Screenwriter Joe Gazzam releases debut young adult thriller “Uncaged”

LOS ANGELES - Oct. 21, 2013 - PRLog -- Los Angeles, CA - October 22, 2013 - After establishing himself as an accomplished screenwriter, Joe Gazzam sees the release of his first novel, “Uncaged,” this week.

Joe Gazzam has been a professional screenwriter for over ten years. He has worked on such features as “21 Jump Street,” “Disney’s Hawaiian Adventure,” and “Step Up: Revolution.”

His debut novel “Uncaged” tells the story of Jason, a trouble teenager who finds himself on the wrong side of the law just as the Scared Straight program opens its doors to a newly modernized prison facility in Florida. When the prison is taken over by inmates with the Scared Straight kids inside, one prisoner takes it on himself to get Jason out before it’s too late. A thriller for adults and young adults alike, the novel takes the story of a prison break and turns it on its head.

“Fast and Furious” screenwriter Chris Morgan notes the ties between “Uncaged” and Gazzam’s more prominent work on the big screen. “Cinematic in its sweep, terrifying in its possibility, and remarkable in its realism,” Morgan observes, “‘Uncaged’ is a book for readers ready to be scared straight till the last page. Joe Gazzam has crafted a novel that reads like a good movie, carrying you along from the first moment of danger, to the last terrifying precipice. It’s fast, shocking, and gritty. You’ll love it.”

Ahmet Zappa, co-creator of “The Odd Life of Timothy Green,” notes the novel’s place in the current stream of young adult literature: “No vampires, werewolves, fairies or unicorns. Real. Thrilling. Scary. Crack this book open and hang on for your life.” It’s this realism that gives the book an appeal for young adult readers eager for something beyond the prominent paranormal teen fare.

The book has garnered praise from other novelists, including Jessica Therrien, author of the highly successful “Children of the Gods” young adult series. Therrien also notes its cinematic quality, calling it “a blockbuster, edge-of-your-seat read.”

Actor Topher Grace, best known for “That ‘70s Show” and “Spiderman 3,” commented on the novel, calling it “wildly suspenseful with great characters. Pure fun to read.”

At the intersection of the big screen and the printed page, Joe Gazzam has proven to have storytelling mastered for any audience and across media.

“Uncaged” is published by ZOVA Books, a boutique publishing company specializing in unique fiction for a wide variety of readers. ZOVA Books is headquartered in Long Beach, California.

Contact:

Molly Lewis
molly@zovabooks.com
PO Box 21833
Long Beach, CA 90801
805-426-ZOVA