If You Like "The Jujene Institute" You Might like My Novel (spoilers for the game—not my novel)

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The Institute Cover art for the documentary

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Follow Me: Tattered Veils wide image art work created by Jake @ J Caleb Designs

The Jujene Institute: An alternate game that sprung up in San Francisco in 2008.  The 2013 documentary “The Institute” (youtube trailer) provides some details.  

What did this experience share with Follow Me: Tattered Veils share? 

The past three weeks I've posted childhood stories that show I have experience creating fantastic narratives others find creditable.  While I love high magic with spells, curses and fantastic beasts, I love it even more when I think all of it could be hiding just around the corner.

The experience created by the Jujene Institute encouraged those participating to question the nature of reality.  The game created a realistic modern cult.  People started "playing" by visiting an indoctrination station in an office building.  People probably weren't certain if they'd just joined a cult or started playing a game.  The Institute left clues in other real world locations, had a radio station releasing the "truth" about the Jujene Institute (otherwise known as a faction that opposed the institute), and had a missing person subplot.  The missing person is a real person and we don’t know what happened to that person.  I bow to the superiority of this art installation.  

Follow Me: Tattered Veils attempts to do something similar on a smaller scale.  By using real locations, referencing traditional myths, and creating a seasonal sense of time, I hope to create a small pocket of reality where Follow Me: Tattered Veils can co-exist with the mundane world.  In Jess’ infinite budget, there’s an alternate reality game for Follow Me: Tattered Veils, one I can’t share with audiences without spoiling the book and its planned sequel.  Trust me, it’s epic. 

As the player’s in The Jejune Institute seek the truth. the missing woman, or enlightenment (depending on the player), Roxi seeks the same ambiguous something more for herself.  Like the game has multiple aims, Roxi’s goal shifts and changes throughout the book.  Hopefully readers enjoy the chase and conclusion.   

Have you ever heard of The Jujene Institute?  Is it a game/experience you would want to play?     If so consider picking up Follow Me: Tattered Veils when it releases in February.  Check out my website jessicadonegan.com for more details.