"PREAKNESS" EMERGES FROM BETA SCREENING
Written by Paul C. Bastante, Author of "Preakness" And "Hills & Valleys A Journey Through Wayne, N.J."
"Preakness" will be released in November of 2026. The book, (manuscript), just recently was submitted to a group assembled to represent a cross-section of potentially interested target groups for the story of Preakness, the most famous resident ever of Wayne, New Jersey. That is saying a lot since Queen Latifah called Wayne Township her home as well as the incomparable Tom Cruise who attended elementary school there. The inventor of the cream inside The Oreo Cookie also lived and died there, Sam Porcello.
The most famous resident in the history of Wayne, N.J. wasn't even a human! It's Preakness, and he is just the latest in the endless stream of connections to pop culture in America, perhaps just as much as the invention of The Super Ball and The Oreo Cookie.
Members of the Wayne, New Jersey Community, the equine community, pure book readers, animal lovers and literary critics all made up the sections of the group that was given 31 days to screen "Preakness". The beta period is scheduled to wrap on July 31st, with most submissions have already been completed already.
From my perspective as the author, there is probably nothing more surreal than having your work analyzed by a group of people whom you respect. Especially when you have never written a book before. The experience so far has been once-in-a-lifetime...at least for me!
The members of the group were provided a 33-question survey and agreed to strict conditions regarding sharing and copyrights. The questions were specific to the sections of the book and were more like market research material questionnaires. Being used for uncovering inconsistencies or timing issues with the work prior to submission to the editor.
Some of the members with technical English chops provided some editing as well which was very appreciated. Others took the opportunity to provide their own personal reviews of the book, which was also part of the survey.
Reviews for "Preakness"
JESSICA H. - FLORENCE, N.J.
"A story that pulls you in right from the opening pages and does not release you."
JANICE P. - WAYNE, N.J.
"Preakness delivers a heartful, emotional story of a magnificent horse and the people who loved him. Mixing historical fact, descriptive landscapes and beautiful character development, Preakness will leave a long-lasting impact on its reader. And if you grew up in Wayne, the book would add a layer of pride you already feel for your hometown. Highly recommend!"
JESSICA H. - FLORENCE, N.J.
"A story that pulls you in right from the opening pages and does not release you."
Release Date: November 20, 2026 @ The Village Inn
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