Joseph Lewis's Blog, page 7
January 3, 2024
Two Reviews and a Snippet
After writing nine books and almost at the end of writing book #10, I still get thrilled when I receive a nice review, and I still get down when I receive a not so nice review. I think it happens to most writers.
I was fortunate to receive a 5 Star Review for my most recent book, Fan Mail. I received it from International Writers Inspiring Change. It said:
“Fan Mail, by Joseph Lewis, is a gritty coming-of-age mystery thriller. The main plot, which explodes into view at the very beginning of the book, surrounds a series of threatening letters and a car bombing. As investigators try to source the stalker, and the bombing, we find ourselves immersed in the lives of several young men who are connected either through family or friends, and who have secrets they have been hiding about their lives – secrets, which in the course of the book, start to emerge. The culmination takes the reader to the very top of this mountain of bizarre events, moreover, the dramatic ending when the stalker is finally revealed. An intense emotional rollercoaster ride, written with immense detail to feelings and dialogue, with a constant thread of mystery that holds you to the end to find out what happens. Excellent writing.”
I appreciate how the reviewer crafted this review. It was evident to me the reviewer took the time to fully read and consider the Fan Mail deeply, and was able to discern what I was trying to portray as I wrote it.
I also received a review from best-selling and award-winning author of Stable, Cam Torrens, who read my book, Stolen Lives, Book One of the Lives Trilogy. He wrote:
“My recent reads have included stories of unspeakable evil: The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Man’s Search for Meaning, and A Fever in the Heartland. This mix of truth and fiction has shown me there is no bright side to evil, but character can be sharpened under such conditions.
Joseph Lewis’s Stolen Lives, Book One of the Lives Trilogy, is no exception. Character is everything in this novel based on difficult subject matter. Lewis crafts a masterful thriller arc while presenting the very real issue of child trafficking. The young men who endure this tragedy emerge scarred, but also as survivors. A must-read!”
If you’ve not read Stable by Cam Torrens, you’re missing a wonderfully intricate mystery full of suspense with a sharp twist at the end. It’s worth it if you like thrillers!
I want to share a snippet from Stolen Lives for you. It’s midway in the book, just after two boys go missing from a safe suburban street.
There wasn’t much to go on. No witnesses. A time interval that could have been minutes to an hour or more. One Adidas sandal and a cell phone, both found on the grass bordering the sidewalk, almost at the corner.
It was decided that if they were taken, they had been ambushed: grabbed, lifted and tossed into a waiting car or van. Probably a van, since it was easier to get them into and out of quickly. Still, nothing to go on. A dead end, like many missing kids’ cases.
I think I shared with you in one of my posts that as a counselor, I had volunteered as an adjunct educator for the Wetterling Foundation for Missing Children, speaking to parents and caring adults how to protect their children and what to look for to keep their kids safe. I also spoke to kids about how to protect themselves. With the advance of technology and social media, it is imperative that adults and caring adults step in to have sometimes hard conversations. It’s important to ask questions of kids, and to be on alert. While we don’t want our children walking on egg shells through life, it is important for children to be aware of potential danger.
For your convenience, I’ve included book descriptions and links for purchase for both books below. Please know you can find all my books, their descriptions, and links for purchase at my author website at https://www.jrlewisauthor.com
I would love to hear your thoughts, so please use the comment section below. As always, thanks for taking the time to follow along on my writing journey. Until next time …
Fan Mail
A Maxy Award Finalist, a Reader’s Favorite Silver Book Award Winner, a Literary Titan Silver Book Award Winner, and an Author’s Shout Recommended Read!
A barrage of threatening letters, a car bomb, and a heart attack rip apart what was once a close-knit family of adopted brothers.
Randy and Bobby, with fellow band member and best friend, Danny, receive fan mail that turns menacing. They ignore it, but to their detriment. The sender turns up the heat. Violence upends their world. It rocks the relationship between the boys and ripples through their family, nearly killing their dad.
As these boys turn on each other, adopted brother Brian flashes back to that event in Arizona where he nearly lost his life saving his brothers. The scars on his face and arms healed, but not his heart. Would he once again have to put himself in harm’s way to save them? And, if faced with that choice, will he?
Stolen Lives, Book One of the Lives Trilogy
A BestThrillers’ Finalist Award Winner, and a Literary Titan Gold Book Award Winner!
Three fourteen-year-old boys are inextricably linked by abduction and murder.
Two of them were just abducted off a safe suburban street. Kelliher and his team of FBI agents have 24 hours to find them or they’ll end up like all the others… dead! They have no leads, no clues, and nothing to go on. And the possibility exists that one of his team members might be involved. A fourth boy, George Tokay, a Navajo, holds a key piece to this puzzle and doesn’t realize it.
Kelliher and his team have been on this case for two years. There isn’t much to go on, and each time he gets a break, potential witnesses are found dead. The stories of these boys are like loose threads on a sweater: pull the wrong one and it unravels completely. Slowly, Kelliher realizes that there may be one or more members of his team behind it all.
December 12, 2023
Meet David Radman – An Author!
Here is an author who did voice over work, had a minor role in a movie, and is a children’s author. While he stated that he admires anyone who writes a novel length book, I admire anyone writing a children’s book. There has to be painstaking effort to create a story that will captivate a child’s imagination, and frankly, I know I’m not cut out for it.
Besides being a Black Rose Writing author like me and some of the other authors I have interviewed, he and I share one other characteristic: our fondness for the group, Journey, and for Steve Perry’s vocals.
What was it that made you decide you had a story to tell and to become an author?
I hadn’t ever planned to be an author. I was a single father raising two young daughters by myself. My daughters were the inspirations that led to me to writing books. Before them, I was interested in writing songs, poetry, and screenplays. Then one day, my oldest daughter came to me and told me she was tired of reading the same stories over and over. I told her that if she wanted to read new stories, we would have to write them ourselves. Her eyes got so big and she responded, “Can we?” It was then that I began this journey, one that would help strengthen a bond between my girls and me, rewarding me in ways I could never have imagined.
As an author or writer, what sets you apart from others?
I hesitate to toot my own horn at times, because I am really humbled by the success I have found in being a published author. I guess I would say that all of my stories are original and fun. I try to stay away from any controversial subjects, and focus more on the importance of family and friendship. I also write all my stories in verse. Rhyming has always been the way I naturally think, and it has been fun to let some of my stories go in directions led by the words, and become something I hadn’t expected.
How do ideas for your stories present themselves? How do you know what story lines to follow and which to ignore?
Many of my story ideas come about at the most inopportune times. I’ve never been able to plan time to sit and write. Instead, inspiration will usually hit me when I’m busy at work, driving on the highway, or at 2:30 in the morning, waking me from a sound sleep. It isn’t always an idea that comes to mind, just a voice telling me I need to sit down and listen. I never know what I am going to write out, or how long I’m going to be there, but as inconvenient as it has been at times, it has served me well. I haven’t been disappointed.
What genre do you write, and why?
Children’s books are the only genre I write now, and that’s because of my two daughters and our love of new stories. There was a time I wanted to write a novel, but I quickly learned that I didn’t have the focus or patience to create a lengthy story, with many moving parts and characters. I was more comfortable developing a character quickly, and keeping the adventures to roughly thirty-two pages.
Besides writing and telling a good story, do you have any other talents?
This would best fit me using the phrase, “Jack of all trades, master of none.” Some people know a lot about a few specific things, while I see myself as knowing a little about many things. I’ve written a couple of screenplays, recorded some songs where I sing and play the keyboard, met a couple of big name actors and had an opportunity to be cast as an extra in a couple of movies. I also did some voice over work for a movie as well, but none of those talents can compare with being able to successfully raise my daughters, who have become a teacher and a nurse, and who are living their best lives, blessing me with three grandchildren to date. Perhaps a lone exception that only I may think of as a talent is my ability to say the alphabet backwards in less than five seconds. I keep meaning to contact Ripley’s Believe It Or Not about that.
If you were to name one or two books that you deem unforgettable and that had a major impact on you, what would they be, and why?
One of the strange things about seeing myself develop as an author is that I was never an avid reader in the past. I didn’t enjoy reading much, and I struggled to get through the required reading in school. But I remember that Dr. Seuss and his book, “Green Eggs and Ham,” was the first book I learned to read independently.
What authors do you read regularly? Why?
I have begun picking up other children’s books by other authors. I enjoy seeing what others are doing and when I see one that appears to be very successful, I try to find out how they got there, and what I can do better.
If you were to have dinner with 5 individuals living or dead, who would they be and why?
My answers to this question are mostly based on my admiration of what they accomplished in their careers.
Michael Jordan, whom I thought did things that defied gravity and reality.Albert Einstein, who worked on ideas that I don’t think I could ever grasp.Kirstie Alley and John Cusack, who were my favorite actors while I was growing up in the 80s.Steve Perry, the former lead singer of Journey, because it was his songs and voice that inspired me to write. Journey songs are also the centerpiece of many childhood memories.And I’m going to add a sixth person here. My dad, who passed away in October 2015. What I wouldn’t give to have one more dinner with him.What is your writing routine? When you write, do you plan or outline ahead or are you a “pantser”?
As I mentioned above, I never plan a time to sit and write. It just comes to me. I am definitely a “pantser”, as I allow the rhyme to direct the flow of the story. I was told some years ago I shouldn’t write in rhyme, because I would limit the ways my stories can go. However, I have found that some of my stories ended up going in ways I could never have imagined, and became better stories than I ever expected.
When writing, how much do you read? Do you read in or out of your genre?
My overall reading is very low. I spend most of my reading time at local schools and festivals, sharing my stories with kids who are really struggling to keep up. I feel like I have a mission in life to help improve the childhood literacy rate, which seems to have declined in the past few years. I believe I have a gift to share, and so I try to do so with as many as I can, improving children’s literacy, one page at a time.
Is there something you set out to do, but somehow, it didn’t work out for you? (In writing, or something else you felt was important to you at the time?)
The first thing that comes to mind with this question is the art of investing. I often tell people I feel like I can do anything in life, except make money. I have an amazing track record of buying high and selling low, betting on the wrong team or horse, and picking the exact wrong lottery numbers. I’ve gotten really good at these.
What tips would you give to new or even experienced writers?
So another thing I try to do often is visit high schools, middle schools, and have been invited as a guest speaker to teacher’s conventions, where I don’t read my books but I talk to them about being a writer, and my journey in becoming an author. A couple of things I always stress is;
Don’t become a writer for the love of money. Write for the love of writing.Never throw away what you have written. Keep it, store it, and revisit it later. You may one day wish to see what you wrote about in the past, and it may reignite an idea in the future.And remember, it may only take forever to become an overnight success.How did you “teach” yourself to write or did it just come naturally? What lessons would you pass on to others?
The evolution of writing for me came naturally. Songs were always front and center in connecting my life’s events and emotions. Rhyming and stanzas were formidable, and I would always listen to the cadence to see if I could change it or make it better. It flowed easier for me. I tell others to write the way that feels natural, comfortable.
How do you handle a negative critique?
Thankfully, I haven’t had that many, but they happen from time to time. A wise man once told me to just say, “Thank you!” and move on.
Is there a type of writing/genre that you find difficult to write? Why?
I don’t know if a genre would be difficult, but a novel in any genre for me would be. I have such a respect for someone who can write a novel. To keep a reader’s attention over a long period of time, with such description, action and energy, is beyond my capacity.
How important are the elements of character, setting, and atmosphere to a story, and why?
I have an added challenge being a children’s book author. I have to grab a reader’s attention almost immediately, and develop the story line quickly. I have only a few pages to draw you in, connect with you, and take you on a journey. For my stories to be memorable, I need these elements to be strong right away.
Do you see yourself in any of the characters you create? How/Why?
My characters are not attached to me as far as being someone I am or was in my childhood. However, some events and adventures originated from memories I had as a child. There are certain aspects, such as morals and family values, that show up during my stories. I see those in myself.
Is there an unforgettable or memorable character that will not leave your head, either of your own creation or from a book you’ve read?
The most obvious for me would be Santa Claus from my award winning first book, Santa’s Zany, Wacky, Just not Right, Night Before Christmas. (Yes, that is the whole title). Santa was always larger than life for me when I was young. That I had a chance to use Santa in one of my stories and send him on the adventure that I did is very rewarding for me. I love to see the looks on kids’ faces when they read my book. It’s the innocence in action as they care about and connect with Santa through a story told by me. It’s almost surreal.
Tell us about your most recent book. How did you come up with the concept? How did you come up with the title? From your book, who is your favorite character? Who is your least favorite character?
My next book, titled The Playground Hop, is based on the time when I had my daughters, and we were developing a routine that was fun and enjoyable. The neighborhood where we lived had a small, basic playground. It wasn’t long before I saw my girls lose interest in going outside to play there. One day I told them to get in the car, and we started driving around into neighborhoods that we had never been to before in search of new playgrounds to play on. It quickly became standard that we head out several days a week in search of new adventures, with new friends, doing The Playground Hop. Of course, my favorite characters are my daughters. I’m excited to portray them in one of my stories. Illustrations are about to start, and I’m hoping I get a likeness to them they can cherish forever.
I hope you enjoyed this interview, and I hope you check out David’s books.
Author/media contact information
You can learn more about me, or follow me on my Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/RadWriterForChildren
When Grandpa Gets Going can be found at
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-grandpa-gets-going-david-radman/1127605571?ean=9781612969992
Peek and Boo are Looking for You can be found at
Santa’s Zany, Wacky Just not Right Night Before Christmas can be found at
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/santas-david-radman/1132479658?ean=9781933302249
I Bet a Dragon Could can be found at
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-bet-a-dragon-could-david-radman/1140827685?ean=9781684339372
Titles published by Black Rose Writing can be found at www.BlackRoseWriting.com
Santa’s Zany, Wacky, Just not Right, Night Before Christmas published by AC Publications
November 30, 2023
What is the Story?
Writing anything: poetry, a short story, an essay, a book comes down to answering the
question- What is your story about? It is really that simple, and it really is
that difficult.
I write what I enjoy reading the most, which is thriller-crime-mystery. Throw in
some suspense and perhaps a dash of police procedural, and you will have me
hooked. It is this love that gave me direction on what I love to write.
My first book, which was turned into a series and a prequel, was Stolen
Lives. My first publisher, who is no longer in business, wanted to not
only publish Stolen, but wanted me to write a series, and then
produce a prequel to introduce the series to the reader. But there had to be a
story or there wouldn’t have been a first book, much less a series and prequel.
The story is always, always the key and the most important part of writing. Yet,
you can’t have a story without characters, because the story involves a
character or characters wanting something, needing something, and frustrated
because there are obstacles and hinderances put into place to prevent the
character from obtaining what the heart’s desire is. There has to be enough
frustration that makes the reader want the character to succeed and that gets the
reader upset when the goal is difficult to reach. The reader cheers on the
character. The reader will cry when something happens to the character, and the
reader will fall in love with the character long before the character reaches the
goal, his or her heart’s desire.
But there has to be a story, and it is up to the writer to clearly articulate what
that story is about.
I remember a year or two ago when I was at a book festival and wandering around
the different tables manned by eager authors wanting to sell their books. I
happened by an author’s table who had two books on display. He had posters, an
eye-catching table covering, and had bookmarks and business cards to give away.
The poster held my attention, just as the cover of his two books did.
I asked him, “What is your book about?” Simple question, really. A necessary
question and an important question. The author’s eyes glazed over as he talked
about time-travel, special forces, fights and explosions. He never mentioned
the protagonist or an antagonist. He never told me what the book was about,
because he couldn’t clearly articulate what the story was.
Now maybe the book was wonderfully written. Maybe there wasn’t a typo or
grammatical mistake to be found. But I passed on purchasing the book because I
wondered if the story wouldn’t be found either. If he couldn’t put into a few
sentences what the story is about, I feared he couldn’t do that in the five
hundred plus pages either.
Stolen Lives: two boys are snatched off a safe suburban street, and the FBI knows if they
don’t find them within 48 hours, they might never find them. Worse, they might
end up like the other bodies of kids they’ve found around the country: dead,
with their hands cuffed behind their back, nude, and with two bullets to the
back of the head.
That’s the story behind Stolen Lives and behind the Lives Trilogy
and Prequel.
Blaze In, Blaze Out: two cops testify and put a crime lord in prison. They thought the guilty
verdict was the end, but it was only the beginning. From behind prison walls
and using intermediaries, the crime lord contracts two assassins to kill the
two detectives and anyone else in their way. Revenge knows no bounds. It wants
what it wants, when it wants.
That’s the story behind Blaze In, Blaze Out.
In both cases, I used only a few sentences to tell you what the books are about.
You, the reader, has a picture in your head, based upon your experiences with
other books you’ve read or movies you’ve watched. You have an idea of who the
protagonists are, and in Blaze, who the antagonist is. So, figure out what your story is. Clearly articulate it to yourself. Jot it down. Try it out with others. If you find the listener leaning towards you, you might have a hook, and a hook leads to the story. Once you have it, write the story.
Polish it. Give us a character or characters that make us want to root for
them, help them, and perhaps cause us to cry with them. It really is that
simple, and it really is that difficult.
Some Good News!
I recently did a podcast with Lindsey Friel of @BooksGoSocial, and I’ve included the link for you. She asked terrific questions, some I’ve not been asked before. It was a terrific experience and I hope you give the podcast a listen. Here is the link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Hh0qzYvLZNCYf0OiUzFn7?si=8b0e27df228243a6
Another piece of good news I wanted to share is that my book #10, Black Yé’ii (The Evil One) will be published January 2, 2024. I sent my publisher an email that gave him the
story idea (What is your story?), and based upon that email, my idea/story was
placed into review and subsequently, I received a contract for Black Yé’ii (The Evil One) for publication. What makes this so special to me, actually making me quite
emotional, was that the story is not completed yet. The contract was issued
based upon the idea, and most likely, my track record with my other books. It
still excites me to think that my publisher has that much faith in me as a
storyteller. Preview copies should be available about a year from now, and I
will keep you posted.
Last, I recently had a book sale and signing at our local (Fredericksburg, Virginia)
Barnes and Noble. It was such a success that they purchased multiple copies of
two books, Betrayed and Fan Mail, and they are now on display and for sale. And, something they do for only a few authors, they’ve invited me back in January for another sale and signing. Usually, they don’t bring an author back for at least six to nine months. Obviously, I’m happy to oblige and will again have my books available.
Check out all my books that are available on my website at jrlewisauthor.com
Descriptions and purchase links are included there.
I would love to hear your thoughts, so please use the comment section below. And, as always, thank you for your willingness to travel along with me on my writing journey. Until next time …
November 15, 2023
Good … No, Fantastic News!
Several weeks ago, the creator of Black Rose Writing, Reagan Rothe, sent an email to, I assume, any and all BRW authors saying if we have a completed book or nearly completed book, submit it or the idea behind the book for possible review. Review means, a team looks it over and decides if it is viable for publication.
I hesitated to respond, since I was less than 60,000 words into my next book (#10) titled, Black Yéʼii (The Evil One), and I didn’t think it was complete enough to be considered. So I pecked away at my keyboard and got a bit further. At the 61,837 word mark, I responded to Reagan’s email with my idea. It didn’t take long to hear back from him, telling me my new book, though uncompleted, was in review. I was astonished, really. The book idea is a good one … at least I think so. And I’m having fun writing it.
Unrelated to the email and my new book, I had a book sales and signing event on Saturday, Nov. 11th at a local Barnes & Noble, and it went far beyond my expectations. I mean, I hadn’t even finished setting up when a customer stopped by my table and bought a book. Then came another, and another, and I was busy from the time I started at 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. I ran out of two titles (last time I don’t bring enough!) and almost ran out of my giveaway pens (with a logo of my most recent book, Fan Mail, on them).
At a little after 3:30 pm that afternoon, the assistant manager stopped by to purchase a copy of Fan Mail, and asked me which titles besides Fan Mail I might recommend the store to carry. I wasn’t sure I heard correctly. I stumbled and stammered a bit, but recovered and said that Betrayed always sells well and was an Amazon Best Seller in two categories. I had run out of Blaze In, Blaze Out and Spiral Into Darkness or I would have mentioned them too and then let her pick. She picked up a copy of both to take to the manager, who told her to purchase multiple copies of both! Wow! I now have two titles, Fan Mail and Betrayed on the shelves at B & N in Fredericksburg, VA!
Then on Sunday, Nov. 12th, I received an email that made me a bit emotional. Yes, I got choked up. The email was from Reagan Rothe informing me that he was sending me a contract to publish Black Yéʼii (The Evil One), even though I hadn’t even completed the first draft! Sending me a contract on an idea means he not only believed in the concept, but that he also believed in me and my writing. I can’t possibly describe how touched I was and still am.
A few posts ago, I wrote a blog post on this site titled, The Insecure Writer, about my feelings and my insecurities as I sit and watch other writers gain notoriety and success with their books. I feel inferior to many of them, some of whom I read regularly. So to have a contract in hand, signed and dated based upon an idea I was working on, meant so much to me, and still does. I am overwhelmed with gratitude and I’m working diligently to complete Black Yéʼii (The Evil One) because I don’t want Reagan and Black Rose Writing to lose their trust and faith in me.
Here is what Black Yéʼii (The Evil One) is about …
Yéʼii are spiritual deities of the Dine’, or Navajo people. They seldom speak of Black Yéʼii because they consider Black Yéʼii, to be The Evil One. The Dine’ believe that by just speaking the name, they are inviting it into their lives. Black Yéʼii uses the five senses to trick an individual into seeking pleasure in areas of life, but, by doing so, they bring harm to themselves or others. Black Yéʼii interferes with living in the light of inner life and harmony, or Hozho. Black Yéʼii violates Hozho by creating darkness and evil among people.
Black Yéʼii (The Evil One) is a continuation of the story of the seven adopted brothers who make up my fictional Evans family, along with the detectives that make up my other books. It is fully a thriller-crime-mystery in every sense of the genre, and it is a “sort of” sequel to a previous book, Caught in a Web though you would not have to read it before diving into my new book.
At the end of Caught in a Web, a secret was kept to ensure the safety of Angel Benevides, his mother Carmen, and George Tokay and his brother, Bobby. If the secret was broken or found out, MS-13 would be back to exact revenge.
Carmen and her son, Angel are found dead in a way that was meant to show MS-13 is indeed back, and back with vengeance, and it seems George, Bobby, and Two- who looks like a younger version of George, might be next on the list.
Detectives Graff, O’Connor, and Eiselmann are on the trail, but don’t have much to go on. In fact, two of the suspected gang members show up dead in a farmer’s field on a rainy morning, so now they have nothing and the clock is ticking.
For those interested, I’ve included the description of Caught in a Web below, along with the link to my author website at https://www.jrlewisauthor.com that lists all my books and contains the links for purchase. You might want to read it to get ready for Black Yéʼii (The Evil One). The publication is scheduled for January 2, 2025, but I will have preorder information and author’s copies before that.
But I have to finish it first. I better get busy …
I would love to hear your thoughts, so please use the comment section below. As always, thank you for traveling along with me on my writing journey. Until next time …
Caught in a Web: A PenCraft Literary Award Winner! Named “One of the Best Thrillers of 2018!” by BestThrillers http://bit.ly/2WO3kka
Bodies of high school and middle school kids are found dead from an overdose of heroin and fentanyl. MS-13, a violent gang originating in California, controls the drug, sex, and gun trades along the I-94 and I-43 corridors and the Milwaukee Metro area. They send an enforcer, Ricardo Fuentes, an enforcer, from Chicago to Waukesha to find out who is cutting in on their business, shut it down and teach them a lesson. But he has an ulterior motive: find and kill a fifteen-year-old boy, George Tokay, who had killed his cousin the previous summer.
November 9, 2023
Meet Dale Ward – An Author!
Talk about an eclectic background! Dale Ward is another Black Rose Writing author, and I’ve not met him before this interview. What I found was an interesting person, besides being talented in a number of areas.
Dale is a lifelong video producer, working on everything from narrative fiction, a talk show, documentaries, music videos, short films, and his current responsibility, producing riveting lectures on deep theological topics at a Lutheran seminary (He added, “Depending on who you ask, of course!”).
He has been dabbling in telling stories for as long as he can remember, all the way back to when he was five or six, and it helped him deal with growing up and high school. He could make up a good story to get himself out of trouble quickly and as needed.
Dale is a married father of two sons and a lifelong St. Louis resident, with a second location in New Port Richey, Florida when he needs to get away.
I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did putting it together for you.
What was it that made you decide you had a story to tell and to become an author?
Killing the Butterfly has been a part of my life for several years, beginning with a short story (and short film) that evolved into something bigger when I ask questions about the various characters: Where did they come from? What have they been dealing with? Why do they do what they do? As I fleshed out the characters and their backgrounds, a bigger, better story developed.
As an author or writer, what sets you apart from others?
As a video producer, I can easily envision the words on the page as a visual, complete with sights and sounds. As an actor, I can put myself into the lives of my characters and feel and react to the instances that come at them. I am also a pastor, and it puts me in touch with people and their dark sides – how do they react to life’s struggles? Fact is indeed stranger than fiction, and more real, and more challenging.
Besides writing and telling a good story, do you have any other talents?
I am a lifelong guitar player and songwriter. My history finds me playing in local venues, mainly classic rock/folk songs, sprinkled with an original or even a CCR song. I also spent fifteen years as a union carpenter, and so you will most likely find a character or two in my stories who have a history or interest in the construction field. I know it, and can write about it truthfully.
If you were to name one or two books that you deem unforgettable and that had a major impact on you, what would they be, and why?
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Flowers for Algernon are two books that quickly come to mind. (They also both were adapted into great films!) I especially like how both books could enter the minds of their storytellers, people who had quirks and instabilities, and the author pulled these off with great aplomb. That said, I’ve read everything written by Elmore Leonard. I love how he looks at the guy or girl next door and throws them into crazy and unusual criminal instances. The same could be said of Carl Hiaasen. And I am also a great fan of the old Ian Fleming James Bond books. Not so much the latest attempts. I also read everything by John Grisham, Nelson DeMille, Robert Dugoni, and Thomas McGuane.
If you were to have dinner with 5 individuals living or dead, who would they be and why?
I would not like to have dinner with strangers. Are you kidding? I’d rather eat alone with a book and quiet music; not have to deal with interactions with other humans! Wait! Dinner with Jimi Hendrix would have to be quite an experience. (Are you experienced?)
When writing, how much do you read? Do you read in or out of your genre?
I try to read and write daily. I usually have a biography I am working through, a novel (usually in my genre), and then what I call a “workbook:” something that deals with my career, like How to Write; Making Films; or Working with Music.
What tips would you give to new or even experienced writers?
Plow through and get to the end. This is the most important. Do not rewrite as you work. You will never reach the end if you do this. Yes, I know this from experience. Plow through, get to the end, and then go back and rewrite and finesse it, flesh it out.
How do you handle a negative critique?
I’ll track down these people, stalk them, and look for ways to disrupt their lives. So do not critique me negatively. (Of course, I am kidding!) In reality, I like to read critiques from books and authors that I really respect, and see that they too have their detractors – even though misguided. Knowing that they have misguided detractors means I can have misguided detractors as well. There is comfort there. You can never please everyone. Please yourself and be true to yourself.
Do you see yourself in any of the characters you create? How/Why?
I think there is an element of myself in all of my characters because they are coming from within in. That said, I also make stuff up: I am NOT a messed-up teen-age girl. I am NOT a psychotic, two-bit criminal. I am NOT an unhinged husband driven to unthinkable things (well, maybe at times …)
Tell us about your most recent book. How did you come up with the concept? How did you come up with the title?
The title of my book is Killing the Butterfly, which plays into Patty and how she is an innocent butterfly caught into the web of a spider. Freeing the butterfly is the goal of what she needs and what she seeks. It also references the tattoo she inks on her bikini line, which represents her relationship with her psychotic boyfriend, Roy, who has a tattoo of an eagle. Free the butterfly!
As I said, I hope you enjoyed the interview and I hope you check out his new book, Killing the Butterfly.
Author Contact Information:
juward@sbcglobal.net
Link to book on Amazon:
November 2, 2023
Meet Gail Olmsted – An Author!
Gail is a fellow Black Rose Writing author, and writes in both contemporary and historical fiction, while I write in thriller-crime-mystery. Gail is married, a mom to two adults and two feline fur babies, and lives on a lake in Central Massachusetts.
Gail was a marketing major, has her MBA, and spent sixteen years working in the telecommunications industry before becoming a college professor for the past twenty years. She retired from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts three years ago, but continues to teach college courses online in marketing and business communications. In her spare time, she enjoys water sports, travel, entertaining, reading and knitting. And of course, writing.
Her book, Katharine’s Remarkable Road Trip will come out 6/13/24, so at this time, she doesn’t have a preorder link. But I hope this doesn’t stop you from discovering who this wonderful author is, and I hope this interview sparks your interest in her upcoming book.
What was it that made you decide you had a story to tell and to become an author?
A family trip to Sedona, AZ was the inspiration behind my first book Jeep Tour. It’s a truly magical place and the people I met all seemed to be transplants and on their second or third career and/or marriage. I imagined that if you were seeking a fresh start, Sedona would be the place to go. I started picturing this newly divorced college professor who just lost a bid for tenure and thought, ‘she needs to start over in Sedona!’
As an author or writer, what sets you apart from others?
I have been told that my characters feel authentic and that my dialogue is realistic.
How do ideas for your stories present themselves? How do you know what story lines to follow and which to ignore?
For me, it all starts with the main characters. Before I get too far into the storylines, I have done a thorough character analysis. That helps me to know if she would do that or if she would ever go there. I let my characters decide!
What genre do you write, and why?
I write both contemporary and historical fiction. All of my main characters are women in search of a do-over, a happy ever after. I personally enjoy a good second chance story and I love to explore the struggle, the journey we go through in our lives.
Besides writing and telling a good story, do you have any other talents?
I love to entertain family and friends for holidays and especially summer cookouts. The more the merrier! I also knit hats, scarves, and baby blankets, most of which I donate to shelters and hospitals.
If you were to name one or two books that you deem unforgettable and that had a major impact on you, what would they be, and why?
My first ‘big’ book was Gone with the Wind. I think I was maybe eleven or twelve when I read it for the first time. I was mesmerized by the story and the characters. Then came Trinity by Leon Uris and The Thorn Birds. Sweeping sagas, multiple storylines, and I was hooked.
What authors do you read regularly? Why?
I enjoy a variety of authors and genres, but I have found that you can never go wrong with Stephen King, Dennis Lehane, Karin Slaughter, Michael Connelly, and Elin Hilderbrand. Most of their books are character driven and set in interesting locales and time periods.
If you were to have dinner with 5 individuals living or dead, who would they be and why?
Stephen King, John Lennon, Michael Stipe (REM), Dennis Lehane and Michael Connelly. To be surrounded by these amazingly talented and creative artists would be such a thrill. I would follow it up with a dinner with Alanis Morrisette, Elin Hilderbrand, Karin Slaughter, Joni Mitchell, and Eleanor Roosevelt. All inspiring and accomplished women. That would be amazing!
What is your writing routine? When you write, do you plan or outline ahead or are you a “pantser”?
I’m a hybrid- I like to have a general plan in mind but tend to fly by the seat of my pants when a character speaks to me. I’m usually about two-thirds of the way in before I am certain of how the story will end.
When writing, how much do you read? Do you read in or out of your genre?
I read two or three books a week whether I’m actively writing, involved in edits, or just dreaming of my next title. I love thrillers, police procedurals, historical fiction and beach reads. I’m in and out of my own genres all the time.
What tips would you give to new or even experienced writers?
Read everything you can in your genre. Stay current with trends, social media, consumer behavior. Write the book you want to read, but if you want to sell more than a few copies, learn what your readers want to read as well.
How did you “teach” yourself to write or did it just come naturally? What lessons would you pass on to others?
I like to think my more recent books are ‘better’ or more polished than my earlier works. I learned by trial and error, by working with amazing editors, collaborating with other authors, and continuing to read both in and out of my genre(s). I recommend hiring the best editor you can.
How do you handle a negative critique?
I could respond by asking ‘What are negative critiques?’, but who am I kidding? I eat ice cream and binge watch Sons of Anarchy. I try to find something useful in a negative review, but the ones that say ‘I don’t normally read this genre and therefore I’m giving it two stars’ leave me scratching my head.
Is there a type of writing/genre that you find difficult to write? Why?
Physical movement is challenging for me. I can spend far too long trying to write a few lines describing how the main character goes outside to check the mail. She stood, turned the doorknob and, opening the door, stepped out onto the porch. Aarrgghh! I debate every action that could be taken and stress over every word. Dialogue flows easily for me, but blocking a scene makes me crazy.
How important are the elements of character, setting, and atmosphere to a story, and why?
At the risk of repeating myself, characters are the key to a story. That being said, could Jeep Tour be set anywhere but Sedona? No way. I wrote my third novel Driving on the Left following a trip I took to Ireland with my daughter Hayley. The setting is very important and, in some cases, actually becomes a character of its own.
Do you see yourself in any of the characters you create? How/Why?
When my husband read Jeep Tour for the first time, he told me that reading the character of Jackie Sullivan was like seeing inside my head, but in a good way. Yes, there are bits and pieces and even huge chunks of ‘me’ in my characters. It is cathartic and scary at times, but it’s rewarding and way cheaper than therapy!!
Is there an unforgettable or memorable character that will not leave your head, either of your own creation or from a book you’ve read?
In my second book, Guessing at Normal, Jill Griffin is working at the front desk at a two star motel when she meets an up-and-coming musician in the lobby. This story was inspired by my college days doing the same sort of job when the unknown Dan Fogelberg and his band checked in. Jill falls for rocker James and joins him and his band on tour and quickly learns that life with a rockstar is anything but normal. I loved watching her character grow and evolve and decided she needed a ‘happy ever after’, so I wrote a sequel, Second Guessing.
Tell us about your most recent book. How did you come up with the concept? How did you come up with the title?
My upcoming book is Katharine’s Remarkable Road Trip (6/13/24) It is biographical fiction, based on the life of a minor character from Landscape of a Marriage. Katharine Prescott Wormeley was a lifelong friend and confidante of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. Born into affluence in England, she became a Civil War volunteer nurse, hospital administrator, author, philanthropist, and translator of dozens of novels by French authors, including Honore de Balzac and Alexandre Dumas. Fiercely independent and never married, she is included in History’s Women: The Unsung Heroines; History of American Women: Civil War Women; Who’s Who in America 1908-09; Notable American Women, A Biographical Dictionary: 1607-1950and A Woman of the 19th Century: Leading American Women in All Walks of Life.
Rather than writing a standard biography, I sent her on a week long road trip between her homes in Newport, Rhode Island and Jackson, New Hampshire in the fall of 1907 at the age of 77. Along the way, she receives a marriage proposal, pulls an all-nighter, saves a life or two, crashes a high-society event, meets a kindred spirit, faces a former rival, makes a new friend, takes a stroll with a future movie mogul, advises a troubled newlywed and reflects upon a life well lived; her own! I am excited to share her story!
I hope you enjoyed this interview, and I hope you check out Gail’s publisher books, as well as her upcoming book, Katharine’s Remarkable Road Trip.
Find other entries in my Meet the Author interviews on https://www.jrlewisauthor.com as well as each of my nine books and both blogs. I welcome your thoughts and comments, so please use the comment section below. As always, thank you for following along on my writing journey.
Connect with Gail on Social Media:
Website: gwolmstedauthor.carrd.co
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/gwolmsted
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gailolmstedauthor
Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/gailolmsted
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gwolmsted
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8158738.Gail_Ward_Olmsted
October 22, 2023
Fan Mail – Halloween Special
I have two specials for you with my book, Fan Mail, that I’m sure you will like!
First, I was a guest on Teri Polen’s blog, Bad Moon Rising, and I took part in her Halloween Special. The interview is here: https://teripolen.com/2023/10/21/badmoonrising-fan-mail-by-joseph-lewis-thriller-mystery-crime/ and I believe you will enjoy the interview. Teri asked some terrific questions, and you might be surprised by some of my answers.
Second, my publisher has a special promotion that I believe you will want to take part in. You can get Fan Mail FREE, yes, FREE at this site for a limited time only: https://books.bookfunnel.com/legelthrillercrimefiction/x8ykegt13l so get your copy today!
I hope everyone is enjoying the cooler weather. Fall is probably my favorite season. I like jeans and sweatshirt weather, and later in November, I’ll pull out my flannel shirts.
I like the colors the trees are turning- the amber, rust, the red in the landscape. When we lived in Wisconsin, this was the time of year I liked traveling to the cottage in the north woods the most. I’d sit on the dock or in a lawn chair watching geese and ducks heading south, listening to the call of the loons, sitting around a campfire at night listening to the pops and snaps as flame hungrily licked the kindling and wood. We would drink warm cider and hot chocolate.
Yeah, this is my time of year. So many fond memories of family and friends.
As always, thank you for traveling along with me on my writing journey. I’d love to hear what you think so use the comment section at the bottom of this.
Keep yourselves safe, and don’t forget to relax and breathe in the change of season. Until next time …
Fan Mail – New Release! A Reader’s Favorite Silver Book Award! Maxy Award Finalist! Eric Hoffer Award Nominee! Literary Titan Silver Book Award! https://amzn.to/3eNgSdS
A barrage of threatening letters, a car bomb, and a heart attack rip apart what was once a close-knit family of adopted brothers. Randy and Bobby, along with a fellow band member and best friend, Danny, receive fan mail that turns menacing. They ignore it, but to their detriment. The sender turns up the heat. Violence upends their world. It rocks the relationship between the boys and ripples through their family, nearly killing their dad.
As these boys turn on each other, adopted brother Brian flashes back to that event in Arizona where he nearly lost his life saving his brothers. The scars on his face and arms healed, but not his heart.
Would he once again have to put himself in harm’s way to save them? And if faced with that choice, will he?
Fan Mail is a Coming-of-Age story embedded in a Thriller-Crime-Mystery.
October 17, 2023
Black Yé’ii (The Evil One) – My Work In Progress
I am towards the end of writing Black Yé’ii (The Evil One), which is my current WIP (work in progress), and I’m having fun with it. It explores a Navajo belief and tradition, and how George Tokay, one of my protagonists, deals with it. It isn’t easy, because he is a full-blooded Navajo boy, living in the white world as the adopted son of Jeremy and Vicky Evans, along with his six adopted brothers.
Black Yé’ii (The Evil One) is a continuation of the story of the seven adopted brothers who make up my fictional Evans family, along with the detectives that make up my other books. It is a true thriller-crime-mystery in every sense of the genre, and it is a “sort of” sequel to a previous book, Caught in a Web though you would not have to read it before diving into this book.
Yéʼii are spiritual deities of the Dine’, or Navajo people. They seldom speak of Black Yéʼii because they consider Black Yéʼii, to be The Evil One, and the Dine’ believe that by just speaking the name, they are inviting it into their lives. Black Yéʼii uses the five senses to trick an individual into seeking pleasure in life, but, by doing so, they bring harm to themselves or others. The Black Yéʼii interferes with living in the light of inner life and harmony, or Hozho, but more importantly, the Black Yéʼii violates Hozho by creating darkness and evil among people.It can damage relationships, disrupt families, and bring harm to an individual.
At the end of Caught in a Web, a promise was made. This promise was to keep Carmen Benevides and her son, Angel Benevides, and George Tokay, and his younger adopted brother, Bobby McGovern, safe from MS-13. MS-13 is a violent and ruthless gang that originated in El Salvador. MS-13 controls the drug and gun trade, and prostitution rings up and down the I-94 corridor between Chicago and Milwaukee, all the way up into Door County, Wisconsin. If MS-13 found out the truth of what happened one evening in the Benevides’ home, those four lives and their families would be in imminent danger.
The promise may have been broken and members of MS-13 travel to Waukesha, Wisconsin, to find out what happened that night, putting everyone in both the Benevides and Evans families in jeopardy.
I am giving you a glimpse into my next book, Black Yé’ii (The Evil One). Remember, it isn’t completed yet, and while I am fairly certain this first chapter will remain mostly intact, anything can happen during edits and rewrites. I apologize if there are formatting issues.
Chapter One
Waukesha, Wisconsin
The doorbell rang, and Carmen Benevides opened the door to three kids she didn’t recognize. She assumed they were friends of Angel. Actually, she knew they weren’t kids, but at her age, anyone younger than she was a kid. And when they stormed into the house and the two boys threw her on the couch, she realized they weren’t kids and they weren’t friends of her son, either.
Shocked, bewildered, and frightened, Carmen cowered as far away from them as she could.
The fat boy with ugly tattoos up and down his arms and around his neck hovered over her. He had the black, soulless eyes of a shark and a shaved, round, bullet head. His lips were pulled back in a sneer. The boy was Manny’s age. He wore what looked like a sword on his hip, but in a scabbard. It wasn’t as long as a real sword, but it was longer than a knife.
The other boy, the skinny, jittery one, had small, beady black eyes and a full head of thick black wavy hair. He didn’t have tattoos, at least none that she could see. She would have described him as a handsome young man, but he had a nasty scar on the left side of his face running along his jaw, like someone had cut it with something sharp. Despite that blemish, the boy was handsome, much like her Angel. However, Angel would never have treated anyone, much less an old lady, like he and the other boy did.
“Where is that bendejo, Puta?” the ugly fat boy asked.
Carmen’s glare was her answer, and the only answer he would get.
He slapped her. Her ear rang, and from the coppery taste, she knew the inside of her mouth was bleeding.
“Juan, that’s no way to treat this lady.”
Content for the moment to watch and listen, it was the first words the girl had spoken.
She was on the small, skinny side, with long black hair falling past her shoulders, and had large dark eyes, and a beautiful smile. Under any other circumstances, Carmen would have thought she was beautiful. The type of girl she had hoped Angel would come home with one day. But Carmen understood that while she might look beautiful, under all that beauty was the ugliness of sin and Satan.
The girl sat down on the couch, but turned to gaze at Carmen.
“I apologize for Juan. He can be rude when he wants something badly.”
Her voice was light and musical.
“About a year ago, a friend of ours was killed in your house. His name was Ricardo Fuentes. There were other boys killed too, including your son, Manny. We would like to speak to your son, Angel, about this.”
Carmen blinked and turned ashen. No one was supposed to know this. The details. She shivered and hugged herself.
The girl smiled sweetly, but Carmen wasn’t fooled.
“Angel had nothing to do with that,” Carmen growled. “Manny killed those boys, and he got killed himself.”
The fat boy, Juan, stepped forward and pulled his hand back for another slap, but the girl held out her hand and stopped him.
“If you tell us where Angel is, we could speak to him and find out his side of the story, and then we’ll leave.”
“There is no other side to the story,” Carmen said, her eyes darting from the mean boy to the girl.
“There are always sides to a story, Mother. Sometimes there is the truth. Sometimes a lie.” The girl raised her eyebrows and smiled as Carmen turned her head from her. “Sometimes there are shades of truth.”
That startled Carmen. First, she wondered who had broken their promise. Second, if it was like everything else in her long life, the promise made that ugly, awful night was only an illusion. No one was supposed to know what had happened. The three cops had assured her, Angel, and the two other boys that if no one spoke of it, all of them would be safe. It had been at least a year, perhaps more, and she had just begun to relax, believing in the lie’s safety.
She shook her head sadly. Like any mother would do, she would do her best to keep Angel safe. The other two boys and the three cops were on their own.
“Manny killed them and Manny got killed. That is all there is to know.”
“Mother, we would like to know where Angel is so we can speak to him. We drove a long way from Chicago, and we would like to go back yet tonight. It is getting late.”
“There is nothing more to say.”
The girl stood up, walked back to the kitchen. There were clean dishes on one side of the sink, and the other side was filled with soapy water. The girl picked up a cell phone from the counter. The woman must have been doing dishes and set it aside so it wouldn’t get wet, but near enough if someone called.
She walked back into the living room carrying the phone. There wasn’t a lock screen, and it wasn’t password protected. She flipped through contacts and popped Angel’s contact information up on the screen.
The girl sat back down and handed the cell to the woman.
“Please call Angel and tell him he has a visitor who would like to speak with him. He’ll want to know who, so just tell him it is an acquaintance from Chicago.”
Carmen took her phone from the girl and held it to her breast.
“There is nothing more to tell you. I already told you Manny shot those boys and was killed that night.”
“That may be true, but we want to hear that from Angel. Now. Please call him and tell him to come home.”
Carmen said nothing, but she was scared. Not so much for herself, but for Angel.
“Mother, I am losing my patience. We have a long drive ahead, and we need to speak with Angel. Call him and tell him to come home. Do it now!”
“No.”
The girl snatched the phone away from her, and then nodded to the fat boy with tattoos.
Without taking his eyes off of Carmen, he dragged the short sword out of the scabbard slowly, and for show. He wanted the maximum effect.
Carmen knew the entire scene had been rehearsed.
When the three of them entered her little house, it didn’t take long for Carmen to understand how it was going to end. She wasn’t sorry for herself, but wanted to spare Angel. He was a good boy and didn’t deserve what was going to happen.
“Last chance. Will you call Angel and tell him to come home? Or will Juan have to hurt you with his cuchillo largo?”
“There is nothing more to say. Besides, I’m going to die tonight, anyway.”
The girl sighed dramatically, and said, “It didn’t have to be this way, Mother.”
The girl nodded at Juan, who, with a sly, sick grin, plunged the long knife into Carmen’s stomach.
Carmen grunted, eyes bulged, and she bent over slightly. Juan pulled his long knife out and grabbed Carmen by her hair, forcing her to stare up at him.
He said, “I look forward to doing this to your bendejo son. Only more slowly and with more pain, Puta.” Then plunged it in again, this time higher, aiming for just below her breastbone.
He pulled out his knife and wiped it clean on Carmen’s dress as she pitched to the side, dead.
—
I hope you enjoyed the sneak peek into Black Yé’ii (The Evil One). If it gained your interest, pick up a copy of Caught in a Web to see for yourself what that secret was, and why it was so important for Carmen and Angel Benevides, and George Tokay and Bobby McGovern to keep it. Until now, it seems.
Caught in a Web : A PenCraft Literary Award Winner! Named “One of the Best Thrillers of 2018!” by BestThrillers.com
Caught in a Web is also available in Audio Book, Kindle and Paperback! http://bit.ly/2WO3kka
They found the bodies of high school and middle school kids dead from an overdose of heroin and fentanyl. A violent gang, MS-13, controls the drug trade along the I-94 and I-43 corridors. They send Ricardo Fuentes to find out who is cutting in on their business, shut it down and teach them a lesson. But he has an ulterior motive: find and kill a fifteen-year-old boy, George Tokay.
Detectives Jamie Graff, Pat O’Connor and Paul Eiselmann race to find the source of the drugs, shut down the ring, and find Fuentes before he kills anyone else. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CKF7696
Thanks for following along on my writing journey. I would love to hear what you think, so please use the area below to add a comment or two. Until next time …
October 7, 2023
Meet Wayne Turmel – An Author!
Wayne is a fellow BRW author, who is originally from Canada. He changes corners of the continent every 15 years. He currently lives and writes in Las Vegas. Out of high school in Mission, BC, Wayne began an eighteen-year career as a professional standup comic, which eventually brought him to L.A. where he met his wife, the Duchess. Eventually, he ran away from that circus to begin a long career in business training and consulting.
Wayne is the author of sixteen books, both fiction and nonfiction. In 1922, his flash fiction was nominated for a Pushcart Prize.
During our conversation, two tidbits that stuck with me were, “A man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?” and “Typing is solitary, writing is social.” Something to think about …
What was it that made you decide you had a story to tell and to become an author?
I have wanted to be a writer ever since I was a kid. We were lied to. I was told writers were respected and famous, took long fancy book tours and lived in great country houses with terrific libraries. By the time I realized that was all nonsense, it was too late. I have written most of my life, starting with standup for my comedy act, then tried writing scripts, then writing business-oriented articles and books and finally coming full circle and writing novels once I turned 50.
As an author or writer, what sets you apart from others?
I can’t help but see humor in even the darkest situations. Also, because I write most of my novels in the first person, I find it easy to get into the “voice” of my characters.
How do ideas for your stories present themselves? How do you know what story lines to follow and which to ignore?
This is a tough question to answer. Sometimes the origins of a story come to me in lucid dreams (and yes, I know how pretentious and arty that sounds) Once I’ve started the work, I usually just play scenarios cinematically in my head until something sounds right.
What genre do you write, and why?
That’s the question I hate most. I have written 16 books: ten are business-oriented nonfiction. My first three novels were historical fiction, because nothing fascinates me like why the world is as it is, and history helps answer the question, and my last three novels (the Johnny Lycan: Werewolf PI Series) are urban fantasy thrillers, because why the hell not? My short fiction is all over the board.
Besides writing and telling a good story, do you have any other talents?
I can’t sing, draw or play an instrument to save my life. I grill a mean hamburger, though.
If you were to name one or two books that you deem unforgettable and that had a major impact on you, what would they be, and why?
That’s easy, actually. The Three Musketeers, because it’s a swashbuckling adventure about a young man finding his way. The other one is The Great White Shark Hunt by Hunter S. Thompson, which I read far too young but told me it was okay to be suspicious of authority and just say what you feel.
What authors do you read regularly? Why?
You literally don’t have space for this list. I’m bibliographically promiscuous (meaning, I’ll read anything. I’m a book slut.) For literary works of art, I’ll read anything by Mark Helprin. His work is so good it makes me want to quit in shame. I really enjoy R.F. Kuang, Sylvia Morena-Garcia and Sebastian de Castell, among so many others.
If you were to have dinner with 5 individuals living or dead, who would they be and why?
The evening would wind up in tears and possibly gunfire, but I would say Sir Richard Francis Burton (renowned explorer, linguist and pornographer); Byron De Prorok (charming fake, the subject of my novel The Count of the Sahara); Mae West, Rosanne Cash, and Kris Kristofferson. (My wife would be there, of course)
What is your writing routine? When you write, do you plan or outline ahead or are you a “pantser”?
I usually write in white-hot spurts, so I plan beginning, middle and end points, and then pants my way from A to B. I’ll decide I have two chapters to get from this point to this point, then sit and noodle and nap and not write until I suddenly sit down and crank out thousands of words at a time. Don’t try this at home, kids.
When writing, how much do you read? Do you read in or out of your genre?
As I said, I am quite shameless and read everything from indie fantasy and genre stuff to high art, with some nonfiction set in between. I usually read while pretending to watch TV with my wife, then totter off to write in silence.
Is there something you set out to do, but somehow, it didn’t work out for you? (In writing, or something else you felt was important to you at the time?)
I have a long list of failures to choose from. I was a standup comic from the age of 18 to 35, making a full time living, but never became anything close to a star. Then I had several screenplays optioned that never got made. I firmly believe “a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?”
What tips would you give to new or even experienced writers?
Join a critique group, in person if possible, online if it’s not. Read other people’s stuff and offer feedback. Read outside your genre and build friendships with other writers. Nobody else knows what you’re going through. I always say, “typing is solitary, writing is social.”
How did you “teach” yourself to write or did it just come naturally? What lessons would you pass on to others?
I went to journalism school, but really learned to write by reading widely, seeing what worked and what didn’t. Then I cranked out everything from blog posts to articles, and then moved on to short stories and finally novels. Lots of critique and cringe-worthy attempts along the way.
How do you handle a negative critique?
I’ve been a performer my whole life, so I learned really early on not to live or die by reviews. My rules for feedback are: shut up, and listen to the feedback. Then you can decide whether to act on it. There are 3 buckets of critiques: brilliant things you never thought of that will solve all your problems (a very small bucket), a larger bucket of ideas that you really have to think about, or get you pondering other options, and finally stupid feedback that’s just plain wrong. Thank them for reading and move on. Criticisms of your writing are not attacks on your person. They just feel like it.
Is there a type of writing/genre that you find difficult to write? Why?
Given my background, you’d think that comedy would come easily to me. Nope. The minute you tell the audience, “This is funny!” you’ve set yourself up for them to tell you otherwise. I’d rather tell a story and allow the humor to emerge naturally than set out to create a flat-out comedy and fall flat. And romance is a mystery. Being assigned a rom-com would be a death sentence.
How important are the elements of character, setting, and atmosphere to a story, and why?
Is this a trick question? They are the things that make us decide if we care about the story or not. I read so many of my fellow writers who are all about the plot, making sure that A leads to B leads to C, but bore the heck out of me along the way.
Do you see yourself in any of the characters you create? How/Why?
Because most of my novels and stories are written in first person, there’s a lot of me in all my main characters. I didn’t see it at first, but most of my protagonists are men who are told they’re not good enough, smart enough, or capable enough, and set out to prove the world wrong. If I had a therapist, she’d probably have a ball with that.
Is there an unforgettable or memorable character that will not leave your head, either of your own creation or from a book you’ve read?
I was obsessed with Byron de Prorok for years, which is why my first novel was his story. The character I’m not the writer enough to tackle, but have been fascinated by for years, is Sir Richard Francis Burton. A brilliant, complicated, hot mess of a person with an amazing life.
Tell us about your most recent book. How did you come up with the concept and the title? And from your book, who is your favorite character? Who is your least favorite character? Why?
My newest novel (coming out in May 2024) is Johnny Lycan & the Last Witchfinder. It caps off the three books in the Johnny Lycan: Werewolf PI series. The others are Johnny Lycan & the Anubis Disk, and Johnny Lycan & the Vegas Berserker.
I got the idea by playing the “what if” game with myself. What if there was a young detective in Chicago? What if he was not very bright, but had cool people around him? And WHAT IF HE WAS A WEREWOLF? The opening scene of the first book literally came to me in a dream where I was a werewolf fighting Russian Gangsters.
I patterned the titles after various book series I read as a kid. Tom Swift and his Electronic Thingamajig, or The Executioner: Manhattan Massacre and the like. This was always intended to be a series, and I wanted it to read like one of those old pulp novels and take the readers along for the ride.
I love the character of Johnny Lupul. Johnny is a truly nice guy, way smarter than he thinks (or has been told) he is, and trying to navigate a world he doesn’t understand. He’s big, brawny, hairy (why do book covers always have men with waxed chests?) and unabashedly blue collar. He also attracts funny, charming characters.
In the Vegas Berserker (Book 2), his love interest is a fascinating creature named Cree Jensen: a hedge witch with a chemistry degree who studies MMA. She’s not conventionally beautiful, but every bit his match. My readers’ group, male and female, developed big crushes on her. I think I did too, but don’t tell my wife.
Contact Information for Wayne Turmel:
Twitter: @Wturmel
Facebook: Wayne Turmel Author
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14980039.Wayne_Turmel
Amazon:
Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/johnny-lycan-the-anubis-disk-wayne-turmel/1137330104?ean=9781684335763
September 19, 2023
A Writer’s Doubts
I wrote a post recently about the Insecure Writer and a group I kind of fell into, The Insecure Writers Support Group, and from some of their posts, it seems there are others besides me who doubt themselves as writers. I struggled with a bout of that myself this morning.
Part of it is that I tend to compare myself to other thriller-crime-mystery writers and look at their successes and sales compared to mine, and wonder why I’m not hitting the mark. Could it be the coming-of-age thread woven into and around the thriller aspect of my stories? Could it be simply that my writing isn’t as good as others? Maybe that the thriller-crime-mystery genre is saturated and folks are looking more into fantasy, science fiction, and romance? Could be one or the other or all three. And maybe, something entirely different. Who knows?
I think that’s the problem with comparing yourself to others- not only as a writer, but in life. We are all different. I am certainly not a cookie-cutter version of someone else. I write in my own lane, so to speak. Sometimes I cross a line or two, and sometimes by a little or a lot, depending upon one’s view.
I do have readers who follow me, who have read everything I put out there, and I hear from them from time to time. I think my writing has improved with each book, and it should. If it never improves or get worse, I’m definitely doing something wrong.
My reviews have all been solid. I’ve won close to twenty awards (frankly, I’ve stopped counting), so the critical acclaim is there. Just not the sales. Maybe it’s the marketing and I’m not promoting my work correctly or effectively.
Whatever it is, it got me to doubting myself, my abilities, and my writing. A sad dance competition I seem to do every now and then. Perhaps we all do. It isn’t fun, and I doubt there is no winning that competition. Besides, I’m no dancer- just ask my wife.
At any rate, I thought I’d just share this with you. Perhaps it will bring you comfort in knowing others feel this way, too. Perhaps like me, not all the time, but when it hits, it hits hard.
The only thing I can say, which is not much, is to hang in there. There are others swimming in the same pool, or to use my other analogy, the same dance. Hopefully you dance better than I do.
Last, I want to remind you that my newest book, Fan Mail, is available for FREE on Book Funnel. Here is the link for you: https://books.bookfunnel.com/endofsummerbookblowout/enp4tnldmk and here is the book blurb and a wonderful review for Fan Mail from a talented author, Cam Torrens, who wrote the thrilling adventure, Stable.
A car bomb, letters that become more menacing as they are ignored, and a father’s heart attack. A close-knit family torn apart. One brother will put his life on the line to keep his family together.
“A heart-wrenching thriller? What? Joseph Lewis knocks his latest “coming of age” novel out of the park by bringing back familiar characters and instantly thrusting them into physical and emotional jeopardy. Fan Mail is a gripping and intense thriller with suspenseful and heart-pumping action. Fan Mail delves into the bonds of brotherhood, the challenges of unconventional love, the cost of loyalty, and the lengths one would go to protect their loved ones.” A must-read! – Cam Torrens, author of Stable
#blackrosewriting #fanmail #thriller #mystery #crime #ComingOfAge #amreading #free #freebooks #detectives #IWSG @camtorrens
Fan-Mail by Joseph-Lewis
