The Da Vinci Diamond 2nd Edition released

I've done some reformatting on the paperback so I'm releasing a second edition of my 5 star novel "The Da Vinci Diamond".  The kindle version remains the same.

"The Da Vinci Diamond" is the first in a series of Detective Tony Mariani Mysteries.  What is the secret of The Da Vinci Diamond?

Three beautiful Russian women, along with Italian and Russian mobsters are all after The Da Vinci Diamond, a million dollar blue gem once owned by the great Leonardo himself.

San Francisco Police Detective Tony Mariani follows all the suspects and uncovers clues from the Bay Area and around the world. The evidence eventually leads to The National Museum of Rome, the original home of the gem.

The women, a mistress, jewel thief and assassin, provide plenty of action, murder, intrigue and romance as they manipulate others to find the diamond. What is the key piece of evidence that unlocks the mystery? How does Mariani recover the diamond and arrest the conspirators? You’ll never guess the unpredictable ending but you’ll love the ride.

The second story is "The 7 Hills Technology Group", released as part of my collection "The Best of Cafe Stories".  It is the story of a North Korean terrorist group planning an attack on San Francisco.
 
The third story is titled "The Case of the Chinese Coins" due to be available in April, 2017.  A Chinese cartel is running an underground economy using counterfeit coins to move drugs around California.  This case links to a victim in the previous story.

Cafe Stories: relationships now has a second edition

Decided to add ten stories to my book "Cafe Stories: relationships". The paperback and kindle versions are now available.

The second edition adds these stories:

The Angry Vegetarian
Boxes and Ladders
The Lighthouse
First Love
Apple Juice
Software Bugs
TV All the Time
Love Choices
Conflicted
Fresh Contacts

All of my stories were previously published in literary magazines around the world. The second edition now has 37 stories! Anyone who purchased the first edition will get the second edition for free.

Good, Evil and the Writer's Dilemma

Behind my reasons for being a writer is an unquenchable desire to understand life, death, good, evil and my purpose here on earth.  Reading Tom Morris' "Philosophy for Dummies" has been an excellent process for defining these important subjects.

Not that my writing is filled with philosophical concepts, peak experiences or deep religious visions.  No, I inject humor, romance, irony and everyday experiences to explain why the world works as it does.  I'd like to refer you to a few quotes from authors and editors (see below)

I'm not just blowing my own horn here (wish I had learned the horn, could have been in a marching band on a college scholarship), no I post these reviews to explain why I write.

There's my look at old age in "Preheat the Microwave.Com", inspired by my mom with a heart of gold.  Many of my stories have to do with lost love, a theme I have unfortunately experienced first hand.  (Thank God for Nancy).

My philosophy of life includes Woody Allen, Jerry Seinfeld and the Far Side cartoons.  Amidst this absurd environment we call living, there is love, happiness and grace from our Savior. (I know that's the only way I'm getting into heaven)

My ultimate goal is to write something of great substance, something that will elevate others and inspire them to good works and compassion for the less fortunate.  "The Social Justice Experiment" talks about this as does my signature work "The Devil's Orchestra" with a quote from Shelley.

"No man chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks."
Mary Shelley

When I examine my slips of righteousness, I recognize that I am seeking happiness through evil, but recognizing it is the first step towards changing it.

Life is a series of choices.  Our choices determine our destiny.  All of our choices bring us closer to or farther away from truth, goodness and righteousness.  "Choose carefully", as the knight in Indiana Jones said.

So when you are reading my stories, keep this in mind.  I have an agenda!  To make you a better person.  Someday I hope to see you all on the other side (but not yet).

Jerry :)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

“50 Italian Pastries is a short story reader’s culinary delight.  Jerry Guarino’s 50 slice of life pieces are filled with delightful takes on people, places and things that make America great.  He infuses his stories with life’s delights: good food, great music, fine drink, and the emotional roller coaster of interpersonal relationships.  I found his work honest and filled with delightful irony.  He is a keen observer of the human condition and a writer of obvious talent.  He is a master at mirroring to his readers all their foibles, their fantasies and their forever quest to understand why the wheel of life turns as it does.  Café Stories is short story telling at its best.”

Wayne C. Long (author of Eye Candy, Flash in the Hand and Stories from the Edges)

“Jerry Guarino's sends his readers on a merry chase through a wild array of micro/flash fiction--humor, satire, and pathos. He artfully captures gentle souls and slick cons, the high brows and their unsuspecting victims in characters that step from the page to engage the reader. He finds the tiniest trait that creates zany folks the reader wants to protect or strangle. Often at the same time. Prepare for the surprise twist at the end. He gets you every time.”

Myra H. McIlvain  (author of Legacy)

“The stories in the collection are tightly told tales with engaging storylines and interesting characters. There are plenty of twists and turns, and plenty of characters to delight in (and some to despise).”

Nathaniel Tower (Pushcart Prize nominated author and editor of Bartleby Scopes literary magazine)

“Guarino’s style is simple and consistently powerful, his storytelling a triumph of art over artifice.”

Ben Price (editor at Zouch Magazine and Miscellany (Canada)

“Jerry’s writing is consistently fresh and inventive.  His stories grab from the beginning, and then hurl the reader into surprising and powerful endings.  Definitely a must-read.  The Rich are Going to Hell, The Devil's Orchestra and The Grand Poobah are some of my favorite Guarino pieces.  Always inventive, Jerry Guarino is one of my favorite short story writers. His work hooks you from the first sentence and doesn't let go until you reach the end, making this one writer you won't forget.”

Earl Wynn (editor of Weirdyear, Daily Love and Yesteryear Fiction)

“I found myself intertwined in the lives of each character, not knowing until the end that every one of them held a magical piece to the puzzle we call human nature; the larger picture of which only became clear after reading the final word. This collection of shorts is something that avid fans of storytelling should go out of their way to find."

Jim Idema (screenwriter and author)

“Jerry Guarino’s writing reminds me of the late, but great, Jose Saramago’s.  His structure is both unique and compelling, always leading the reader to places that they never see coming.”

Weeb Heinrich (editor of Writing Raw)

“Jerry Guarino’s stories are a real treat for the reader.  Each story is well crafted with the natural elegance of a natural writer.  The Fringe Magazine has enjoyed his short stories and has had the pleasure of publishing these gems for the past year.”

Scott Wilson (editor of The Fringe Magazine (Australia)

“The beauty in Jerry’s work is the ease with which he breaks that serious concentration without sacrificing quality.  Preheat the Microwave.Com has a relevant, poignant subject at its heart but it is delivered to the reader with eloquent comedy.”

Jenny Catlin (editor of Scissors and Spackle)

“Jerry Guarino takes the nuances of everyday, places it on its head, and then tilts it slightly to the left.  His comical spin on life will make you wheeze with mirth and leave you wanting more.”

Daniel Poole (editor of Larks Fiction Magazine)

“I loved Jerry's short stories and his choice of words. These little tales are great! He has a way with words and pulling you into the story, wanting more! My one and only complaint was when the book ended. I wanted there to be 50 more short stories.”

Reyna Hawk (author of  Angels and Arrows and Looking Through Blind Eyes)

“Jerry Guarino has a knack for looking past the social illusions that poison our world.”

Sand Pilarski (managing editor of The Piker Press)

“Jerry Guarino’s writing is refreshing and authentic.  His storytelling grasps the nuances of life, leading the reader into expertly crafted moments of intimacy, humor, thoughtfulness, and surprise.  Read one story and you’re hooked.  "50 Italian Pastries" is a delicious read!  He knows how to tell a story and with this collection, one finds bite-sized nuggets that heartily fulfill any reader's palate for variety! Guarino is a connoisseur with words, flavoring his stories with the seasonings of life, including laughter, loss, revelation, insight and wisdom. Go ahead, dig in. You'll enjoy every bite, I mean, story.”

Sheila Pierson (author of Steak and Potatoes)

“What James Beard was to cooking, Jerry Guarino is to modern fiction.”

Paul Soderberg (author of The Elephant Queen)

-----------------------------------------