John Henry Brebbia

When John Henry ("Jack") Brebbia finished writing the first draft of "APO 123," a Washington, D.C. author and prize-winning reporter introduced Jack to a high-powered New York literary agent. Jack journeyed to New York to meet with the literary agent. After presenting the agent with his monstrous 1,200 page, two-volume manuscript, the agent's first words were, "I presume it has chapters." "Chapters?" Jack replied, abruptly ending the interview. Twenty-five years and numerous revisions later the 545 page "APO 123" was finished. For lack of a publisher, the manuscript languished in Jack's safety deposit box until a planned reunion in Verdun, France of the Cold War Warriors with whom he had served in the U.S. Army prompted Jack to retrieve the manuscript and complete it. Published by CreateSpace in 2010, "APO 123" does have chapters - 34, in fact.

"APO 123" is based on Jack's experiences as an Army prosecutor in France during those thrilling days of yesteryear at the height of the Cold War when people recognized a commie rat when they saw one. Best described as "a M*A*S*H for lawyers"- after the popular movie and long-running TV series - "APO 123" does for Army lawyers what the TV series M*A*S*H did for Army doctors.

Jack and his son Christian Brebbia have since formed the Las Vegas-based APO 123 Production Company for the purpose of developing "APO 123," into a television miniseries. With the aid of an outstanding comprehensive series "bible" created by Christian, the company's writer-director, their production team of entertainment industry veterans initiated a program to place the "bible" in the hands of a reputable Hollywood production company in exchange for a co-production deal. The miniseries project remains a work in progress.

Jack's second novel, "In The War Zone," was published by CreateSpace in 2012. "In The War Zone" is not about war or the military. Rather, it is an uncommon contemporary American love story with a surprise ending that has captivated women readers. Think Gibb Quinn, street fighter raised by his single mother in a trashy Las Vegas trailer park, turned star computer salesman for the Big Byte Corporation, meets Alicia Farrell, aristocratic Yalie from a Connecticut coastal town populated by narrow minded people - all of whom view Gibb as a hustler from Sin City and are suspicious of his every move. And therein lies the tale.

Jack's third novel, "Life In The Fast Lane," published by CreateSpace in March 2015, is the spellbinding sequel to "In The War Zone." "Life In The Fast Lane" is a fast paced read filled with twists and turns that answers the question most often asked by its women readers - What becomes of Gibb and Alicia's seemingly star-crossed romance?

Jack's fourth novel "Teeth," was published by CreateSpace in April 2015. "Teeth" is a zany comedy/satire about a pair of self-righteous bigots from New Jersey. In 1979, horse-faced Miriam Potts and her balding, obese, thirty-something son Hans flee ethnically challenged Camden for the peace and contentment they are convinced only the Old South can offer them. Lost in a time warp they attempt to set up a peaceful orthodontic practice in rural, little ol' Gumball, Georgia. Instead the protagonists incite a corporate war amongst forces out to make a quick buck from their idea for revolutionizing the false choppers business. The local KKK Klavern, a moonshining segregationist sheriff, and a congregation of white Fundamentalists take one side. On the other side are the U.S. Treasury Department, a congregation of Black Presbyterians and a young Black conservative bent on bootstrapping his way to the American Dream. In the middle, a Jewish corporate raider from Brooklyn and some shady white shoe Atlanta lawyers try to play both sides against each other.

The APO 123 Production Company currently has under development full length movies based on Christian Brebbia's screenplay adaptations of "In The War Zone" - the best love story since the movie "Love Story" - and "Teeth," as well on as Jack's fictional short story comedy-satire "There Goes The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived," about four tough small time criminals from South Boston, MA ('Southie) that hire on with a mysterious Mr. Big to kidnap the body of baseball immortal Ted Williams from the cryonics lab in Tucson, Arizona where it is rumored to be stored in a steel container filled with liquid nitrogen. Each of these screenplays is a Christian Brebbia work in progress. Jack's latest novella, "And The Band Played On," a comedy satire set in a small seaside resort on Cape Cod that reprises the roles of Treasury Agents Motallebzadeh and Vitale, two of the main characters in "Teeth," is completed and ready for publication.

Jack grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts. He attended Stonehill College (he is credited with creating Stonehill's first fictional alumnus) and Boston College Law School. A former member of the President's Commission on White House Fellowships, he has been a corporate lawyer, banker, entrepreneur, chairman of the Nevada Humanities Committee, and Nevada public radio station director. For 25 years he was also a charter member of Lefty Salazar & Associates, a Las Vegas writer's group whose motto was: "We don't take incoming phone calls."

Jack's interest in things theatrical dates back to his days at Stonehill College when he played Newton Fuller, the lead role in his senior year play. "George Washington Slept Here" is about a New York couple that purchases a dilapidated Pennsylvania farmhouse where it is rumored George Washington spent the night. Newton's overbearing rich Uncle Stanley, an unappreciative guest, if ever there was one, constantly is heard to complain: "Newton, I feel a draft." Throughout Jack's performance, the audience laughed louder each time Uncle Stanley uttered this running joke. Although Jack regarded the audience response as a sign of success, he was puzzled by it. He didn't think the line was that funny. After the final curtain call, he went down into the auditorium to visit with his Irish grandmother. Nanny Hogan unlocked the mystery when greeting him with the immortal words: "Jackie, your fly is open!" That was Jack's last stage

appearance. (Is it any wonder?)