Life can be a game of questions and answers, and author Tom Covino tries to bring some of the biggest ones to the forefront in his enlightening book, Dear God, My Life Is in Jeopardy.
A primary question that the book addresses, from a spiritual perspective, is what happens to us after we die. It was a question that Covino faced from a very young age, and he hopes through his work that he can remove the anxiety of others in their journeys to find inner peace.
Covino takes the unusual course of presenting his subject matter through his protagonist who finds herself as the sole contestant in a very strange version of the gameshow Jeopardy.
Let Covino tell you why he wrote his book the way he did and what messages he hopes to convey.
Q: Evelyn Dawson’s journey appears to challenge and redefine deeply held beliefs. What inspired you to create her character, and how much of her story reflects your own spiritual or personal experiences?
A: The inspiration for Evelyn is that, like her, the average person experiences the same feelings yet is often locked away in their private emotional hiding spot. As for me, I felt a strong fear and drive to know what happens when we die. At just the age of 8 years old, I began having a recurring dream of being side-swiped by a car and dying while riding my bicycle. It was constantly on the back of my mind. However, many years later I found the truth about death and the afterlife. It’s a fear that plagues all mankind. Thus, I simply had to write this book to help others remove the paranoia I once experienced.
Q: How did you come up with the Jeopardy game show idea, and what prompted you to add in well-known celebrities?
A: The focus around the game Jeopardy came from the idea that life can be like a game of questions and answers. We all grow up learning how to answer many questions in life, except for the one that matters most: “Why do I have to die and what happens next?” I added celebrity anecdotes after watching a well-known actor on a late-night talk show. Without spoiling who I reference in my book, this person said, “I fear death … I need to know what to believe in.” Bringing in the actors, athletes, and entertainers into Evelyn’s gameshow world seemed like a perfect fit. Celebrities, though perhaps wealthier or more highly regarded than us common folk, experience the same anxieties about mortality
Q: The narrative promises to make readers reevaluate some of life’s deepest questions. What are the central themes or moral dilemmas in the book, and how do they encourage self-reflection?
A: The central theme is the idea that we all struggle with the concept of death. We are all brought up in different cultures, socio-economic situations, and environments that shape our worldviews. Keeping in mind nature versus nurture, this book is designed to remove a person’s “I grew up believing this or that.” My goal is to transform the hearts of readers to remove traditional or familial biases and replace those with priceless truth and peace for the soul — God’s word.
Q: Acts 17:26-27 plays a prominent role in the book’s premise. How does this scripture influence the plot, and what message do you hope readers take away about faith and the human search for God?
A: Acts 17:26-17 is meant to enlighten the reader. Its message is that God is closer to each one of us than we could ever imagine. Faith is such a wonderful feeling of trust and belief. It brings the comfort and joy of living each day. Yet, I still recognize that we could be just one breath away from our last, or really, one breath away from finding out what we have always contemplated — the afterlife. Additionally, faith holds a deeper meaning than one might think. The Greek definition of faith, pistis, means to be convicted and persuaded to follow God, which is what I wish for all readers.
Q: The book’s pacing is described as thought-provoking, shocking, and transformative. How did you balance these dramatic shifts to keep readers engaged while delivering your core message?
A: I knew that to reach souls, I needed to captivate interest. It was important for me to keep Evelyn relatable so that the audience could imagine themselves also playing the game. The book is designed to be provoking through and through. In the early stages of writing, I sent an unfinished manuscript to a friend in Florida for approval. I knew this person would be honest and blunt if need be. She told me that she was shaken to the core and looking to reevaluate what she had always been taught. Her comment reaffirmed my objective for the book. I attempted to balance intensity with empathy, which is why I think readers will be engaged and transformed.
Q: For readers wrestling with their own spiritual or existential questions, what guidance or comfort does Dear God, My Life Is in Jeopardy offer, and how do you see it impacting their personal journeys?
A: Dear God, My Life is in Jeopardy offers comfort in knowing what happens after we die and how to navigate life with that knowledge. I have continually prayed for God to put spiritually struggling believers and non-believers in my path. I simply want to help others while I do His will. I continue to pray that each reader will have a heart that is open to receiving the truth. God’s truth is more valuable than any gift that could ever be given.
Dear God, My Life is in Jeopardy is available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.
