'Life on Tilt' a story about choices

CLIFTON PARK, NY — We’ve all heard of soccer moms, but here’s a new one — poker dads.

John Blowers of Charlton is a human resources manager at General Electric, father of twin 7-year-old boys and a 4-year-old daughter, a member of the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake school board, a member of Junior Achievement of Northeastern New York board, an active church member and occasional poker player. This week, he adds “author” to his resume as he releases his novel “Life on Tilt: Confessions of a Poker Dad,” a work of fiction drawn from some of his own experiences.

The book isn’t a primer on the game, nor is it intended to encourage people to take the risks associated with gambling, but, instead, Blowers chronicles the choices adults make between the realities of family life and the dreams of making it big.

“Everyone has dreams and ambitions that, if left unexplored, would leave us unfulfilled, but if explored too thoroughly, could jeopardize everything else we hold dear,” Blowers said. “It’s a delicate balance. In the book, I use poker as a telescope to explore this universal tension, and the game is used throughout the novel as a catalyst for conflict and ultimate change.”

This week, Blowers is touring the area with seasoned poker professional “Cowboy” Kenna James, who wrote the forward for the novel. As a regular player and commentator on the World Series of Poker on ESPN, James admitted he chose life in the fast lane over life in the carpool lane.

“[John’s] book paralleled my life,” said James, who was wearing black cowboy boots, large silver rings and a jacket with the World Series of Poker logo on the top pocket. “I left a marriage, and although I still have a good relationship with my kids, I chose to pursue poker as a career and exchanged my old life for the limelight.”

Blowers, who regularly wears a black felt cowboy hat, said, “I would never play in the World Series [of Poker] games; I’m an average player, and I don’t take those kinds of risks, but the book’s main character puts it all on the line, and that brings consequences.

“The main character has to figure out, can he live the dream and still hold on to what he has? That’s the kicker, the place where reality sets in.”

Blowers, who won’t reveal the book’s ending and where his character ends up, said he doesn’t frequent casinos and he enjoys poker as a test of strategy and concentration.

“It’s a people game, not a card game,” Blowers said. “You’re always thinking, and mentally it’s very taxing. People are studying your face, and you’re studying theirs much more so than looking at the cards.”

The term “on tilt” refers to a situation when poker players let their emotions cloud their judgment, often as the result of a losing streak.

Blowers said he’s happy to live his life on track, rather than on tilt.

“The book is a metaphor for how we each try to find that balance between our dreams and everyday life, and I find everyday life the most rewarding,” Blowers said. “But I’ll continue writing; I’m already at work on the sequel to this book.”

James said the life he chose has been a good one.

“I’ve had a successful career; I’ve travelled the world five times over, and I have a few, but not many regrets,” James said.

The official book release is this evening at the Albany Marriott, at the Tech Valley Hall of Fame Dinner, co-sponsored by Junior Achievement. Ten percent of the proceeds of Blowers’ book will be donated to Junior Achievement of Northeastern New York.

Daily Gazette

News Added: 15 May, 2008

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