds his grasp. The political themes, while timely, are occasionally over-explained, and the multiple narrative voices don’t always maintain the same level of complexity. But when the novel is at its best– which is often – it pierces. The writing is sharp, direct, and deeply felt.

For readers familiar with Gager’s poetry or his personal essays, Shadows of the Seen will feel like a culmination– an artist applying his hard-won insight to fiction that dares to look at what most of us try to avoid. For new readers, it’s a bracing introduction to a voice that doesn’t flinch. In a literary market full of polished detachment, Timothy Gager is doing something riskier: he’s telling the truth, no matter how raw it is.

========================

ALL THINGS SEEN

Nov 2024-Talking about Shadows of the Seen for the first time in WWAF Podcast. 

January 2025-Preview and taking a deep dive into Shadows of the Seen

March 17, 2025-Interview with Briar House Writes, and I talk about, read from book at 11:00 mark

March 23, 2025-Why Shadows of the Seen is relevant

April 15, 2025-Press release for Shadows of the Seen

May 1, 2025-The feeling when the author copies arrive

May 7, 2025-Info on Seamus McGraw who wrote the forward

May 14, 2025: Official Release Date

May 18, 2025-Fact checking Shadows of the Seen

Fact Checking of Shadows of the Seen

If you are so intrigued, please pick up a copy or contact me for a signed version of the hard cover or paperback. 

 Shadows of the Seen is not anti-gun, anti-ownership  anti-Second Amendment and anti-America

The book is neither pro or anti-gun. 

In general, guns are a vehicle in shooting people, that's why they were invented, no matter what you think.  The book doesn't mention forming of any militias, so that covers that, but it does cover the rally behind that Amendment. The book does mention how easy it is to get hands on powerful weapons, legally or illegally and how politicians ramp up their influence and are paid by gun lobbyists--(who turn around feed us information about guns being "taken away," and how more arming of teachers, or good guys can prevent all of this. It can't--check the facts.)

Shadows of the Seen puts politicians, especially conservatives in a bad light. 

The book holds party-line platforms, for the most part that Republicans are pro-gun, anti-choice, and Democrats and anti-gun, pro-choice. 

Shadows of the Seen  takes a stand about which comes first the chicken (people) or the egg (the guns)

Neither. The book covers both, and the manipulation of those issues. 

Moving to non-fiction: Let's take on Mental Health in the USA. People, because of some serious issues should never have access to guns, but here's the rub in the USA. Mental Health services for those in serious need. 

Why?

Mostly because insurance companies don't want to pay for it. Insurance, if you have it, are looking to treat and discharge care or therapy services. Mental Health is all based on the prescription model and people either a) quit or don't take their medications correctly, b) are on the wrong medications which they take blindly because their psychiatrist told them to, and don't try more therapeutic ones because they don't know any better. The psychiatrist are the "golden Gods." On the other hand will only change things up if people self-report, and if they are not being treated in the best way, their self-reporting is unreliable. 

As for the guns, the manipulation is in that it's believed to be anti-American to not have them. Period.  This also covers the the "American hating" folks that object semi-automatic weapons, which no one really needs.  The problem is about all of the above, people, figure heads, manipulation, need for guns. One of the biggest manipulations in history was pre-political, the Bernard Goetz case, who shot his perceived assailants in the back.  

This case is covered  in the Netflix series, Trail by Media, Episode 2: The NRA helped fund his defense because it opened a window for their agenda. In fact, the NRA was sued afterward for misleading and fraudulent fund-raising drive to pardon the convicted Goetz,

     The National Rifle Association were among the groups that attempted to brand him as a folk hero. Goetz told investigators that he'd bought a gun in Florida and illegally transported it to New York City after he was violently mugged by three teens four years before the subway shooting, and had applied for a New York gun permit as a result but was rejected. This led the NRA to openly support Goetz, raising money for him and asking the governor to pardon him, according to a 1987 Los Angeles Times report. They used Goetz as a poster boy as they advocated for looser gun laws in New York City.   

     Goetz's vigilante hero persona may have helped him at the trial for the shooting. A mostly white jury acquitted Goetz of attempted murder and first-degree assault charges. However, public perception began to turn after an interrogation video was released, which revealed Goetz speaking callously about the shooting and his desire to kill the teenagers.

“I wanted to kill those guys,” he told investigators. “I wanted to maim those guys.”

He claimed to have shot one of the teens more than once because he thought he didn’t seem hurt enough the first time. He was convicted only of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree for carrying an unlicensed weapon in a public place and served just eight months.

 

Accused "subway vigilante" Bernhard Goetz, who shot four young black men whom he believed were intent on robbing him on the subway, is surrounded by newsmen in New York, 1987. Photo

 Shadows of the Seen  is attempting to change the minds of people that aren't on the same side of this issue as the author.

No. Shadows of the Seen is a book of fiction, a novel that looks at the gun issue from many sides. The story is driven through the narrative of the three main characters, 1) a politician who is internally liberal but runs on conservative values. 2) A mass shooter. 3) A reluctant hero who breaks up a mass shooter for unconventional reasons. 

The hook?

The mass shooter and reluctant hero are not revealed until the end. 

Officially Released : Shadows of the Seen

info on the book

        

 

To get this important book in your hands , below are the many  options for on-line purchase. Also your favorite local independent bookstore is a great option and they can order it 

(also purchasing bookshop.org benefits those small businesses)

Of course, if you want a signed copy, contact me 

 

 

 

Meet Seamus Mcgraw, who wrote the Forward to Shadows of the Seen

 I'm lucky and grateful Seamus McGraw wrote the Forward to my new book Shadows of the Seen, as he is the author of From a Taller Tower: The Rise of the American Mass Shooter

(at the book launch I answered a question relating to Gregory Gibson (who blurbed the book) and Seamus)

Review of Taller Tower

From a Taller Tower traces the history of the American mass shooter — at Columbine, Sandy Hook, Parkland — without giving in to the notoriety that so many of them seek. With few exceptions, the murderers are never named. Instead, the book examines the beliefs many Americans hold onto about guns, mass shootings and mental illness, and confronts the circumstances that allow these catastrophes to continue. ― NPR Published On: 2022-06-02

A memorable, necessary contribution to the national conversation on gun violence. ― Kirkus, Starred Review Published On: 2021-02-24

It is a terrible testament to the frequency of [mass shootings] over the last couple of decades that for those of us not directly affected, some of them tend to blur. From a Taller Tower offers a clearheaded and thoughtful analysis of these crimes, and our culture. ― The American Conservative Published On: 2021-05-18

A deeply reported examination of the many mass shootings in the United States...The book attempts to unpack our responses to these crimes and explain what’s missing from our understanding of these events, while also revealing more about who is behind these atrocities. ― She Reads Published On: 2021-04-23

[From a Taller Tower] traces the history of the American mass shooter and the troubling ways we make sense of senseless violence...There’s a tragic timeliness to McGraw’s book. ― Inside Hook Published On: 2021-04-26

[From a Taller Tower] details how our culture of rage, victimhood, narcissism and love of guns has created an onslaught of violence that’s almost impossible to keep up with…[a] powerful new book. ― MEL Magazine Published On: 2021-11-04

Review

An important and extraordinary book that takes us into the mind of the mass shooter and also explores our own complicity in the numbing tragedies that have become far too routine in America. Still, Seamus McGraw manages to leave us with hope that there's a way out of the despair.

  -- Perri Pelitz, director and producer, Axios on HBO

Boxing Day

 Boxing Day is when the book seems real. I had a PDF, the print-out, the proof copy, the cover design, the back-and-forth with the publisher, but until I get the box of author copies it doesn't feel like a book. It feels more like a concept. There is a lot of joy on Boxing Day! 

So--I have my box for the book launch, and the book is available for pre-order. People know, and I've already spoken about how the characters in Shadows of the Seen, reflect very true to my year 2022---not a particular easy one for me. As we approach the official release date which is May 15---I will tell you more. Trigger warning...the book deals with the gun issue from many different angles (mass shootings, good gun with a gun, political, NRA, blaming everything except access to high powered weapons etc.), but it also deals with depression, and other mental health issues. Those all relate to 2022, except the gun part. I do not own one. 

PRE-ORDER NOW

AMAZON

BARNES AND NOBLE

BOOKSHOP.ORG

PRESS RELEASE: Shadows of the Seen, from publicist, Lisa Bell, (also named finalist for Rose Warner Prize for Prose)

    

                     

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Inquiries:

Lisa Bell  

Lisa Bell Public Relations for Author Timothy Gager

lisabellpublicrelations@gmail.com

617-304-3836 

Acclaimed Author Timothy Gager to Release 20th Published Work, 

The Shadows of the Seen, on May 14, 2025

Massachusetts-based Gager’s latest thrilling novel is a darkly riveting tapestry 

of characters caught at the intersection of politics, violence, and personal demons; a story 

wrapped in a subtle “whodunit”

Waltham, Mass. –April 14, 2025 – Renowned author Timothy Gager is set to release his latest novel, The Shadows of the Seen, on May 14, 2025, in hardcover, followed by a paperback release in June 2025, through Pierian Springs Press. This marks Gager’s 20th published work, solidifying his position as a prolific voice in contemporary fiction and poetry. Told through a nonlinear narrative brimming with raw emotion and incisive dark humor, Gager’s The Shadows of the Seen is a provocative exploration of how one navigates power, personal trauma, and the murky line between right and wrong.

“As my 20th book, The Shadows of the Seen holds special meaning for me,” said Gager. “It’s a novel that explores the blurred lines between what we believe we see and what truly exists beneath the surface. I can’t wait to share it with readers, particularly at this time in our nation’s history and with what our communities are facing in their day-to-day lives when it comes to mental health, gun violence, addiction, and the news of the day.”

 

Through four interlocking storylines, centered on the ambitious politician Candace, the tormented Peter, the luck-driven but troubled Lucky, and the opportunistic Bobby-Joe, Gager delves into the heart of contemporary American struggles, from gun control and mental health to personal responsibility and redemption. Candace’s drive for power collides with her conscience after a tragic school shooting, forcing her to confront her closely guarded past and shifting ideals. Peter battles anxiety and blackouts, lurking on the edge of violence as he grapples with hidden rage. Lucky’s seemingly good fortune cracks under addiction, brain lesions, and an ideology that his life is no longer worth living.  Meanwhile, Bobby-Joe seizes every opportunity to amplify his political standing, revealing a chilling disconnect between ambition and morality.

The Shadows of the Seen is poised to captivate both longtime fans and new readers alike, offering an intricate and thought-provoking journey into the hidden dimensions of human experience. “With topics and challenges in the novel reflecting reality in some cases, the following Meet the Author events this spring will be sure to captivate and excite loyal fans and new readers of my works,” added Gager. 

To celebrate the release of The Shadows of the Seen, Timothy Gager will host a Book Reading and Q&A at Brewer’s Tap & Table, 256 Moody Street in Waltham, Mass. 02453 on Saturday, May 10th from 2-4pm. The event will offer refreshments, networking, and a brief but gripping reading from Gager. Special guests and fellow Writers Michael Ansara, DeMisty Bellinger plus Poet and Former State Representative Denise Provost will be in attendance. The Shadows of the Seen will be on sale at the event as well as works from the special guests.

Pre-sale orders for The Shadows of the Seen can be made here: https://timothygager.blogspot.com/2025/04/shadows-of-seen-now-available-for-pre.html

More about the Author

Timothy Gager has been a prominent figure in the literary world, having published 20 books of fiction and poetry, as well as supporting and promoting writers both locally and nationally.. He hosted the acclaimed Dire Literary Series in Cambridge, MA, from 2001 to 2018 and launched a weekly virtual reading series in 2020. His work has been featured in over 1,000 literary publications, earning 18 Pushcart Prize nominations. Additionally, Gager has received nominations for the Massachusetts Book Award, Best of the Web, and The Best Small Fictions Anthology, and his writing has been showcased on National Public Radio.

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Also, this happened today

Well, hello. 

Congratulations from the editors of the Freshwater Review!

Your piece "Cats" has been selected as a finalist for the Rose Warner Prize for prose. This recognition is a testament to the strength of your work, and we are thrilled to celebrate your achievement.

Winners will be announced by the end of the month, and we’ll be in touch with more details then. In the meantime, thank you for sharing your work with us! We’re excited to include it in this year’s issue of the Freshwater Review.

Best Regards,
The Editorial Team of the Freshwater Review