183 ratings | 104 reviews | avg rating:3.50

Joe’s Year In Books

Joe’s 2024 Year in Books

Take a look at Joe’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

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Angel

15,353 books | 4,948 friends

Renée Gendron

232 books | 98 friends

Thomas O. Scarborough

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Gaia

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Surabhi Sharma

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Quantum

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GR Oliver

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40 books | 62 friends

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Joe Clark

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United States

Website

https://joeclark-blogger.com

Twitter

joeclark_343

Genre

Fiction, Romance

Member Since

August 2015

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Joe Clark’s Demented got him Long-Listed for the Book Viral Millennium Book Award in 2020. His novels, The Walsh’s: the Coming of Eve, Demented, and MacGregor’s Final Battle are Book-of-the-Month selections. He writes Contemporary Drama and Urban Adventure. His “deliciously flawed characters” face moral and ethical dilemmas as they battle through challenging times. April Walsh, a suburban housewife and struggling writer, puts it all on the line in her undercover investigation of sex work. She and friend, PI Nickey Arnold, fight for the prickly, often abrasive, Cindy Foster when her porn past threatens to destroy her. Nurse’s Assistant, Kate Graham crosses lines when she falls in love with an elderly patient in MacGregor’s Final Battle.
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Popular Answered Questions

In what way does your experience enter your books?

Joe Clark Like all writers of fiction, I draw on my memories as a source of my creations.
Three of my four novels have been set in the Greater DC metropolitan ar…moreLike all writers of fiction, I draw on my memories as a source of my creations.
Three of my four novels have been set in the Greater DC metropolitan area where I have lived for over 40 years.
The Walshes are Catholics - practicing but not deeply committed. April is a struggling writer and her world view most closely mirrors mine (at least in my opinion). Husband Joe is a career engineer like me. He played varsity sports in college - like me. Their daughter Becky was based in part on my daughters.
Jack Edward's physical appearance is based on a cop I had a run in with while a grad student at VPI.
The setting and some of the characters carry-over to Demented,
Physical confrontations in the two books are informed by my decades as a martial artist - Shotokan Karate and Kung Fu
MacGregor's Final Battle is partly biographical Mac is an elderly, retired engineer - many details of his early life and career are borrowed from my life. But my second wife and I are still chugging along and we have a great relationship with out children. Kate Graham was inspired by a friend who is a nurse and Eddie Flores is modeled on my son-in law. The road trip was inspired by my own experiences driving across country.(less)

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What book or author would you say has influenced you the most as a person or a writer?

Joe Clark Thank you, Sara. I have been giving some thought to this question. I cannot pinpoint one book - either as a life guide or as influencing my writing. C…moreThank you, Sara. I have been giving some thought to this question. I cannot pinpoint one book - either as a life guide or as influencing my writing. Certainly no one book influences both writing and living.
As to writing, Stephen King's "On Writing," is a strong influence but it doesn't give specific guidance. "Fast Fiction" by Denise Jaden, the first book I read when I started writing novels, was more helpful. "Revision and Self-editing" by James Scott Bell introduced me to those processes. Finally "Conflict and Suspense" by Bell was my bible while I was writing Demented. Each of those books strongly influences how I approach my writing.
As to life, I believe I am more influenced by people real and fictional. Bret Maverick is my culture hero. Rhett Butler is another icon. I can't stand characters like TV MASH's Major Burns. I have read a great many books covering many aspects of life. Two stand out. The Tao Te Ching attributed to Lao Tsu and a book I can't find on Amazon. Back in the 70's, I read a book about a new way to look at living. Somewhat like The Power of Positive Thinking and PsycoCybernetics. I believe there were three main principles: Define your life goals in a way that gives you the best chance of winning; stay focused on your goal - don't let side issues get the best issues; create a garbage dump where you can dispose of the negative crap that gets dumped in your lap. I try. But like almost everybody else I find it difficult to focus on draining the swamp when I'm up to my ears in alligators.(less)

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Combine Editions
Joe Clark’s books

Average rating: 3.88 · 558 ratings · 47 reviews · 4 distinct works • Similar authors

	Demented 3.75 avg rating — 256 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	MacGregor's Final Battle 4.35 avg rating — 150 ratings — published 2023 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Walshes: The Coming of Eve 3.65 avg rating — 149 ratings — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Survive (1) 3.67 avg rating — 3 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

15 posts
Joe Clark's Blog

Common Sense Health Care

It’s time for a common sense tough love approach to health care. Even Barack Obama recognized that his signature legislation, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) needed an overhaul. The American Health Care Act of 2017 (AHCA) proposed by President Trump and GOP congressional leaders is not the overhaul that is needed. It will not provide… Continue Reading Common Sense Health Care

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Joe is Currently Reading

Joe Clark is currently reading

Abundance

by Ezra Klein

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Oct 17, 2025 10:22AM

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Beyond Mach 3: A Pilot’s Journey Through The U-2 and SR-71 (1950 to 1970) A Memoir

by Buddy Brown

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May 26, 2025 10:27PM

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Turn Signals Are the Facial Expressions of Automobiles

by Don Norman

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Feb 28, 2025 11:02PM

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Joe’s Recent Updates

Joe Clark made a comment in the group Goodreads Librarians Group — Incorrect ISBN attributiom topic " The ISBN 9781733294423 Is incorrectly attributed to Demented (ISBN 9781733294409) Please delete the incorrect link ISBN 9781733294423 belongs to the pape ...more "
Oct 23, 2025 09:17AM
Joe Clark made a comment in the group Goodreads Librarians Group — Delete incorrectly posted paperback versions of MacGregor's Final Battle topic " Please make the following correction Two Paperback editions of MacGregor's Final are invalid and must be deleted The one with the ISBN 9781733294454 The ...more "
Oct 23, 2025 09:06AM
Joe Clark is currently reading Abundance by Ezra Klein	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 17, 2025 10:22AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Abundance by Ezra Klein. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Abundance by Ezra Klein <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Joe Clark rated a book really liked it An Hour Before Daylight: Memories Of A Rural Boyhood by Jimmy Carter	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 29, 2025 07:23PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of An Hour Before Daylight by Jimmy Carter. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — An Hour Before Daylight by Jimmy Carter <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Joe Clark is currently reading Beyond Mach 3: A Pilot’s Journey Through The U-2 and SR-71 (1950 to 1970) A Memoir by Buddy Brown	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 26, 2025 10:27PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Beyond Mach 3 by Buddy Brown. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Beyond Mach 3 by Buddy Brown <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Joe Clark is currently reading An Hour Before Daylight: Memories Of A Rural Boyhood by Jimmy Carter	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 11, 2025 06:36AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of An Hour Before Daylight by Jimmy Carter. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — An Hour Before Daylight by Jimmy Carter <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Joe Clark is currently reading Turn Signals Are the Facial Expressions of Automobiles by Don Norman	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 28, 2025 11:02PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Turn Signals Are the Facial Expressions of Automobiles by Don Norman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Turn Signals Are the Facial Expressions of Automobiles by Don Norman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Joe Clark is currently reading Fire in the Heart: A Memoir of Friendship, Loss, and Wildfire by Mary Emerick (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 19, 2024 07:14PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Fire in the Heart by Mary Emerick. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Fire in the Heart by Mary Emerick <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Joe Clark liked JUANITA BAKER's review of MacGregor's Final Battle: " Good reading a glimsp of real life. And real emtions ! 😊 One to relive our lives And people we meet and lovel Is Already our destiny"
Dec 17, 2024 08:35AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of MacGregor's Final Battle by Joe Clark. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — MacGregor's Final Battle by Joe Clark <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Joe Clark liked Martin Wilsey's blog post: SciFi Saturday: Astro Kid ""
Sep 28, 2024 08:08AM

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Quotes by Joe Clark (?)

“Everybody dies. What counts is how you live.”
― Joe Clark, MacGregor's Final Battle

1 likes

Joe’s Quotes

“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.”
― John F. Kennedy

tags: apollo, apollo-program, kennedy, lunar, moon, nasa, president-kennedy, rice-university, space, space-exploration, space-travel

117 likes

“A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything, and the value of nothing.”
― Oscar Wilde

tags: cynicism

4092 likes

“A warrior must focus his attention on the link between himself and his death . . .. He must let each of his acts be his last battle on earth. Only under those conditions will his acts have their rightful power.”
― Carlos Castaneda, Journey to Ixtlan: The Lessons of Don Juan

23 likes

“Spread a little kindness and your blessings will be greater than the sum of its parts.”
― Angel M.B. Chadwick

tags: wisdom-inspirational

1 likes

“Everybody dies. What counts is how you live.”
― Joe Clark, MacGregor's Final Battle

1 likes

More of Joe’s quotes…