Cindy - telepathic eyeless doll from the novel Altered State of Affairs by Jerald Kasimov

Cindy

Cindy is an adorable baby doll that has been with my wife forever. Now, I’ve adopted her! Dressed in her original bathrobe and bunting, her age and being loved too hard have rendered her eyeless. Cindy has always been around… My wife would say, “Cindy is watching you…” Pretty spooky huh? Cindy found her way … Read more

Altered State of Affairs | podcast cover

Podcast | Chapter 16 + You Never Know (spoiler alert!)

In this episode, the author of Altered State of Affairs reads chapter 16 (spoiler alert!) and talks about character development, personal experiences, visuals, ChatGPT, and how you never know what will happen next. If you haven’t read the novel yet, we recommend you hit pause, read the novel, and come back after, as this episode … Read more

Altered State of Affairs | podcast cover

Podcast | Chapter 10 + Geneva-on-the-Lake

In this episode, the author of Altered State of Affairs reads chapter 10 (a flashback chapter) and talks about summers at Geneva-on-the-Lake with the aim of having the greatest summer ever. They didn’t know it at the time, but these friends would use these hours by the shores of Lake Erie at Geneva-on-the-Lake to set … Read more

Altered State of Affairs | podcast cover

Podcast | Chapters 31-33 + Push Your Boundaries

In this episode, the author of Altered State of Affairs reads chapters 31-33 and discusses how to push your boundaries. List of topics in this episode: Stephen King, science fiction, setting the scene, the alternative, the primary world, physics, “art is in the eye of the beholder”, swim upstream, taking risks, pushing your boundaries, Amazon … Read more

Badass BATs | Cleveland Heights High School

Badass BATs

Man, those were good times—free as a bird. President of BAT, short for Beta Alpha Tau, that prodigious high school fraternity—been around for almost 100 years. Great traditions and kids who would become masters of the universe in their professions: college presidents, doctors, businessmen, lawyers, professors, and now me—Steven, the Army Ranger Delta Force wannabe. … Read more

THE GAME and the Genesis of Altered State of Affairs

THE GAME and the Genesis of Altered State of Affairs

Really, it’s not a game… it’s a culture—more than that—a legacy, handed down from generation to generation. Yes—even family before us! L’dor, v’dor. Seated in alphabetical order in Señorita Gonzales’s Spanish class is where it all began—where I met Terri. “But for Ohio State.” Two amazing sons, daughters-in-law, and five astounding grandchildren later—celebrating our heritage … Read more

Writing Is Personal | Jerald Kasimov with Charleston

Writing Is Personal

I am an author—can you fucking believe that? It’s my being—consumes me. In my previous life as a dentist, I always wrote a little poetry and some short stories—never had time to do more—always working—growing a business and raising a family—not an easy task. Then, in 2007, we sold our dental group—went from 100 mph … Read more