Jeff Giles is an experienced culture writer and editor who's been featured in a long list of publications including Paste Magazine, the Village Voice, American Songwriter, Ultimate Classic Rock, and Rotten Tomatoes. Jeff Giles makes his debut as a novelist with Langley Powell and the Society for the Defense of the Mundane.

What would you do if the belief you'd dedicated your life to turned out to be completely, hilariously wrong?And what if you only found out just how wrong you'd been after you died in one of the most humiliating ways possible?These are the questions facing Langley Powell, world-renowned debunker of paranormal phenomena, after he's flattened by a falling piano. Loath as he is to admit it, he has become a ghost — but before he can even come to terms with his bizarre new reality, he's thrown into a dangerous mission to save the very fabric of existence. Can Langley believe the people he's supposed to trust? Is this all really the fault of the disgraced magician who made him a skeptic in the first place? And how many insults will he have to bear from Frank, the foulmouthed, pint-sized government agent who's sworn to protect him along the way?Langley Powell and the Society for the Defense of the Mundane, out now via Humorist Books, is part supernatural comedy, part mystery, and part absurd history lesson. On Langley and Frank's journey, they're just as likely to meet up with Albert Einstein, J. Edgar Hoover, or Tom Petty as they are to confront the forces of supernatural evil or a president who really, really likes Ferris Bueller's Day Off. My first novel, this is the cracked reflection of a writing career that's spanned several decades and seen me covering everything from daytime dramas to beer while publishing thousands of essays and interviews about and with a diverse array of musicians and filmmakers. 

Jeff Giles Vroom Vroom Veer Show Summary

In this episode of Vroom Vroom Veer, hosted by Jeff Smith, guest Jeff Giles discusses his debut novel, "Langley Powell and the Society for the Defense of the Mundane." The episode begins with a scripted introduction by narrator Tim Paige, highlighting the podcast's focus on stories about veering away from a scripted life into more fulfilling directions.

The conversation between Smith and Giles begins with some light banter before delving into the details of Giles’ novel. Giles explains the plot, which centers around a renowned debunker of paranormal phenomena who becomes a ghost and finds himself annoyed by his new existence. He shares his excitement about completing his first novel, especially at the age of fifty, and details his writing process during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Giles recounts his struggle to find a literary agent and ultimately getting his book published by Humorous Books during an open submission period. He also reflects on his previous experience self-publishing a nonfiction book about the ABC daytime drama "One Life to Live."

The discussion veers into Giles' diverse professional background, which includes working as a music reviewer from a young age, running a record label, and his various jobs before becoming a novelist. Giles shares insights from his life's unexpected turns, or "veers," which brought him significant changes and new opportunities.

Smith and Giles touch on topics like the challenges of the publishing industry, the role of persistence in achieving literary success, and how changes in media and technology have affected their careers. They also discuss the emotional aspects of receiving rejection and the importance of resilience.

As the conversation concludes, Giles provides information on how listeners can access his work and connect with him online, directing them to his website and other online platforms.

The episode wraps up with Tim Paige thanking the listeners and inviting them to tune in for more episodes of Vroom Vroom Veer.

Connections

LangleyPowell.com

Jefitoblog.com