Introduction

Vernon Night is the CEO of LA's hippest advertising agency. Vernon Night also has issues. His divorce is getting ugly. His Go-To guy is a closet drug addict. He's mad as Hell on a daily basis. His newest client: God. Seems The Lord has some issues as well. Namely, that no one cares about Heaven anymore. In the Hip-Hop age of Internet Porn and Reality TV, who has time for goodness? So now the Creator of us all needs some creative direction of Her own. In this wickedly modern fable about good and evil, God looks for an advertising agency to fix Her brand as America's population looks for its soul.

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Excerpt

Renowned in countless paintings, etchings, and murals: The Garden of Eden. From every vantage point a perfect landscape. God and David happened upon a small clearing, surrounded by nature's greatest hits. Verdant hills blossomed upward to the north. A majestic waterfall roiled behind them. Limpid pools formed by their feet. Idyllic.

“This, David, is where it all began,” said God, wistfully.

“I'm speechless.” He approached a flowering bush to admire its blooms. The petals shimmered like butterfly wings. And the butterflies glimmered like flowers! “It's paradise.”

“That was the idea. But when I submitted it to the Creative Review Committee it was met with a fair amount of criticism. The mountains were too high. The river was crooked. One committee member even found my chirping birds annoying.”

David was incredulous. “You had to submit the Garden of Eden to a committee for approval? But you're God!”

“I am a God. The universe is a big place. Titles lose their meaning.” With a wave of her hand a chorus of cerulean birds alighted from their perch in the trees. Birds of Paradise, no less! “Worse than the criticism, they had me work in the idea of Original Sin. As if my concept needed more drama.”

“Did you have to obey this committee?”

God sighed. “I'm sure they would have killed Creation if I hadn't. Can you imagine? I was too close to production to give it all up. My ego would not allow that.” She ambled to the water's edge and peered in. Her reflection rippled back. David followed. “My compromises are why the world has so many problems.” God spoke softly, distracted by her own thoughts.

David had never seen her like this before. He wondered if anybody had, angel or mortal. “Don't judge yourself harshly.”

God had to laugh. “If I don't who will?”

“Your creation is perfect. If the world were anything like this we wouldn't need an advertising campaign.”

“That was the plan! But times change.” God placed a finger in the water, creating ripples. David gazed upon them, observing his reflection in the moving water. view abbreviated excerpt only...

Discussion Questions

1. Given advertising deals in envy, lust and pride does that make it a sinful profession?

2. Do you think advertising makes people want what they don't need? If so is that bad?

3. Do you think organized religion could use “new copy?” Are old texts like the Bible hopelessly antiquated and archaic?

4. Is Vernon a bad man?

5. In the novel, every character has a flaw or character defect, which is in dire need of repair. Talk about some of these. How are they different? How are they similar?

6. Which character(s) (and his or her problems) do you most relate to?

7. Barry is relieved of his drug addiction by divine intervention. How does this resemble modern rehab? Does it?

8. The author seems to think Disney and Humanology (aka Scientology) are cults. Talk about this. Do you agree or disagree? Calling Disney a cult is provocative. What arguments does the author make to support this notion?

9. Did Evelyn surprise you? Did you see that coming? The author foreshadows the event. How? Should he have made it more or less obvious?

10. Redemption is a big theme in the novel. How was each character redeemed? What does redemption mean to you?

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