THE JIM GARRATY CHRONICLES — Official Release Announcement

THE JIM GARRATY CHRONICLES — Official Release Announcement

Some projects take years to find their final shape. Some take decades. The Jim Garraty Chronicles is a little of both.

I’m very happy to announce that the Kindle edition of The Jim Garraty Chronicles will be released on July 15, with the paperback edition following on July 17. The Kindle version is available now for pre‑order.

This omnibus gathers together the stories that trace Jim Garraty’s early life — the friendships that shaped him, the memories that stayed with him, and the quiet moments that became turning points. These stories have lived with me for a long time, and bringing them together in one volume feels like giving Jim’s journey the space and weight it deserves.

A Return to South Miami Senior High

Anyone who knows me — or who has followed my writing over the years — knows how deeply South Miami Senior High is woven into Jim’s world. SMSH wasn’t just a backdrop; it was the place where I learned how stories work, how people collide, how friendships form, and how memories settle into the corners of your life.

The teachers, the hallways, the chorus room, the cafeteria, and the auditorium — they’re all part of the emotional architecture of the Garratyverse. They shaped me, and in turn, they shaped Jim. Choosing a cover design that echoes SMSH’s colors wasn’t a coincidence. It felt like a quiet acknowledgment of where this journey began.

A Bonus Story With a Long History

Many of you will remember The Summer of Two Movies, the short origin story I shared on my blog some time ago. It was always meant to be part of Jim’s larger tapestry — a glimpse into the earliest days of his life, long before the events of Reunion.

Including it here, as a bonus fourth movement, finally places it where it belongs: at the beginning of Jim’s emotional arc. It’s a small story, intimate and nostalgic, but it carries the first spark of everything that follows. Seeing it in print for the first time is a quiet thrill.

A Life Told in Four Movements

This omnibus isn’t just a collection; it’s a chronology. A life unfolding. A set of stories that breathe with each other. Bringing them together has been one of the most meaningful writing experiences I’ve had, and I’m grateful to everyone who’s followed Jim’s journey — whether from the beginning or just now discovering it.

Thank you for reading, for remembering, and for walking alongside Jim as he grows into the person he’s meant to be.

Kindle Edition: July 15 — available now for pre‑order ($12.50) Paperback Edition: July 17 — $23.00 No hardcover planned yet.

Three stories, one bonus tale — and the story continues.