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

1) info on the book     2) review of 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

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

Teaming up with Lisa Bell for Shadows of the Seen!

 

Coming, May 14, 2025 and you can take a deep dive

 

USE QR CODE OR  "GIVE IT A LISTEN'" LINK BELOW WARNING: BOOK SPOILERS

Coming, May 14, 2025 and you can take a deep dive!

 

        I'm looking forward to the release of my new novel. It's coming out in May, and review copies and ARCs will be out any time now. 

On the Pierian Springs site, there is a podcast which is a deep dive into the book-its characters and some of their motivations.

Give it a listen if you are interested, but for those who like to read and discover on their own, there are spoilers galore, so be dutifully warned.