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For most of my life I was a struggling actor. I appeared on such shows as Mash, WKRP in Cincinnati, and General Hospital. Back in the mid-seventies I attended the very prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts where I was part of the first graduating class in Los Angeles. After that I joined the ranks of the other sixty thousand would-be stars who acted in showcase plays, occasionally going on professional auditions, and attending a weekly workshop. The women that ran my workshop got involved in an interesting experiment conducting an acting workshop to a group of prisoners at the Federal Correctional Institution, Lompoc, California, providing she could get a male to assist her. I was excited at the possibility of being part of something that unique and agreed to be her assistant. As it turned out, nothing of any real consequence came about, but it was a very interesting weekend that few if any will ever experience. I met some very fascinating guys, some of whom I got along with and others that—let’s just say, I was glad that there were guards stationed just outside of our room.
After I got back to my regular life, I had a scare that made me think, what would happen if someone were to be part of this program and, by a twist of fate, end up back inside as an inmate? Inside Out is that story.
Waiting for that big break I had many survival jobs typical of the actors of the '70s and '80s. But sales seemed to offer the only possible way to make a living and contrary to popular belief, I discovered that a salesperson is made not born. In fact, commissioned sales can be almost as frustrating as breaking into show business. I am currently working out of my home, on commission, for a newsletter publishing company. I have been married twice. My first, which ended in divorce gave me my beautiful daughter Shannon. I lost my second wife of ten years to cancer in 2012. Now 63, I currently reside in Northern California with my Yorkie-Poo Toby.
Reviewed by Tracy A. Fischer for Readers' Favorite
In a great book by debut author Jack Kearney, Inside Out: One Actor’s Nightmarish Journey of Incarceration, we follow the story of Danny Belson, a man used to playing inmates, but not of actually being one. Finding himself in the highly unique situation of becoming incarcerated next to men that he had recently trained in a prison acting program, Danny already has friends and enemies at the Medium Security Federal Prison in Lompoc when he is sent there as a convicted murderer. From living an untroubled life filled with beaches, auditions and volleyball, to navigating the intricacies of prison social order within the span of a very few months, Danny realizes that his learning curve is short and he’ll need to use every skill he has, including those as an actor, but this time, it’s not for entertainment, it’s for his very survival.
Inside Out was a fantastic read. Engaging, entertaining, fast-paced and exciting, this book had a truly unique story to tell. I read a lot and I can honestly say that I don’t think I have ever read a book with a plot like this before. In a world of cookie-cutter story lines, there is much more to like about author Kearney’s debut work, including his ability to create characters that are well-developed and three dimensional, descriptions of both the acting world and the prison world that seem so realistic that it seems likely that he’s spent time in both places, and writing such a great book that the reader will just not be able to put it down until it’s done. Inside Out would appeal to any reader who loves suspense, creativity in writing style, or simply a great work of fiction. This is Jack Kearney’s first novel, but I certainly hope to see more from this very promising new author.
