(1888PressRelease)
July 20, 2007 - Peter David Orr and Fred Gerhard are authors in search of real-life contacts for their next book, PSEUDOCIDE. Personal insights from the people who actually know or knew individuals involved in pseudocide cases are needed for the marketing of this book through television talk shows.
Pseudocide is a term for a serious attempt (not a prank) to fake one's own death, with the intent of forging a new identity and life.
In the summer of 2007, Peter David Orr’s work of fiction, THE DIVE, led him to pursue a second book, PSEUDOCIDE. The main character in THE DIVE fakes his life to start a new life with a new identity.
In doing research for his book, THE DIVE, Orr came across cases from all over the world, where people attempted to fake their deaths—for a myriad of reasons. This unusual reaction to the stresses of life led the author to explore dozens of real-life cases of pseudocide. He found cases from all across the globe. Orr had enough cases to put together a full-length book on the subject, entitled, PSEUDOCIDE. PSEUDOCIDE is scheduled for release in early 2008.
PSEUDOCIDE details non-fiction cases of individuals who were determined to fake their own deaths.
Orr points out that his novel, THE DIVE, is “a story of a man who goes to the extreme of faking his death in order to start a new life...and the woman who saves him from himself.” “So,” Orr added, “it was a natural transition from fiction to fact. As the saying goes: ‘Truth is stranger than fiction.’”
Dr. Fred Gerhard, a psychologist, therapist and life coach, is co-authoring PSEUDOCIDE, bringing his expertise and analysis to the table. Gerhard explains his involvement in the project: “PSEUDOCIDE has the potential of providing a national platform. There’s a unique opportunity here to help people who are in crisis. To help them to escape from the despair that drives some to this extreme.” Quoting a bit of Thoreau, Gerhard inserts: “I want to be able to help people ‘to Go confidently in the direction of your dreams and live the life they’ve imagined’—without resorting to self-destructive or criminal behavior.”
PSEUDOCIDE also explores the mind-set behind a related obsession with pop-culture icons that have passed away under puzzling circumstances. For example: “Why do people want to believe that the rich and famous…and deceased, would fake their deaths to start a new life?” Orr cites a number of popular conspiracy theories surrounding the deaths of celebrities: Tupac Shakur, Kurt Cobain, Elvis Presley, JFK, Ken Lay, Andy Kaufman, etc.
Orr and Gerhard are fascinated that many of the same people that deny that they would ever consider pseudocide, often relish the notion of a pop-culture icon getting away with it. Does the proliferation of celebrity conspiracy theories provide an escapist, proxy experience? “Are the fans projecting their own inner thoughts upon their idols?” Orr asks.
What is the bottom line? Personal insights from the people who actually know or knew individuals involved in pseudocide cases are needed. Orr and Gerhard are looking for real individuals who attempted to pull off a fake death, their family, friends, as well as investigators and officers of the law involved in a case. They are seeking real people with real-life stories to include in their book and to be featured on television talk shows.
So if you have verifiable, real-life insights into this matter, please feel free to post or contact the authors through their websites:
www.peterdavidorr.com
www.inspirationshere.com
Press Release by Michael Charles Kalapick, MCK Literary.
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