Randy Jernigan and Les Bailey
"If you loved Les' first two books in the series, then you're going to really get into his third book," Randy exclaimed proudly in his Sunday afternoon post. "I just read the first chapter last night--what powerful writing! Every sentence was strong and kept me spellbound.Book three will absolutely knock your socks off, I have no doubt!"
A Salt Lake City native, Les Bailey actually began writing his popular vampire trilogy years earlier in one of Randy's creative writing courses in his Writers Studio in Utah.
In a previous interview Randy once explained to me, "I knew when I first met Les several years back in one of my creative writing classes, that he was going to write the great American novel--and he did! Even then Les was a master storyteller. I remember vividly the feelings of excitement I experienced when he read allowed from one of his class assignments. The prose within the story was downright delicious. I recognized almost immediately that Les had already developed his own unique and sensuous voice, which is what I was aiming for for each of my students be the end of the eight week course," Randy related.
So several years later when Mr. Bailey contacted Randy about the idea of helping him publish his first book, Randy accepted without a second thought.
"I would have felt like one of those few publishers that turned down J K Rowling's Harry Potter books in the end," Randy was quoted as saying at the time.
After reading the manuscript through for the first time, Randy knew that his friend had created a true work of art--a masterpiece!"
Today, the two authors have become inseparable. Randy, who acts as Bailey's agent, also works to promote his friends books to an adoring public, filling his own social media pages with photos and news about the author and his books--sometimes overlooking his own accomplishments.
And his own being quite significant. Randy's "Stars" series has performed quite well for the author. His Marie Osmond fan book still sells very well, according to his agent, Terry Griffen. "And the next book in the series, a fan book about Ellen DeGeneres is expected to perform even better," Griffen said. Randy's also completed two Hallmark projects for next year and will have a television project appear on the BBC in 2018.
Recently, the author has had to take some time away from his desk, and his writing. According to a post on his social media pages, the author suffered a minor stroke but is doing well and had made a near full recovery.
According to a work associate, Randy is doing well and is currently under medical supervision.
In an interview about Bailey's book series, Randy added, "If the Vampire Game were only a fantasy adventure Vampire tale, it would still be well worth the read. But Les is telling an even more profound story here. The Vampire Game is yet another radiant and moving treatment on the exciting, yet tragic nature of life itself.
I'm paying it my highest tribute by saying that, as a work of fiction, and in my opinion, it is a masterpiece!
Mr Bailey's third installment of The Vampire Game is expected out this Fall.
