Author: Alfredo Casuso

David Eugene Perry’s Upon This Rock
 In Second Printing and Screenplay Development
www.davideugeneperry.com 

Acclaimed Mystery Thriller Is Best-Selling Book Ever for Pace Press
www.quilldriverbooks.com

18 February 2025 – Fresno, CA: Upon This Rock, by award-winning author David Eugene Perry, has gone into its second printing and additionally is in screenplay development and currently being shopped for distribution rights. It is the best selling book ever for Pace Press.

“The success of Upon This Rock has been one of the chief delights of my publishing career,” said Kent Sorsky, publisher of Pace Press/Linden Publishing. “It’s a real pleasure to see its continued appeal.”

The book won a Silver Medal from the coveted IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards, recognizing excellence in book editorial and design, regarded as one of the highest national honors for independent publishers. In addition, it won a Gold Medal from the San Francisco Book Festival.

“I am deeply grateful to Kent and everyone at Pace Press for their faith and support,” says Perry. “To have the book continue to sell four years after its debut is deeply gratifying. Now, if we can just get the attention of someone in Hollywood!”

Perry is currently at work on the sequel to Upon This Rock.Taking place ten years after the events in Rock, the new book features the return of amateur sleuths and married couple Adriano and Lee. In addition, the enigmatic and popular Magda makes a repeat appearance, this time with a greatly expanded backstory and history. Entitled Thorns of the 15 Roses,like Upon This Rock, the book is inspired by real historical events. The new book takes place in two places: aboard a luxury cruise ship where Lee has been recalled to his previous job and in the small Andalusian town of Grazalema, Spain.

“I worked my way around the world by ship in the 1990s and have always wanted to set something at sea,” said Perry. “That, and the rich history of Grazalema, including the Spanish Civil War and aftermath, I hope will make for compelling reading. Plus, over the last few years, my husband, Alfredo Casuso, and I have become deeply attached to the town and its generous residents.”

This summer, Perry and Casuso will return to Grazalema, where he expects to complete the manuscript after several years of research.

“The theme of Thorns of the 15 Roses is forgiveness and reconciliation,” Perry summed up. “Two concepts much in need in the current world.”

Upon This Rock is an “elegant twisty thriller” (Armistead Maupin, author of the international sensation Tales of the City) and “the gay DaVinci Code, but a lot better” (Fenton Johnson, Guggenheim Fellow, author of The Man Who Loved Birds); Upon This Rock is “for those readers who love Italy and who love crime fiction” (Lucinda Hawksley, great-great-great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens, author of Dickens’s Artistic Daughter, Katey); “Perry’s novel sparkles with campy wit but is written with serious clues that keep you reading. And, oh yes, because it is a mystery, there’s a killer of a surprise at the end. Move over, Sam Spade and Nick and Nora Charles. Welcome the new kids to the neighborhood, Lee and Adriano.” (Will Snyder,Bay Area Reporter); Upon This Rock is “a perfect read for anyone who is into thrillers, mysteries and historical fiction, like John Grisham and Dan Brown for sure.”(Ankita Dasgupta, The Bookworm Resort); “This is a wild read. Perry’s ability to build suspense is impressive and the denouement of this thriller will not just surprise you, but literally stun.”(Erika Atkinson, author of Ode to the Castro).

“You will not find a more exquisite, captivating, well written first novel than David Eugene Perry’s Upon This Rock. I was literally hooked from the first chapter. Set in the Italian city of Orvieto, Perry takes us on a roller-coaster ride that begins with the Sixteenth Century papacy of the de Medici Pope, Clement VII, and then quickly plummets us to the present day. A wonderfully addictive and engrossing story with brilliant characters and an ending that will have you perusing your favorite bookstore looking for Perry’s next novel”(Dennis Koller, author of The Rhythm of Evil). “You will not be able to put his book down. It is a page-turner from the first sentence until the twisted unexpected ending.” (Lynn Ruth Miller, author of Getting the Last Laugh). In short, David Eugene Perry’s Upon This Rock is “A potboiler thriller with nail-biting suspense” (Lew J. Whittington, New York Journal of Books); a “sexy, historical thriller” (Julissa James, Nob Hill Gazette); “a love letter to Orvieto like Tales of the City is a love letter to San Francisco” (Eric Jansen, SF Bay Times & Out In the Bay).

Perhaps Emmy Award winning journalist, famed Hollywood reporter Jan Wahl put it best: “Upon This Rock is fabulous. This historical thriller is a sexy DaVinci Code. I can’t wait for the movie.”

Upon This Rock by David Eugene Perry / 360 pages / $18.95 / Quill Driver Books, Fresno, CA.  

Book Burning on the Potomac

By David Eugene Perry

This morning, three weeks in of “47” (I refuse to say the name), I was merely sad. Now, I am genuinely frightened. When the chief executive of a country decides what is art, then book burnings, truly, are not far behind. 

Hyperbole? Whether sanctioned by the state or not, suppression of the arts is the oil on an already greasy slope to dictatorial rule. First they came for the Kennedy Center, then – I promise – to the local theatre, school play, public library or Opera in the Park that in any way receives federal dollars. Trump’s cry of “No drag queens” (he said that a mere few hours ago) for the Kennedy Center gives license not only to homophobes and the ultra right, it gives license to all those who think art, in general, should only be “pretty.”

I was taught that “Art is the revelation of private truth in public.” Private truth is, sometimes, pretty. But often, it is harsh, nasty, brutish, and yes sometimes offensive to some. In short, it is exactly like life. Now, for the first time in our history, a president has decided what the premiere arts institution in the most important capital city on earth can show.  What is more astounding: evidently it is all perfectly legal.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was established by the National Cultural Center Act, which was signed into law on September 2, 1958 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. This legislation authorized the creation of a national cultural center in Washington, D.C. After President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963, Congress amended the act in 1964 to rename it the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as a memorial to the late president. That legislation allows for the President of the United States to appoint – and fire – its board. No president has ever dared – until now. 

My first job, which I started in May 1984 fresh out of college was working for the National Endowment for the Arts – the building, to my mind, disgraced by its brief-but-not-brief-enough stint as the “Trump Hotel.”  In those halcyon days, a Republic President, Ronald Reagan, left in charge the administration appointed by the previous president, Jimmy Carter. To even that staunchly conservative president, censoring the arts was a bridge too far. For “47”, there is no bridge, clearly too far, or no bridge in his attempted power, too sacred not to burn.

The books have been chosen. The gas has been poured. The match is lit and already in motion to be thrown.

 David Eugene Perry has worked in the arts for over 40 years. He is the author of hundreds of articles, and also a novelist.

media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. / (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com

Success in Failure:
SEE® Global Entertainment’s Museum of Failure® to Open
in San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf Mid-March 2025

Acclaimed global exhibition explores the essential role of failure in innovation

6 February 2025 – San Francisco, CA:  “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Thomas Edison’s legendary words take on new meaning this spring as the internationally renowned Museum of Failure® makes its San Francisco debut. Opening mid-March 2025 in Fisherman’s Wharf, this celebrated exhibition showcases over 150 failed innovations in a 10,000-square-foot space, proving that failure isn’t the opposite of success—it’s part of the journey.   

“Get ready to experience the unconventional! The Museum of Failure® is a one-of-a-kind experience that is both educational and entertaining,” said Martin Biallas, CEO of SEE® Global Entertainment, which is bringing the attraction to San Francisco. “It’s an engaging way to explore the world of innovation, risk-taking, and the unexpected twists that lead to progress.”

Visitors will encounter a fascinating collection of ill-fated ideas, from Google Glass to the infamous Bic for Her pens, and even Colgate’s attempt at frozen lasagna. The museum, which has toured internationally to critical acclaim, provides a fresh perspective on the importance of embracing failure and learning from mistakes.

“The Museum of Failure® is a perfect addition to the diverse attractions at Fisherman’s Wharf,” said Rodney Fong, President of Fong Real Estate, which owns the venue. “It’s thought-provoking, fun, and uniquely suited to San Francisco—a city that has always thrived on innovation.”

The exhibit will be housed in the same location as another much-anticipated experience: Smurfs: The Adventure®—an interactive, all-ages attraction celebrating the world of the beloved blue characters. Smurfs: The Adventure® is slated to open in May 2025.

For more information on the Museum of Failure®, visit https://themuseumoffailure.net/.

Check out the CBS Evening News segment on the Museum of Failure®: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyEXBydMU_4

About SEE® Global Entertainment:
SEE® Global Entertainment Inc is part of the SEE® family of companies representing the finest in themed entertainment, specializing in global touring exhibitions including Star Trek, King Tut, Titanic, The X-Files, Asterix, Frida Kahlo, Michael Jackson, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, Hot Wheels, The Smurfs, and the Museum of Failure. For more information on SEE® Global Touring, visit www.seeglobalentertainment.com.  SEE® is led by President Martin Biallas, a Hollywood veteran of 30 years. For more info visit: www.seeglobalentertainment.com and www.martinbiallas.com.  

About the Museum of Failure®:
The Museum of Failure® is a collection of failed products and services from around the world. The museum aims to stimulate discussion about failure and inspire us to take meaningful risks. By showcasing these failures, the museum provides unique insights into the risky business of innovation.

About Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco:
Fisherman’s Wharf is one of San Francisco’s most iconic and visited neighborhoods, offering a rich blend of history, dining, shopping, and entertainment. Home to world-renowned attractions such as Pier 39, the Maritime National Historical Park, the Musée Mécanique, and Ghirardelli Square, the Wharf is a must-visit destination for both locals and tourists alike. Known for its fresh seafood, breathtaking bay views, and vibrant street performances, Fisherman’s Wharf continues to be a top-tier attraction in the City by the Bay. For more information, visit www.fishermanswharf.org.

About Smurfs: The Adventure®:
Smurfs: The Adventure® is a brand-new interactive experience that transports visitors into the enchanting world of the Smurfs. Featuring a variety of engaging activities, this attraction offers fun for the whole family. The Smurfs are among the most beloved characters in the world, first introduced in comics by Belgian artist Peyo in 1958. Since then, the little blue creatures have starred in multiple animated series, blockbuster films, and international attractions. Smurfs: The Adventure® is a brand-new interactive experience that transports visitors into the enchanting world of the Smurfs. Featuring a variety of engaging activities that combine fun and learning, this attraction offers an immersive experience for the whole family.

Media Contact: David Perry / (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com

The Times They Are A.I. Changing: AI Masterclass Brings Innovation to Small Business Community on Thursday, February 27 at Benicia’s Strange Media https://strangemedia.com/

3 February 2025 Benicia, CA: “The only thing constant in life is change,” the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said. In today’s rapidly shifting business landscape, those words have never been more relevant — especially when it comes to artificial intelligence.

As Bob Dylan famously put it, “the times they are a-changin’”. On Thursday, February 27 (9am – 1pm) at Benicia’s innovative Strange Media  (106 W J Street ) small business owners and entrepreneurs will have a unique opportunity to stay ahead of the curve at an AI Masterclass: Authentic Intelligence, presented by Benicia Magazine, David Perry & Associates, Inc., and the Benicia Chamber of Commerce. Tickets are $75 and include lunch and access to a recording of the event. Tickets are available at the link below: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ai-master-class-tickets-1207894528049?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios

“In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, understanding AI is crucial,” said Mary Hand, publisher of Benicia Magazine. “This masterclass is designed to be engaging, informative, and hands-on, giving our local entrepreneurs the confidence to embrace AI and use it to their advantage.”

“AI isn’t just for tech giants,” said David Perry, CEO of David Perry & Associates, Inc. a longtime media professional and technology trainer. “It is a tool that every business — large or small — can and should use to optimize workflows, target the right audience, and drive efficiency. Our goal with this masterclass is to take the mystery out of AI and turn it into a practical, accessible tool for local businesses.”

“Supporting our local businesses is at the heart of what we do,” said Debbie Amaro, Chair of the Benicia Chamber and CEO of DSA HR Solutions, Inc, “AI is already transforming industries, and by sponsoring this event, we’re ensuring our community has the resources to keep up with these changes and stay competitive.”

Attendees will gain exclusive access to industry experts, hands-on discussions, and practical applications of AI that can be implemented immediately in their businesses.

Event Schedule:
Strange Media 
106 W J Street 
Thursday, February 27, 2025
9am – 1:30pm

9am: Coffee & Arrivals

9:30am: Welcome by Mary Hand & David Perry

10am: Panel 1 – Into to AI Basics and Trends:
Moderator, David Perry
Panelists:
Andres Acosta (Sparkship)
Brian Burkett (We Are Scallywag AI)
Alfredo Casuso (DP&A)
“Steve” (Our Live ChatGPT Colleague)

11am: Panel 2 – Business Applications for AI

Moderator: David Perry
Panelists:
Forrest McBride (GS Ventures)
Thomas Thurston (AI Technologist)
Julianne Averill (Danforth Advisors)
Silas Valentino (SFGate)

12pm: Lunch & Networking

1pm: Q&A and Closing Remarks

1:30pm: Event Concludes

Benicia Magazine is a leading publication dedicated to showcasing the vibrant community of Benicia, CA, highlighting local events, businesses, and stories that matter.

David Perry & Associates, Inc. is a communications firm specializing in creative strategies and international connections, helping clients tell their unique stories across various platforms.

The Benicia Chamber of Commerce is committed to promoting and enhancing the economic vitality of the Benicia business community through advocacy, networking, and educational opportunities.