About the

Book

At twenty-five, Eileen McFalls embarked on a very unconventional journey after meeting an amazing street magician. While never a household name, Jim Cellini was a legend in the magic world, renowned for his wit and skill when performing the impossible. A rollicking read full of tender and poignant moments, the memoir No Ordinary Magic recounts an uncommon life on the fringe.

An Audio Excerpt
from the Book

Chapter 9Eileen McFalls

00:00 / 08:43

A Video Excerpt

from the Book

Cellini often said that a magician's tools are the extension of one's magical self. Props to a magician are as important as the perfect brush to an artist or the faultless sound of an instrument to a musician. The following video is an excerpt from the book illustrating the reverence Cellini had for the art of magic in processing his sorrow over a set of damaged cups he'd used in a magic effect.

What People

Are Saying

The best book I've ever read!

—Tom Frank, Los Angeles, CA

Take a front row seat on this adventure and experience a world and time that no longer exists.

—Michael Vincent, London, UK

The detailed life of busking is what I expected when picking up No Ordinary Magic, and Eileen McFalls breathes life into a way of living few of us could ever possibly imagine. What I didn't expect was an exceptional

first-person narrative that meshed with the formatting
of fiction. This book is well written and scratches far beneath the superficial layers that many memoirs are unable to do. Yes, Jim Cellini is the driving force behind this unconventional life, but Eileen's voice allows a reader to become immersed in highs and lows on a profoundly intimate level. Her desires are frequently overshadowed by the colossal personality of the man she loves, just outside the spotlight where others light-heartedly joke of her being Jim's “sexcretary,” but from an armchair, we feel the pain and pleasure with perfect perspective and clarity. This is a wonderful book and I would give it a whole bucket of stars if I could.

—Readers' Favorite, 5 star review

If you love reading memoirs that include quirky characters, fabulous settings, and all kinds of magic, then this book is for you. Eileen's story brings you people and places you didn't ever think you would know but will be glad you did.

—Barbara Barry Levin, Professor Emerita, UNC-Greensboro

You painted such great imagery with your words, such characters!

—Ralis Kahn, Los Angeles, CA

No Ordinary Magic was a really lovely read, beautifully written, very compelling and I found it hard to put down.

—Tony Griffith, Bristol, UK

I absolutely love this book! The author takes the reader on a fascinating journey to a side of life not many of us see. No Ordinary Magic is a story you'll not soon forget!

—Kathe Martin, Greensboro, NC

What a read! No Ordinary Magic made my heart sing and my soul dream. Thank you for sharing it with me.

—Alexandre Gagné-Greffard, Montreal, Canada

I was spellbound! Your book is magical

in so many unexpected ways.

—Francesco Sclavo, Cuneo, Italy

Wow…what a fantastic book! Thank you for putting words and pictures to paper and sharing your journey with Cellini. It was a wonderful “read.”

—Matt Herbert, Kirkland, WA

No Ordinary Magic is a beautifully detailed, honest look at the hard life of street performing, including the ups and downs, the cities explored, and the freaks, weirdos, and talented artists encountered along the way. More compellingly though, it reads like a love letter to a complicated magician who loved his art more than anything. The Great Cellini wanted neither wealth nor fame; he just wanted to live free and share his magic with the world. Reading about the spell he put on Eileen and their adventures together was thrilling.

—Brett Sears, Cincinnati

No Ordinary Magic is so much more than a memoir of Eileen McFalls's adventures. It is a love letter to Cellini, a love letter to magic, and most importantly a love letter to life.

—Chad Engelbert, Memphis