Reel to Real
by Jim Maxim

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A tragic accident decimates the family of Leon Schmutz, leaving him captured in the throes of Retrograde Amnesia, and deprived of any recollection of his life prior to the incident. With no one to remind him about his past, Leon struggles to find himself and his place in the world. As he searches for his past, he begins to build a life for himself in the present. He discovers a long-lost family member, a small group of friends, and maybe even love. But when his desperate search for answers leads him to an extraordinary box of home movies, the new life he’s building threatens to unravel. Seven movies show seven events—events Leon will physically experience again as he watches each film. Each experience brings with it a consequence. Each consequence causes loved ones to become more and more concerned, believing these Kodak moments to be self-inflicted, and questioning Leon’s intentions, as well as his mental health. Dare they intervene? As Leon desperately tries to make them understand, he fights to keep his former self in the past and move forward with his newfound identity.

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Jim Maxim enjoys reminiscing through home movies, which truly inspired his second publication, Reel to Real. When he’s not writing or creating family memories, Jim enjoys cycling, golfing, hockey, reading, walking his dogs, and enjoying a glass of wine with his wife Marlene. The retired Windsor Fire Captain currently lives in Amherstburg, Ontario, with his family that includes three Toy Australian shepherds, Elsie, Jenny, and Marsha; and two Ragdoll cats, Mickey and Maxie.

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Jim Maxim