Jack Joseph Prather has won multiple honors as a newspaper columnist, including "Best in All Divisions" from the New Jersey Press Association, and for magazine writing and poetry. He won the Award of Distinction from the National Communicators as a public relations strategist among several professional honors. Following are capsule descriptions of three of his four books . . . and more about his dual writing and PR careers:
The Day of The Knights Publish America 2009. ISBN 1607037750.
This modern epic novel of evil -versus-good spans multiple decades in Italy and America and is told in three parts. The gripping psychological crime story pits Italian teenage savant Domenico Patriani, a homophobic religious-fanatic serial killer who evolves into The Black Knight Avenger comitted to killing gays for the alll-powerful entity only he sees: "Godsatan!" . . . against noble inner-city American Thomas "Tank" Tooley, a champion athlete who goes on to become a policeman shot in the line of duty then a volunteer firefighter, an investigative reporter on the hunt for the killer, and lastly a grievously injured hero of 9/ll .
The brilliant Domenico manages to become a church deacon for his hated priest brother Marcello at Christ Episcopal Church in the Chelsea Section of Manhattan near The World Trade Center. Tank and his wife Corsica are their parishioners. The twisting and shocking climax unfolds in the church in events parallel to the tragedy occuring on 9/11 at Ground Zero where Tank goes on to become a hero. (The book is dedicated to 9/11victims and responders.)
Intense sub-stories relate the life and love stories of key Patriani and Tooley family members, providing tender counterpoints to the savagery, and insights into how the characters and moral-compasses of Domenico and Tank were forged.
SPEAKING UP in Poetry & Prose PublishAmerica 2007, ISBN 1424108713.
This book of 50 pieces on religious, political, social and life issues important to 21st-century Americans was introduced in and can be ordered from the author, at www.Amazon.com, from the publisher, or by order from bookstores and other online bookstores, or from the author. It is featured at the Carl Sandburg National Historic Site in Flat Rock, NC where Prather was a featured poet during National Poetry Month and his poem Sandburg Homage is on display. Three selections from the book were published online at www.newyorkreview.org. (See 5 Samples.)
All PR is Local Amazon-Booksurge 2002/2004, ISBN 0972084703.
This comprehensive strategic public relations guidebook includes diverse case histories, proposals, tips, guidelines and advice, plus 25 useful reproducible forms. See www.publicrelationshelp.net for more!
More About Jack Joseph Prather:
Prather is currently finishing his fifth book and second novel titled The Star Killer, the first in a "Tank Tooley, Investigative Reporter" series based on the hero from "The Day of the Knights." Jack recently authored an article on the equine industry for the premier edition of WNC magazine and a feature for the Hendersonville Times-News. He also uthored The Public Relations Bluebook (SW Press 1986) and The Power of Public Relations video (WSUS-TV 1991).
Among his numerous awards are "Best Column/All Divisions" from the New Jersey Press Association among six for writing and editing during 13 years as a crime reporter, sports editor and editorial columnist. Magazine recognitions include a reader's vote for The Sandman poem in Explorer, second place for a fact-based fiction article for A Night to Remember in Listen, and a Top-10 award for a series of ghosted columns in Jobber Topics. His fiction article The Poet Roarke and accompanying poem On Being Blind were featured in Lifeglow, and his poem A Rainbow Not about the O.J. Simpson case appeared in Prolific Writer.
As a PR and marketing consultant for 28 years, Prather received the Award of Distinction from The National Communicators, and recognition for advertising and promotional campaigns. He served as the PR consultant for the 1993 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award winner honored by President Clinton in Washington D.C., founded and was executive director of the Regional Playboy Resort Foundation in New Jersey where he was PR director for 10 years, and served as political and communications adviser to two U.S. congressmen, two state legislators and several county officials. He conducts seminars at colleges and universities for writers and public relations professionals.
Notes: Born in Manhattan and raised in Brooklyn and Ohio, Prather studied public relations journalism at Ohio University. His PR career took him from New Jersey to Virginia to North Carolina, where he began writing on a full-time basis in April of 2006. He continues to consult in PR and conduct seminars.
Jack welcomes e-mai contact at prathergroup@aol.com. His websites are www.jackjosephprather.com and www.publicrelationshelp.net.
