Jack Forge


Biography

Born John Stephen Rohde in Los Angeles, California, I focused my academic study on the liberal arts and I have striven to create worthy art most of my life.

Where to find Jack Forge online


videos

The Graphic Art of Jack Forge
A slideshow of a lifetime of work in graphics.

Books

Ave Maria    by Jack Forge
Price: $2.99 USD. 23880 words. Published on May 25, 2012. Fiction.

A linguistic trip from the madness of sexual obsession to meaningful love.
Love Song for the Dead    by Jack Forge
Price: $2.99 USD. 15200 words. Published on May 1, 2012. Fiction.

A contemporary retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice tragic myth.
Shooting Bear    by Jack Forge
Price: $2.99 USD. 12740 words. Published on April 12, 2012. Fiction.

A short novel about guilt, redemption, and love
70    by Jack Forge
Price: Free! 420 words. Published on March 9, 2012. Fiction.

0.5 star(4.50 from 2 reviews)
A poem about the thoughts and feelings of a lifetime when becoming seventy years of age
On Stage    by Jack Forge
Price: $3.99 USD. 73000 words. Published on November 3, 2011. Fiction.

A chronological collection of stageplays
Amusement Park    by Jack Forge
Price: $1.99 USD. 22490 words. Published on September 24, 2011. Nonfiction.

Humor and satire
Spirits    by Jack Forge
Price: $3.99 USD. 25630 words. Published on September 9, 2011. Fiction.

A lifetime of poetry
Amateur at Heart    by Jack Forge
Price: $4.99 USD. 69700 words. Published on August 23, 2011. Fiction.

A humorous novel of amorous youth
Pressed Leaves    by Jack Forge
Price: $3.99 USD. 79070 words. Published on July 20, 2011. Fiction.

Varied short stories chronologically from a life of writing
Hunting Ketch    by Jack Forge
Price: $4.99 USD. 117370 words. Published on June 15, 2011. Fiction.

A novel of monstrous crime, vigilantism, and law enforcement in present day Los Angeles
House of Swallows    by Jack Forge
Price: $3.99 USD. 51140 words. Published on May 27, 2011. Fiction.

A tale of a girl's devotion to wild birds
Between the Dark and Dawn    by Jack Forge
Price: $4.99 USD. 100690 words. Published on May 2, 2011. Fiction.

An historical novel of the great San Francisco earthquake and fire

Jack Forge’s tag cloud

adventure    aging    avant garde    barbed    bawdy    biographical    blank    character    childhood    cinema    city    comedy    confession    cop    crazy    crime    criminal investigation    dark    death    drugs    experimental    fame    family    fanaticism    fantasy    fire    fireman    foregiveness    free    friends    friendship    fun    health    hero    home    hopeful    humor    hunting    imagination    inspiration    joy    lessons    life    loss    love    lust    magic and mystery    marriage    murder    music    nature    nurse    opera    pedophiles    people    philosophical    political    reconciliation    reflecting    relationships    religion    renewal    rescue    rhyme    rivalry    romance    sacrifice    satire    sex    social    society    stardom    suspense    teenage    theater    tragedy    urbane    verse    veteran    vigilante thriller action    witty    wordplay    youth   

Jack Forge's favorite authors on Smashwords


Smashwords book reviews by Jack Forge

  • Alius Dies on May 10, 2011
    (no rating)
    Overall, an affecting poem on the horrors of war. Although I don’t know if you want comment, constructive criticism, or both, I offer you some comments. First, I’ve read some Sassoon, so I know for what you’re striving. I can see and hear and almost feel the plight of the soldiers in the trenches. I commend you on your enterprise in using an aabb rhyme scheme in English, a language not as rich in rhymes as the Romance languages, such as French and Italian. I also don’t know the reason you used the word Alius. Perhaps to cast an aura of antiquity, as in the repetition of wars throughout human history. But I could be reaching. Anyway, glad to see you presenting your work to the world. I hope you have continued to do so.
  • Oranges on May 10, 2011
    (no rating)
    One of my favorite fruits! Thanks for reminding me of the transcendent pleasure of eating one. In your effective use of blank verse you present some sensuous images, such as “…juices as cold as the new morning...” Makes me want one right now! Keep writing!
  • I Would be Naive on May 10, 2011
    (no rating)
    A fine tribute! I have become cynical about Mother’s Day, what with all the crass commercialism choking its essential meaning. Your mother must have been very pleased to read this homage. Your rhymes integrate well into the poem without standing up and shouting: “Hey, look at me! I sound like another word here.” And I’m glad to see you consider your life a blessing. Alas, so many of us, maybe those without mothers like yours, see life less happily. May you enjoy many more days of your mother and celebrate them this way.
  • Why a Train? on May 17, 2011
    star star
    Much like a dream. Bits of humor too. For its brevity, the story works. It is difficult to write a short-short and make it succeed. Good use of details for vision and taste. I really can't see anyone even thinking of approaching a bear to inquire about a pair of pants, but then this is a dream where anything goes. Your use of the language is rough in spots but maybe you intended that. The end suggests an existential point of view. Interesting touch. The story closes with an unpredictable darkness that left me wondering about this character's life--and death. Maybe the story should have told me more.
  • IN ORCHARD LOST on May 19, 2011
    star star
    An interesting take on the loss of Eden. I found myself captured by the opening scene of a young couple finding a pear orchard. And I was further intrigued by the threatening darkness of chemical-poisoned apples. But I wanted more. When the writer left the story to conclude with a homily about maturity, I was lost, not in an orchard but at a dead end to a promising story. Maybe revise it with more development of the characters and theme.
  • Smashwords Style Guide on May 31, 2011
    star star star star
    Essential to preparing manuscripts for ebook publishing, especially on Smashwords. Thorough and organic. But it could benefit from editorial/organizational skills from someone, such as, well--me.
  • Smashwords Book Marketing Guide on May 31, 2011
    star star star star
    Well written guide, covering more clear information and direction in one cybertome than available in numerous sites on the internet. Remains to be seen if the apparently good advice will help me sell my books.
  • 100 Easy Household Tips on Nov. 17, 2011
    star star star star
    Lori J. Mitchell’s little book, 100 EASY HOUSHOLD TIPS, is packed with many ingenious remedies for those common household problems we all encounter. This simple volume will surely help anyone who reads it achieve more efficiency in the home. I recommend 100 EASY HOUSHOLD TIPS!