Falling Waters

by Gary D. Henry

Preston Rhodes was an extraordinary writer. However his actress wife, Carly, didn't want him to over-shadow her talents so she set out to squash every opportunity that came his way. His father died and left Preston an extraordinary gift. It was his memoirs and Preston immediately saw that the book was literary genius. He set out to write a script and it was immediately touted as the next Gone With the Wind. He set out to sell the movie around the country until an errant bullet to his head sent him to a magical town where all the old Hollywood actors dwelled long after their starlight had been extinguished. Falling Waters was the town where spirits thrived and he was sure it was real. He was accepted and spent a lifetime amid the old stars of Hollywood. He met and interacted with all the greats. When he came out of his coma he tried to convince everyone that the town existed but nothing he could do would convince his friends. That is until they understood that miracles do happen.

412 pages, Paperback

First published November 17, 2011

Reviews

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really didn’t know what to expect when I started reading Falling Waters, but I was completely enthralled from the beginning. The story is told in 3 parts, which is quite fitting for this book. The first part sets the scene of Preston and his wife’s Carly beginning their careers. Both are very talented and as genius as Preston is, it is clear that Carly is quite a good actor, with that said, I wanted to choke the woman on numerous occasions. Carly and Preston had a good marriage when they were young and they were truly in love with each other, but as soon as Carly got the tiniest taste of fame and fortune, it all went to her head, turning her into a money-grubbing, fame seeker. Much of it was due to the fact that she was naïve and believed everything their scumball agent, Rick, told her. He was extorting money from both her and Carly, and even though Preston told her to cut ties with him, she refused. I really wanted Carly to turn around and be that loving wife to Preston that she once was, because he really deserved a good woman. He would have, and did, give her everything, including working multiple jobs just to keep her in a mansion they really couldn’t afford, but she HAD to have. However, Preston was even more talented than his actress wife. He has the innate ability to read a book and simultaneously be able to create the screen-play in his head. He had been looking for the book that would catapult him into the movie business when he finally realized he had the perfect book all along, the life story that his late father spent 22 years writing. Sure enough, the screen-play he wrote was brilliant, the bad part was that no one got to read it, not until Carly mistakenly gives it to their friend who works for Warner Brothers. Carly spent years telling everyone that Preston’s work was garbage and not worth reading, when in reality, she had never taken the time to read any of it herself. As soon as Jack read the script, he knew he had gold in his hands and immediately started the process of making it a movie. It was touted to be the best thing since Gone With the Wind. We never got to learn what the book was actually about, but there was no doubt that it was epic. So Preston begins his country-wide tour to promote his upcoming movie, all the while his fame grew and grew. That is, until he is shot in the head during a mugging.

Thus begins Part 2. Preston awakens in the hospital to find that Jack was killed in the mugging, but ever the optimist, Preston decides to finish out his tour. Along the way, his car breaks down and a kind man stops to give him a ride and get his car fixed. The man takes him to the quaint little town of Falling Waters. It was if Preston had stepped back in time. The charming town was filled with kind people who all knew each other and never had any ill words to say about anyone. Preston was so enamored by the town that he decided to postpone his tour and stay for a little while. Preston soon learns that the inhabitants of this town put on regular shows in the square. Preston is very excited to see the show, even though some of his new friends are a bit apprehensive to see his reaction. And this is where the story gets really good. Preston realizes he is watching the actual actors who played in the original movie, all of whom, are deceased. What happens in this town is pure magic and it was such a joy to read.


Part 3 begins when Preston dies of old age in Falling Waters. During this part of the book, I wanted to murder Carly and Rick myself, but alas, I continued to read through my murderous thoughts and found that maybe Carly wasn’t quite as bad as I originally thought, or is she? Gary Henry does a fantastic job of finishing up the story in part 3 and I was thoroughly happy with the ending. I will leave my details of this part of the book sparse, as you really want to be surprised by the twist!

Do yourself a favor and read this delight of a story!

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you love the old movies which we all call the classics? Wouldn't it be cool to meet the actors and actresses of their time? Well this book makes you wonder if it can truly happen. Preston was a talented screenwriter who just got married and graduated college. His wife Carly was an actress who also just graduated college. He wanted the simple life where he can write and do what he enjoys, while she was wanting to be famous. Preston was struggling to find work at what he loves doing while Carly kept getting jobs. Since he was struggling to find work as a writer, Preston ended up working 2 jobs just to pay bills and to keep his wife happy. In a twist of events, Preston found himself in a place where he became famous for his writing abilities. While traveling Preston ends up shot after a robbery goes wrong. Its what happens after he gets shot that has Preston changing how he thinks about things and people within the movie industry. While I don't like to give away a lot of the book let me just say this. It was well written, the characters in this book will have you seeing red with anger, laughing out loud and crying your eyes out. I can't tell you more about how much I truly loved this book without giving more away.. which I wont do! I would say this is a MUST read for all of my friends!

[Cindy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Preston and Carly both want to make it in Hollywood. Carly wants the fame of stardom and Preston wants to write the best script ever!

Well Carly shows her true colors when she decides her fame is all that matters and she goes out of her way to belittle Preston's talents. Fate steps in and Preston does get his movie script for his dad's book accepted and it is hype up to be a hit. He travels to promote the upcoming movie and gets shot in the head during a mugging.

This is where Gary shows his real talent as he takes us to a place, Falling Waters, where the past becomes real. What happens when Preston "dies" in Falling Waters and must return to the real world?

I won't tell you anymore but I will say you will be intrigued with the paths everyone's lives take. Does Karma really ever get even?

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Falling Waters by Gary D. Henry is a uniquely written book. I was enamored with all...yes all...of the characters. There are so many. Mr. Henry tells this story from a third party point of view with some individual insights thrown in. For this reason, it is almost entirely a descriptive narrative, and I loved it! Just the facts, emotions, and events. Very well done. I will be there on opening day for the movie.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5.0

Gary Henry spins an engaging plot of dreams, the movie industry, the afterlife, revenge, and karma.

Read full review in the 2012 October issue of InD’tale Magazine.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

We first meet Preston and Carly when they are both just starting out in the Hollywood scene. Preston is a writer and Carly a budding actress. Preston has the uncanny ability to read a book and write a screenplay from it- he can see the movie playing out while reading the book. After his father dies, Preston inherits his memoirs. Immediately Preston realizes its potential as a movie however he is not doing well as a writer. His wife, Carly, and his agent inform his writing is no good so he begins to believe them. Carly is trying to achieve stardom for herself and doesn't want Preston to succeed at all- however she does want to live the life of a starlit even if that is above her means. Once Preston is "discovered" and the screenplay is touted as the next "Gone With The Wind", Preston heads out on a promotional tour. While recovering in a coma from a tragic shooting, Preston visits the town of Falling Waters. A town inhabited by spirits of past actors, actresses, directors, make-up artists, etc. Preston, the only living person ever to be able to visit the town, lives a lifetime with these spirits before awakening from his coma. He is certain that there is truly a town however no one believes him. When everything is ultimately revealed, everyone learns what a miraculous person Preston really is.
This was a slow book to get into in the very beginning, however through Mr Henry's writing style , it wasn't long before I became engrossed in the story and characters of Falling Waters. There were moments when I was shocked, moments when I cried, moments when I laughed, and moments when I wanted to punch something but ultimately Mr Henry makes you ponder "what if". I finished this book in one sitting once I "lost myself" in the story.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Preston Rhodes ever wanted to do was write the great American novel but his fame hungry wife Carly was an attention hog. Carly conspired to discourage her husband at all costs and she had help.
With the help of other friends Prestons dream comes true.
However, while in a coma after a mugging Preston dreams of a magical place and tries to tell his friends when he awakes but they don’t believe him.
Falling Waters is one of those stories that will make the reader believe in the impossible. Not since the Wizard of OZ has there been a place as compelling as over the rainbow. Falling Waters is a wonderful place that draws in the lover of movies and fantasy.
I give the writer kudos and the maximum five stars for such a compelling story. I was not able to put the book down. Falling Waters is a Fantasy for our times.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started this book because it was ranked No. 1 on a "best of Old Hollywood" list on Goodreads and because the Kindle edition was super cheap. I don't know how it has achieved such a high ranking because this book is extraordinarily bad. I couldn't even finish it, and there wasn't any need to because for inexplicable reasons, the entire plot is laid out in the introduction. The plot is completely inconceivable, and I'm not talking about the supernatural aspects - I'm talking about the idea that a major movie studio would send a screenwriter on a year-long national tour in which every media outlet is clamoring for his attention and everyone across the globe is waiting with baited breath to see the movie he wrote. The whole thing was just preposterous.