Here is a virtual Q/A interview of my most frequently asked questions. You may use the questions and answers in any way.

Q1. What is Café Stories, in a nutshell?

Q2. Why pair short stories with a Beatles song?

Q3. How did Jerry pick which songs to write about?

Q4. Do you need to be a Beatles fan to enjoy it?

Q5. Is there a story that means the most to him?

Q6. What was the hardest part of writing the book?

Q7. Who is Café Stories really written for?

Q8. What’s next for the Café Stories project?

Q9. Where can listeners find the book and stories?

For Podcasters

Thirty Stories. Thirty Songs. One Question Worth Debating On Air.

Café Stories is a collection of thirty original short stories — written first, over several years, with no Beatles connection in mind. Only afterward did I go back through the entire catalog and match each story to a song, not by title, but by what the story was actually about underneath. Some pairings are dead-on. A couple are honestly a stretch. I’ll tell you which is which.

That’s the hook: a book built backward from the songs your listeners already love, made by someone who’s willing to defend — or debate — every single match.

Why This Works on a Beatles Show

• A ready-made segment, not just a book plug. Ask me which pairings are earned and which are a reach, and you’ll get real answers, not talking points.
• Deep cuts for deep listeners. One story is a farce about a tormented rooster — paired with “Good Morning Good Morning” because the actual 1967 recording ends in a chain of animal sounds, including a rooster crow. That’s the level of attention behind these matches.
• An interactive bit built right in. Every story had a different working title before it became a Beatles song. “Death by Pickleball” became “Happiness Is a Warm Gun.” “Vegan Dog and Stoned Cat” became “Octopus’s Garden.” Read the original title, have your co-host or listeners guess the song — it plays.
• A story, not just a synopsis. I wrote thirty complete short stories about love, memory, loneliness, and connection — long before I ever thought about the Beatles catalog. The pairing came second. The stories can carry a conversation on their own.

A Few Pairings to Get You Started

“Eleanor Rigby” — Two lonely lives running in parallel across town, never intersecting, until a quiet collision near the end. The structure does what the song does.

“Paperback Writer” — A story about a woman writing a story — recursive, a little haunted, exactly what the song is about.

“Act Naturally” — Ringo’s lyric taken completely literally: a couple mistaken for actors because their real reaction was better than performance.

“Lady Madonna” — The one I’d argue about. The song is about a struggling single mother; the story doesn’t have one. Ask me about it — I won’t dodge the question.

What I Can Offer Your Show

• A guest who’s genuinely easy to talk to about the process — the honest “stories first, songs after” story is more interesting than a straight pitch, and I’ll always own the pairings that don’t quite land.
• A pre-built segment format if you want one: the deep-cut test, the guessing game, or a longer conversation about how the catalog still shapes new creative work sixty years on.
• The full manuscript, sample excerpts, or specific stories tied to any pairing you want to dig into — sent ahead of time so you’re never walking in cold.
• Flexibility. Short segment, full interview, recurring bit — whatever fits your show’s format.

Credentials: Featured in Beatles Magazine (“an emotional jukebox where each story strikes a different key of memory”), recommended by Midwest Book Review, and placed on Kenneth Womack’s Beatles Studies required reading list at Rutgers.

Let’s Talk

Interested in having me on? Reach out at jgauthor@icloud.com — I’ll send over the manuscript, an excerpt, or whatever pairing details would help you prep. No pressure, no hard sell — just thirty stories and thirty songs, and a lot to talk about.

For Professors

If you’re considering Café Stories for a course or reading list, here’s everything you need to know.

For students: Café Stories is available on Amazon worldwide — as a $4.99 Kindle eBook or a $14.95 paperback (£11.14 in the UK). If you add it to a reading list, students can order it directly, the same as any other course book.

Format & ISBN: – Paperback ISBN: 9798251407846 – Kindle eBook also available on Amazon

Café Stories is already on Kenneth Womack’s Beatles Studies required reading list at Rutgers, and is indexed in Gale Cengage’s General OneFile, a database used by libraries and universities nationwide.

Questions about classroom use, study guides, or bulk inquiries? I’d love to hear from you — reach me at jgauthor@icloud.com.

Midwest Book Review says:

“Original, exceptional, deftly crafted, and a fascinating read from start to finish… a ‘must’ for all Beatles fans.” — Midwest Book Review, Small Press Bookwatch (June 2026)

“Unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Contemporary American Literary Fiction collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.” — Midwest Book Review, Small Press Bookwatch

For Book Stores and Libraries

For college bookstores: The paperback is available for wholesale ordering through Ingram, the distributor used by college bookstores and retailers everywhere. It’s also orderable directly through Amazon. Either way, your store can get copies in for students and browsing customers alike.

For libraries: The paperback is fully searchable and orderable through Ingram’s catalog — the same system you already use for acquisitions. Just search ISBN 9798251407846.

Format & ISBN: – Paperback ISBN: 9798251407846 – Kindle eBook also available on Amazon

Questions about stocking, event visits, or bulk orders? Reach me at jgauthor@icloud.com.

What Readers Are Saying

“Having begun with The Da Vinci Diamond and moved on through the variety of Café Stories collections and now to the Beatles compilation, I realised that Jerry is no regular writer and certainly not ordinary. What Jerry does is give you an outline of his characters and tease you into painting your own pictures… Using the titles of Beatles songs sounds so crazy, but Jerry makes them all work.” — David Cousland, Author from the UK

“This delightfully inventive book utilizes 30 different Beatles songs for its story titles and themes… Cafe Stories features relatable characters in humorous situations… Take out your old Beatles album, brew a cup of coffee and plant yourself in your favorite reading chair. These stories are worth reading over and over again.” — Beth R., Amazon review

“This is a clever collection of stories that tie in classic Beatles songs that everyone can relate to — quirky stories that make us laugh. I highly recommend reading this!” — Cindi B., Amazon review