Joseph Lewis's Blog, page 9

Meet Joseph Lewis – An Author!

I’ve conducted many interviews with authors, and one or two asked if I would ever do one on myself, besides the several that others have done on me. Using the questions I normally ask others, I conducted the interview with myself, answering each question objectively and without filter. I hope you enjoy it!

Tell us a little about who you are.

I am the second youngest of a family of ten siblings. Four of my sisters are or were nurses, while two of my brothers and I were teachers. I was in education for 47 years as a teacher, coach, counselor, and administrator, but I retired this June. I will only sub here and there from now on.

What was it that made you decide you had a story to tell and to become an author?

In sixth grade, Sr. Josephe’ Marie had what she called ‘Story Starters’ where were three or four paragraphs on an index card. The idea was that if we were done with a test or seat work, we could take one card from her desk and finish the story. No credit was given, but she would critique it for us. I ate it up! That was one of my favorite memories from elementary school. Much later in life in 1987, I wrote a short story, Dusty and Me, that was published in a magazine. The writing bug bit me, but it wasn’t until 2014 when my first book was published. Since then, I average one book every year, for a total of nine. I’m currently working on my tenth.

As an author or writer, what sets you apart from others?

I write in a popular genre: thriller-crime-mystery, but I am different from most everyone else because the reader can expect more from me than oozing blood, bullets flying, dead bodies, and car chases. Each of my books feature a group of cops and FBI, along with a patchwork family of seven adopted boys. They each have baggage, some of it small, some of it quite large, and this baggage interferes with their lives. They are woven into each case in both large and small ways. So readers get not only a traditional thriller-crime-mystery, but a coming-of-age story embedded within.

How do ideas for your stories present themselves? How do you know what story lines to follow and which to ignore?

Oh my gosh, many different ways. The news, the newspaper, the internet. TV shows and movies. Conversations with others. Listening in on conversations kids have with each other and with adults. Usually, one or more different ideas occur out of nowhere and a story idea is born.

What genre do you write, and why?

I write in the thriller-crime-mystery genre because it is my favorite to read. My go-to authors are James Patterson, David Baldacci, John Sandford, Michael Connelly, and Stephen King. When I pick up one of their books, I’m lost in the world they create living amongst their characters. I only hope I do the same for readers when they pick up one of my books.

Besides writing and telling a good story, do you have any other talents?

Back in the day, I was an athlete- football, mostly. I was also in school plays and in a music organization in high school. I was drummer and lead singer of a rock and roll band playing covers of 60s songs, and even cut a demo for a recording company, but it didn’t go anywhere because I didn’t write my own music. As a principal, instead of giving a principal’s address at commencement, I would pick a song that depicted the senior class or a song that held an important truth I wanted to impart, and I would sing it to them. Years later, I have kids who were my former graduates or their parents come up to me and talk about “their song” that I sang at their commencement. It’s a cool memory for them.

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 two favorite books of all-time are Lord of the Flies by William Golding and The Stand by Stephen King. I think I’ve read both over three or four times. There is one other book by King, Different Seasons which is a book of his novellas. In it is a story, The Body which is a coming-of-age story about four boys on a journey to find the body of a kid their age who was struck by a train. The movie, Stand By Me is based on this story. The three of them together gave me a background for my coming-of-age thread in my books, as much as my counseling and psychology background did.

What authors do you read regularly? Why?

Patterson, for his storytelling ability; Baldacci, for his ability to capture suspense and mystery; Sandford, for his economy of words in description and storytelling; and King, for his ability to create scene and atmosphere, along with his ability to create characters.

If you were to have dinner with 5 individuals living or dead, who would they be and why?

I would have two tables. One would be James Patterson, Stephen King, David Baldacci, John Sandford, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. I enjoy their writing and would learn a lot from them.

At the other table would be singers and songwriters. Carole King, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, and Steve Earle. I love their music, the stories they put into song, their ability with lyrics and music.

What is your writing routine? When you write, do you plan or outline ahead or are you a “pantser”?

Mostly, I am a pantser. I get an idea and I begin writing, allowing the characters to take me where they want to go. However, when I get to about the midway point, I will write out plot points to use or consider. I write them in no particular order, and either use them or not. At least I have an idea of what I want to write about. I usually don’t know the ending of the story until late in my writing, but in my latest Fan Mail, I knew what the ending would be, what would be said, and what the action would be. At the midway point, I merely wrote to that ending.

When writing, how much do you read? Do you read in or out of your genre?

The amount varies because the more into my writing I get, I concentrate solely on that. I will read mostly in my genre, with a few nonfiction pieces thrown in.

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?)

My interest in music didn’t leave me with much choice after I was rejected. My parents never encouraged me to pursue it, because they saw singing and entertaining as not reliable or life-sustaining. I think I gave up too soon. Sadly!

What tips would you give to new or even experienced writers?

Read! As Stephen King says, (paraphrasing badly), without reading, you don’t have the tools to write. I’ve said that reading is to writing as weightlifting is to athletics. You can’t have one without the other. Pick up a copy of On Writing by Stephen King. You will find it a useful guide and you will come to rely on it.

How did you “teach” yourself to write or did it just come naturally? What lessons would you pass on to others?

While I took creative writing courses in high school and college, along with a good dose of literature courses, I also studied scriptwriting after grad school when I became serious about writing. I think writing can be learned, and the more you write, the better you become. A good writer is an observer of life- a writer has to be aware of others and the situations, circumstances and setting one is in.

How do you handle a negative critique?

Not well. I think it is human nature to look at ten reviews, nine of which are positive, and one negative, and dwell on the negative one. When I was a principal, at the beginning of one year, I held a professional development session where I put a black dot on a perfectly clean white board. I then asked the teachers to describe what they saw. Most everyone dwelt on the black dot. No one mentioned the clean white board. For me, the black dot represents the negative review. I am getting better at it, but honestly, I’m still bad at accepting it.

Is there a type of writing/genre that you find difficult to write? Why?

Comedy and romance. While there is both comedy and romance in my writing, I don’t think I could write either effectively as an entire book. Besides, I’m not interested in either.

How important are the elements of character, setting, and atmosphere to a story, and why?

All three are important, but of the three, character is the most important. My characters drive my story. The books I choose to read are character driven. A well-written character can define setting and atmosphere, and setting and atmosphere are inherent in a good character, because they move, talk, and act within both setting and atmosphere.

Do you see yourself in any of the characters you create? How/Why?

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 am partly in each of my characters, except for the antagonists (thankfully), but no one character is me. If pushed, I would say Brian Evans and his adoptive dad, Jeremy, are most like me.

Besides Brian Evans in my books, who is conflicted, but warm, sensitive and kind, Fenny Bate in the book, Ghost Story, gave me nightmares. Seriously! The “Walking Dude”, Randall Flagg, in The Stand, is purely evil.

Tell us about your most recent book.

My newest book, Fan Mail is about an obsessed fan who is ignored. This fan writes progressively disturbing and threatening letters to three of the boys, who are in a county-rock band that is becoming famous. They ignore the letters to their detriment, and the threats in the letters, along with a car bomb, causes so much stress on the family that the boys’ father has a heart attack, and finger pointing leads to damaged relationships. This damage threatens to pull this close-knit family apart. Brian, who is going through his own inner demons, puts his life on the line to keep his family together.

How did you come up with the concept?

I came up with the idea of an obsessed fan by watching teen boys and girls obsess over this actor, this musician or singer. I asked myself the question, what happens when admiration becomes obsession? Fan Mail was born from that question.

How did you come up with the title?

It comes from the story itself.

From your book, who is your favorite character? Who is your least favorite character? Why?

Brian and his adopted brothers, Michael, Brett and Billy, are my favorites. Each carries his own baggage, but each has a good, loving heart. Brian, more than the others, cares about and sees the importance of family and the connections the relationships have within the family as important and worth keeping- even to his own detriment.

The Book Description is as follows:

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 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 multi-layered coming-of-age story about a family of adopted brothers, embedded in a gripping thriller that will keep the reader guessing who is behind the letters and the car bomb, and fearing one or more of the boys may die before the culprit is found.

I hope you enjoyed the interview. I would love to hear your thoughts, so please feel free to use the comment section below. As always, thank you for following me on my writing journey!

Links to the book:

Barnes & Noble Link: https://bit.ly/3CRNHya

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3eNgSdS

Black Rose Writing Link: https://www.blackrosewriting.com/thrillers/fanmail

Book Trailer for Fan Mail:

          YouTube: https://youtu.be/MS5VjTzCvM4

            Literary Titan: https://wp.me/p3cyvH-dj5

Social Media Contact:

Author Website at https://www.jrlewisauthor.blog

Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Joseph.Lewis.Author

Instagram at: https://www.Instagram.com/joseph.lewis.author  

Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/Joseph-Lewis/e/B01FWB9AOI /

Blog at: https://www.simplethoughtsfromacomplicatedmindsortof.com  

Meet Sasha Lauren – An Author!

When I met Sasha Lauren on Facebook, I was confused. I thought she was an artist, first and foremost. Then I saw her post her books, and I wondered, ‘Who is this multi-talented person?’

I am going to let the interview unfold itself for you, because her words are spectacular and anything I might write to describe her wouldn’t do her justice. So without any preamble, here is Sasha Lauren.

What was it that made you decide you had a story to tell and to become an author? In tenth grade, my English teacher assigned us to write about being an inanimate object. In my imagination, I became the guitar I wrote about. This ignited my love for storytelling. My essay concluded with this, “Time also brought about the most significant incident in my life. The event was my stage debut, my chance to communicate the beauty of music to the world. As the dim lights began to brighten, my entire spine quivered with fear. For an instant, I went numb. Viewing the massive audience, I felt timid and weak. Then, I suddenly remembered a dream that I had had long ago in a small music shop. With a deep breath, I assembled all the power that I could as I witnessed my fantasy become a reality. There I was, the guitar that created the most impressive blues chords ever exposed to the world.”

Also, I was an actress for years. I read hundreds of plays and screenplays and studied film. I tried my hand at writing. My first play was terrible, but my first script, which is about Native American activist and political prisoner Leonard Peltier, showed promise.

As an author or writer, what sets you apart from others?

I write about serious topics with a blend of comedy, whimsey, and drama. My characters are creative or quirky people who think in innovative ways. I fill my books with emotion. I sometimes use poetic devices and poetry in my work. Dylan Thomas’ play Under Milk Wood has inspired me by its lyrical beauty. I aspire to write even more like Mr. Thomas someday.

You are also an artist. Tell us about that. How did you get started, and how would you describe your style? Do you see it adding to your writing in any way?

I visualize easily, which helps me cultivate images for art and writing. When I close my eyes and bring myself into a scene I’m writing, I am wholly transported there. Art stimulates my imagination and relaxes me. My artistic style is bright, bold, and spontaneous, as is my writing. I draw flowers, musicians, and women from different cultures around the world.

How do ideas for your stories present themselves? How do you know what story lines to follow and which to ignore?

Sometimes a story is generated by a slow burn regarding a societal concern or life experience. Other times, inspiration comes from a word, phrase, nature, song, painting, glance, scent, or anything. I nurture creativity. My inner editor is always on call to decide which story lines to follow. Usually, it’s obvious.

What genre do you write, and why?

I write character driven literary fiction. I like slice-of-life details mixed with explorations of how we adapt to what life gives us.

Besides writing and telling a good story, do you have any other talents?

I paint, draw, juggle clubs, and write articles about consumer safety. I used to be a massage, movement, and organizational-behavioral therapist. I’m a whiz with post-it notes.

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?

1) The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank. I first read this when I was eight. I read the book so often I felt like I was her. Her life story opened my eyes to the world. I visited the Annex where Anne and her family lived in Amsterdam. That visit gutted me.

2) The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. He’s the greatest dramatist of all time.

What authors do you read regularly? Why?

Steinbeck and Shakespeare. I love classic playwrights: Ibsen, Shaw, Chekov, Williams, Miller, Brecht, Strindberg, Stoppard, Wilde, O’Neil, Pinter, Hellman, Shephard, Wilson, Coward, Albee, Mamet, Osborne, and Thomas to name a few. I like stories about whistleblowers and justice. I’m reading Sensing Injustice; A Lawyer’s Life in the Battle for Change, by Michael E. Tigar.

If you were to have dinner with 5 well known individuals living or dead, who would they be and why?

1) Joe Hill, labor activist, songwriter, and member of the Industrial Workers of the World. I would love to get the whole story from him about Hilda and everything else.

2) Kenneth Branagh, actor, director, writer. I’m a longtime fan of his talent and wit.

3) William Shakespeare, bard. I’d finally find out if he’s a plotter or a pantser.  

4) Orson Welles, actor, director, screenwriter, producer, brilliant non-conformist. Icon.

5) Linda Ronstadt, singer, song sculptress. I’d like another female besides me at the dinner party. Linda would bring grace, music, life experiences, and her beautiful laugh.

Chopin would be there to play waltzes and nocturnes for the first part of the night, then Linda and Joe Hill would lead us in song. The seating would be Joe, me, Branagh, Will, Orson, and Linda . If AliceBinnie, (who convinced her husband EdwardBinnie to manufacture Crayola crayons), strolled by, I’d invite her to join us. We’d have paper placemats to color on. After all Crayola has done for me, I at least owe Alice a dinner.

What is your writing routine? When you write, do you plan or outline ahead or are you a “pantser”?

I outline for articles. For fiction, I write spontaneously. As the story develops, I add plot points and keep notes. I set word count goals or write for a certain amount of time. I wrote The Paris Predicament by writing an hour daily before sunrise.

When writing, how much do you read? Do you read in or out of your genre?

When writing, I research constantly for my project. My search engine has some wild searches on it due to being an author, and I suppose just a curious person.

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 been successful in all endeavors except when derailed by say, a car accident, medical harm, or other plot twists. When that happens, I set new goals or get back to my goals if possible.

I set out to study classical theater in London without knowing anything about it. I walked into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and was told I would need prior training, theater experience, tuition, and do a remarkable audition to get chosen. I returned to the states, attended a theater academy in San Francisco, acted in many plays, and became a massage therapist to save up the money. It took seven years. I then auditioned for The Royal National Theatre programme and got cast.

What tips would you give to new or even experienced writers?

Live a full life. Travel, have relationships, get to know a diverse group of people, read, watch films, study writing, literature, and film, study. Question everything.If you feel blocked, do something else. I do art, move, and enjoy nature and music.Take care of yourself: exercise, eat healthy food, sleep well.Hire an excellent polish editor for grammar. It will save time, money, stress.

How did you “teach” yourself to write, or did it just come naturally? What lessons would you pass on to others?

I learned about plays by studying acting and performing in theater. I studied Shakespeare in London; was part of a comedy improv troupe; did massage on filmsets for twenty years with top filmmakers who confided in and taught me. I read hundreds of screenplays. Took screenwriting’s classes at UCLA. Participated in Hollywood film writing groups. Attended Screenwriting Expos. I am always learning.

Work hard. Talent is cultivated. Write from your heart. Hook readers immediately. Transform your characters. Try using prompts. The Paris Predicament began with a picture. Final Lullaby was inspired by a word prompt. Find your people. Have fun.

How do you handle a negative critique?

I like honest, constructive feedback from people I trust, and kind words whenever it’s authentic. I don’t like negative critique – it hits me like seasickness. On Goodreads I look at the other books panned by the hit and run rater, (who doesn’t leave a review), and find peace if I see they rated my book the same as they rated classic books by my favorite authors. Otherwise, I must shake it off.

Is there a type of writing/genre that you find difficult to write? Why?

As a script doctor in Hollywood, I did page one rewrites of many genres. I don’t like horror or gore.

Writing articles about medical harm is difficult; there are many facts to include in a limited number of words, and the subject is heartbreaking and incites outrage.

How important are the elements of character, setting, and atmosphere to a story, and why?

An enhanced view of the character’s inner world is important to me, as are the ambiance and mood of a piece. I aim for my novels to be like independent, artistic films.

Do you see yourself in any of the characters you create? How/Why?

Yes. The main characters of screenplays and novels are me, but not me. I relate to them, but not agree with them on everything or look like them. They are me in parallel worlds.

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?

Anne Frank. Atticus Finch. The Little Prince. Joan of Arc (from both Shakespeare and Shaw).

Tell us about your most recent book, Final Lullaby. How did you come up with the concept?

Final Lullaby interweaves my experiences as a grief counselor and a patient safety educator interested in the right to die for those in untenable circumstances.

How did you come up with the title?

A few years ago, I wrote Lullaby, a series of vignettes about a grief hotline counselor who sang to callers in crisis to connect. I chose the title Final Lullaby based on the direction the expanded story went in.

From your book, who is your favorite character? Who is your least favorite character? Why?

Angela and Tucker are creative, curious, guilelessness, and kind. I love them. The arrogant drug abusing surgeon who coerces Tucker to use a medical device that is known to cause harm is unscrupulous. Boo hiss to him.

What thought would you like to leave us with?

A quote from Kurt Vonnegut. “Go into the arts. I’m not kidding. The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something.”

See, I told you! Multi-faceted or multi-talented doesn’t cover Sasha well, though it points to her talents. I hope you enjoyed the interview as much as I did. Check out her book, Final Lullaby using the links below.

Find Sasha and her books online:

Author Website

https://www.sashalaurenauthor.com

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/sasha_lauren_artist/

Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sasha%20Lauren/author/B08CMCRS2S

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasha-lauren-6858684/

Author page on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/SashaLaurenAuthor

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20504238.Sasha_Lauren

Final Lullaby on Amazon –

Final Lullaby on Barnes & Noble

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/final-lullaby-sasha-lauren/1143409841?ean=9781685132576

Two YouTube Interviews

I had the wonderful opportunity to be interviewed twice last week. The first interview was with Kat Fieler, on her Writer To Writer YouTube Channel. We talked about my newest book, Fan Mail, and the main character, Brian Evans, whose eyes the story is told through. It was an interesting visit and examination of my writing, and her thoughts and questions were thought-provoking. Kat, thank you for having me on!

You can watch it here:

Writer to Writer with Kat Fieler https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrOgMQX45nw

The second interview was with Peter Okonkwo, whose YouTube interview, P English is worldwide. It was all encompassing, beginning with my book, Stolen Lives, First Book of the Lives Trilogy; Shattered Lives, Second Book of the Lives Trilogy; then we jumped to Caught in a Web, and finally, Betrayed. It was more writing process, story ideas and tips for the writer and the reader. It was an enjoyable conversation.

You can watch it here:

Author Interview with P English Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/5rZUFnL8OzQ

For your convenience, I posted links to all of my books below along with their book descriptions. Thanks for checking in and following me on my writing journey. I’d love to hear what you think, so please use the comment section below. Thanks!

The Lives Trilogy Prequel, Taking Lives:  https://amzn.to/34nXBH5  

FBI Agent Pete Kelliher and his partner search for the clues behind the bodies of six boys left in various and remote parts of the country. Even though they don’t know one another, the lives of FBI Kelliher, 11-year-old Brett McGovern, and 11-year-old George Tokay are separate pieces of a puzzle. The two boys become interwoven with the same thread that Pete Kelliher holds in his hand. The three of them are on a collision course and when that happens, their lives are in jeopardy as each search for a way out.     

Book One of the Lives Trilogy, Stolen Lives: Literary Titan Gold Book Award Winner! Best Thriller’s Editor’s Pick! Best Thrillers Runner Up Award Winner!  https://amzn.to/3oMo4qZ 

Two thirteen-year-old boys are 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.

Book Two of the Lives Trilogy, Shattered Lives: https://amzn.to/2RAYIk2

Six men escaped and are out for revenge. The boys, recently freed from captivity, are in danger and so are their families, but they don’t know it. The FBI has no clues, no leads, and nothing to go on and because of that, cannot protect them.                                        

Book Three of the Lives Trilogy, Splintered Lives:  http://bit.ly/SplinteredLives 

A 14-year-old boy knows the end is coming. What he doesn’t know is when, where, or by whom. Without that knowledge, the FBI cannot protect him or his family. And he cannot protect himself.                                                  

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 from El Salvador, controls the drug trade along the I-94 and I-43 corridors and the Milwaukee Metro area. They send Ricardo Fuentes 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.

Spiral Into Darkness: Named a Recommended Read in the Author Shout Reader Awards!  https://amzn.to/2RBWvTm

He blends in. He is successful, intelligent, and methodical. He has a list and has murdered eight on it so far. There is no discernible pattern. There are no clues. There are no leads. The only thing the FBI and local police have to go on is the method of death: two bullets to the face- gruesome and meant to send a message. But it’s difficult to understand any message coming from a dark and damaged mind. Two adopted boys, struggling in their own world, do not know they are the next targets. Neither does their family. And neither does law enforcement.

Betrayed: A Best Thriller’s 1st Place Award for Crime Fiction! Maxy Award Runner-Up! A Literary Titan Silver Book Award Winner!  https://amzn.to/2EKHudx

Now Available in Audio Book, Kindle and Paperback!  https://amzn.to/3AfUUpS 

A late-night phone call, a missing kid, a murdered family, but no one is willing to talk. A promise is made and kept, but it could mean the death of a fifteen-year-old boy. Seeing is not believing. No one can be trusted, and the hunters become the hunted.

Blaze In, Blaze Out – Best Action Fiction Book of 2022- Best Thrillers! Reader’s Favorite Runner Up! Literary Titan Gold Book Award! https://amzn.to/34lNllP

Detectives Eiselmann and O’Connor thought the conviction of a Ukrainian gang lord meant the end. They forgot that revenge knows no boundaries, vindictiveness knows no restraints, and ruthlessness never worries about collateral damage. A target is a target, and in the end, the target will die. Eiselmann and O’Connor become the hunted, but they don’t know by whom or when they will strike.

Fan Mail – New Release! A 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 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?

An Interview by Joan Livingston – Her Post: Character Traits – Meet Brian Evans!

I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Joan Livingston, Author of the Isabel Long Mystery Series. She has a series of posts called, Character Traits, and she featured Brian Evans, a recurring character in my books, and who figures prominently in Fan Mail. It’s always fun when you can analyze a character with another author, especially one who is as talented as Joan. She was able to bring out nuances I had not thought about. It is below, and I hope you enjoy it …

The next character feature in this series is Brian Evans, created by author Joseph Lewis for his thriller crime novels. Joseph is retired from a long career in education, which admittedly helps him create realistic young characters, including Brian, who he calls “a positive, tragic protagonist.” I have read all of his award-winning books, including the most recent, Fan Mail and enjoyed them. Here, I will let him tell you about his character and his books.

Brian Evans appears initially as a side-character in the last book of the Lives Trilogy, Splintered Lives. He appears as a recurring character in Caught in a Web through my newest book, Fan Mail. He has become a fan favorite and, like many of my characters, is weighed down with baggage, both good and bad. Typically, he is a moral, deep-thinking character, a leader and athlete, and is a great friend to his adopted brothers.

How did you come up with the character and his/her name?

He is a twin and many parents use the same first initial in naming twins. His twin brother, Brad, is deceased (Splintered Lives). I liked the way it sounded, Brian and Brad Kazmarick, but after Brad’s death and Brian’s adoption, he became Brian Evans. I needed a positive, tragic protagonist, and Brian fit the bill. He has become a central figure in my last five books, and is central to the action in Fan Mail. I tell the story from his point of view and through his eyes.

Tell us more about Fan Mail.

Fan Mail is not only a story about a patchwork family of adopted brothers and the stress and strain these letters have on the family. It not only is a story about how these letters cause so much stress on the family that the father has a heart attack and how the otherwise close-knit brothers are pulled apart from one another. It is a story of integrity, leadership, of standing up for and defending what is right and just, even in the face of extreme odds and conditions.

Fan Mail is a thriller-crime-mystery with a strong coming-of-age theme running throughout the book. 

Was a real person your inspiration for this character?

Brian is a composite of many of the kids I worked with in my 47 years in education as a teacher, coach, counselor, and administrator. He is like many, and his “story” is drawn from my years as a counselor and coach, but he is no one former or current student of mine.

Is your character likable or not?

Brian is absolutely likeable. He has integrity and is a moral and ethical young man. Southerners use the term “Old Head” to describe someone wise, someone who acts and thinks beyond their years. Brian would certainly fit this description.

Extract from the book in which the character appears.

The passage below takes place in an English classroom discussing the book Lord of the Flies. I chose this book because of the implications it has on the action that takes place in Fan Mail. The two books are similar in that respect.

Brian crumpled up the call slip summoning him to the guidance office. He pushed it to the corner of his desk as far away as possible without tossing it on the floor. His English teacher, Penny Rios, looked at him questioningly, but didn’t question him about it. 

Brian didn’t want to see his father, Jeremy. The ride to school was not only unexpected, but uncomfortable. Normally, Jeremy signed his own slips, not Farner, the assistant principal. That was a twist. Still, he ignored it.

Besides, Rios was one of his favorite teachers, and the discussion they were having on Lord of the Flies was a good one. Even though they were only supposed to read up to the fourth chapter, Brian had read the entire book in three days. 

“Who would you consider a strong, independent character? Perhaps a leader among the boys?” Rios asked.

The answers ranged from Jack to Ralph to Piggy. Brian’s friend, Shannon Pritchert, mentioned Simon, which was an unusual answer.

Puzzled, Rios asked, “Why Simon?”

“I don’t consider him to be a leader, but he was independent. He wasn’t buying into either side. He spent most of the time by himself,” she said.

Brian nodded.

“Brian, you’re pretty silent today. What are your thoughts?”

He said, “It depends upon what you think strong means. Honestly, I don’t think any of them are strong. Being strong means having integrity. Ralph didn’t defend Piggy even when he was being picked on. If he had integrity, he would have defended Piggy no matter who was against him. Jack broke rules he felt weren’t necessary, even though there needed to be order. A person with integrity doesn’t break rules just because he might not like them. Piggy whined and complained, but he tried to establish order. I think because of his size and his whining, no one paid attention to him. A leader has to have followers.” 

He looked over at Shannon, smiled, and said, “I have to think about Simon. I hadn’t thought of him being independent until Shannon mentioned him.”

“What is your definition of integrity?” Rios asked.

Brian didn’t wait to be called upon. He said, “Someone who speaks the truth and lives it even when others don’t. A person who is genuine.”

“That can make someone pretty unpopular, don’t you think?”

Brian nodded and said, “It’s what makes someone strong. Speaking the truth and following the rules, no matter who else does or doesn’t. Being willing to take a stand, even if it’s unpopular. Standing up for your beliefs. If you don’t do those things, you don’t have integrity and you aren’t strong.”

As I stated earlier, Fan Mail and the story of the Evans brothers and family is told through Brian’s eyes. It’s his perspective, his story of his place in the family. Those who have read my other books, knows the journey Brian has been on, the difficulties he has faced, almost to the point of death. He is the defender and the protector of his brothers in many ways, but the hard shell the reader sees on the outside hides the soft vulnerability in Brian’s heart and soul. Yet, this passage summarizes Brian’s core beliefs, and in the end, he almost pays the price for it.

—

I hope you liked the interview, and I hope you enjoyed meeting Brian. I’ve found many of my readers- young and old identify with him, and because of that, he is a favorite of theirs. I also have to admit, Brian is one of my favorites, so you’ll see more of him in my books to come.

For your convenience, here is the book blurb and link to my book. I hope you check it out. As one reviewer said, “To characterize Fan Mail as just a thriller-crime novel, it is doing it a disservice and an injustice. It is way more than that!” Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer for Midwest Book Review, Editor of California Bookwatch

Fan Mail Book Blurb:

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 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?

https://amzn.to/3eNgSdS

Meet Brian Kaufman – An Author!

Brian Kaufman is another Black Rose Writing author and his posts on Facebook about his books and his comments on posts by others intrigued me enough to reach out and ask if I could interview him. He writes in multiple genres, something not many authors do. I, myself, would never consider it just because I think my ability, and perhaps my interest, wouldn’t allow me to do that successfully.

He and I have quite a bit in common. He thought of being a baseball player, while I wanted to be a football player. Both of us cook and like it (me, perhaps a bit too much which is indicative of my profile), and both of us like music, though he tends to blues, while I tend to 60s rock and roll, as well as modern country.

The other thing that struck me is that our writing style is similar. Both of us “think” of the story for a while before sitting down in front of a keyboard. I call it “prewriting in my head” which, when looked at by an outsider, looks like I’m doing nothing. My daughter, Emily, asked me one time when we sat down to eat lunch, “What are you thinking? You look far away.” And I was. I was thinking of a passage of dialogue between two characters.

Here is my interview with Brian, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did with his answers to my questions.

What was it that made you decide you had a story to tell and to become an author? I started young. My parents told me I used to make up comic books for the neighborhood kids when I was five. I couldn’t read yet, so I narrated. (Lots of telling; not a lot of showing, ha.) By the time I was 12, I’d decided to either play centerfield for the Yankees, or write. I ran a fourteen-second hundred-yard dash and couldn’t turn on a fastball, so the author won out.

As an author or writer, what sets you apart from others?

My process is probably different. I research genre tropes, themes, and philosophical underpinning—anything that might inform the story’s subtext. Then I write, trying very hard to sound exactly like myself.

How do ideas for your stories present themselves? How do you know what story lines to follow and which to ignore?

I live in the mountains and walk for an hour or two a day for exercise, imagining stories and scenes. After a while, I have the story in mind. This process can take a long time. I battled my Civil War novel, Dread Tribunal of Last Resort, for twenty years before putting chapters to the page. As for knowing which story lines to follow and which to avoid, I don’t do that very well. I’ve had five or six novels that I’ve abandoned at or near the ends. One of them, I completed twice and threw both versions away. (It was crap.)

What genre do you write, and why?

I’ve written historical fiction, literary fiction, horror, a baseball novel, steampunk, and upmarket fiction. My current WIP (work in progress) is noir. This is probably unhelpful career-wise, but it’s great for staying fresh. There are some connections between genres, of course, so I’m not starting completely over each time. For example, the philosophical subtext of noir is very similar to that of horror (somewhere in the nexus between existentialism and nihilism). Philip Marlowe would make a good horror protagonist.

Besides writing and telling a good story, do you have any other talents?

I am a very good cook (I cooked professionally for many decades) and an extraordinarily weak blues guitarist (all love and no skill).

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?

Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comesand Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness jump to mind. I read both when I was in Junior High, and both books grabbed me by the throat. They were pure magic of the couldn’t-put-them-down, stayed-up-all-night-to-read variety. The atmosphere in Bradbury and the fascinating premise of Lovecraft hit me square in the imagination.

What authors do you read regularly? Why?

Too many authors to name. My habit of reading 100 books a year began with Monday night trips to the library with my father. For an author, there are benefits to reading multiple genres and learning new tricks of the trade. I have favorite authors, of course (Robert Crais, Dennis Lehane, Larry McMurtry, Michael McDowell, Greg Gifune, Jane Austen, and Mary Shelley, etc.) Problem is, I could list two dozen more. I cherish them all.

If you were to have dinner with 5 individuals living or dead, who would they be and why?

I’d start with my folks, who passed away in recent years. On different nights, I’d select Mary Shelley and Edgar Poe (just to listen to them talk about writing and the genres they invented) and Jack Ruby (mystery solved!) Such a fun question. Ask me tomorrow, and I’ll have different names for you.

What is your writing routine? When you write, do you plan or outline ahead or are you a “pantser”?

I operate in the middle. As I mentioned, I write in my head as I walk in the mountains. By the time I put my fingers on the keyboard, I’ve wrestled the story into a basic three or four act structure. I don’t have a written outline, but I know where the story’s going. This leaves room for surprises, which seem to write themselves, and helps with pacing, since I’m following a mental roadmap of sorts.

When writing, how much do you read? Do you read in or out of your genre?

I used to worry about voice osmosis, but not enough to stop reading. I’m locked into my own voice these days, so that worry went away. If I’m switching to a new genre, I read a ton of the fiction in that genre, partly because I want a certain tone, and partly so I can remind myself that I didn’t invent genre tropes—if I’m original, it’s because I sound like me, not because of some “twist” I think I discovered.

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 really admire painting, and I took some classes to explore that medium. I completed one canvas that was emblematic of my absolute lack of talent and parked it away in the back of my van. Driving the kids to school, I heard my eight-year-old daughter ask her brother, “Who painted this? Hahahahahahaha!” In heaven, Claude Monet and Bob Ross exchanged knowing glances.

What tips would you give to new or even experienced writers?

Early on, I submitted a short story that got an editor response. He told me that the story was good, but that I was unknown. Recognizable names on the cover sell copies, so if I wanted to get a foot in the door, I’d need to be better than the name authors. Simply put, you must keep improving. Forever.

How did you “teach” yourself to write or did it just come naturally? What lessons would you pass on to others?

I take classes. I read every book on writing I could get my hands on, and I talk to other writers. I join critique groups, and I attend conferences. The thing is, writing is such a solitary endeavor that you forget that improvement comes from interaction. You can’t improve your writing in a vacuum.

How do you handle a negative critique?

In a critique group, I handle it by shutting my mouth and listening. I tend to ignore bad critical reviews (and don’t attach too much importance to good ones either). As for customer reviews, I’ve occasionally responded by offering a refund to one-star reviewers. (One of my novels is self-published, so it seemed like the right thing to do.) No one’s ever taken me up on the offer, though.

Is there a type of writing/genre that you find difficult to write? Why?

I avoid, for the most part, sex scenes. They almost always strike me as gratuitous, given the themes I write about.

How important are the elements of character, setting, and atmosphere to a story, and why?

The elements of the story are all important, but I must admit a special preference for character. We are humans, and we are most interested in stories about humans.

Do you see yourself in any of the characters you create? How/Why?

One piece of early advice I listened to was to avoid using yourself as a character. Too easy to let aspects of that character go unexamined. Easy to be too harsh or too forgiving. But unconsciously putting yourself into a character is probably unavoidable. There’s bound to be some bleed. For example, the protagonist of my noir novel is a sarcastic bastard who sounds surprisingly like myself, ha.

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 child’s vision of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbirdsticks with me. In the movie, the selection of Gregory Peck to play Atticus may be the most spot-on casting in Hollywood history.

Tell us about your most recent book. How did you come up with the concept?

I planned a historical adventure series that would begin with a search for Noah’s Ark in 1841. The books would also trace a marriage between my protagonist and his wife. The final book in the series would take place after his wife’s death and center on a historical UFO mystery in Texas. I wrote a few chapters of the first book, but they didn’t move well. By contrast, I wrote a chapter or two of the last book (in a series not yet written), and the damned thing practically wrote itself. Luckily, the book works as a stand-alone.

How did you come up with the title?

The title comes from a quote from my protagonist, talking about how history repeats itself. “If not a strict repetition, then certainly a persistent echo.” The novel examines why that is, and what it means for us today—a theme that helps make a novel set in 1897 relevant to today’s world.

From your book, who is your favorite character? Who is your least favorite character? Why?

I have only favorites. August Simms, my protagonist, is wise (his wisdom being hard-earned). He’s clever, a little manipulative, but above all else, kind. His much younger friend, Bill Ackerman, is an unusual character who avoids work like the plague, preferring instead to ride around in his wagon, observing human folly. His wit is a constant joy. Nadine Martin, a single mother running a boarding house, is courageous for reasons I can’t mention. And then, there’s Bullet the horse…

Author/media contact information

Website: authorbriankaufman.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bkaufman1852

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaufman8201/?hl=en

Links to Brian’s book on Amazon and B & N

Amazon:

            B&N

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-persistent-echo-brian-kaufman/1143179556

A Writer’s Anxiety

Whenever I finish writing a book, and then the edits and submit it to the publisher, there isn’t much else to do but wait. The next phase is the excitement I feel when I get the news the book will be published on such and such a date, and I receive copies for distribution.

That means, someone buys and reads the book. There are four words that send chills up my spine and causes the little hairs on the back of my neck to stand at attention. They are: “I read your book.”

The anxiety is real. Just because I love what I wrote, doesn’t mean others will too. It hardly ever works that way. There will be one or two readers who will give you a mediocre or even a bad review, mixed in with all the great and excellent reviews. It’s human nature to dwell on the negative ones and dismiss the positive ones.

We do that with personnel evaluations, don’t we. The supervisor fills your evaluation with wonderful superlatives, but has a suggestion to work on, something less than flattering. Despite all the wonderful things he has to say, we disregard them and focus on the thing we need to work on.

Such was the case when I sent my book off to Zoe’ who organized a five-day book tour for Fan Mail. I was excited to receive honest reviews, but at the same time, I fretted, What if I receive a bad review or even a mediocre review? I mean, after all, there are no guarantees, right?

But in the five days of the tour, I received nothing but praise ranging from “solid writing” to “wonderful storyline” to “I loved the characters” to “it made me laugh and cry and worry.”

Like this one from Penfoldlayla (her blog name). There are others just as glowing. I received a review from a friend and former colleague who has read each of my books. Bill wrote, “Ok. Fan Mail is now history. Like each of your books, it’s an A+, maybe an A++. Now, where can I send the review?”

Music to my ears- truly.

Ros, who I never met face-to-face, but who has read each of my books, wrote, “I can’t tell you how much I have loved this series. It’s gripped me for the very first book. I’ve been scared to turn the page, because it’s made me mad, I’ve cried, I’ve smiled, and laughed, so thank you Joseph. I’m hoping there’s another one in the wings. A must read and a wow!”

An author, any author, lives off of reviews. This graphic explains it completely:

It is a bit tongue-in-cheek. Okay, maybe a lot tongue-in-cheek, but you get the point. Reviews help sell books, because they convince other readers to give the book a read. So please, leave a review on Amazon or Barnes & Noble and Goodreads. Like the graphic says, you’ll get a free unicorn, and who doesn’t like unicorns?

Here is the link to the rest of the reviews from Zoe’s blog tour of Fan Mail. I hope you enjoy them and perhaps, cause you to click on Amazon to purchase a book, or leave a review, or both!

http://zooloosbooktours.co.uk/and-thats-a-wrap-of-fan-mail-by-joseph-lewis

As always, thanks for following me on my writing journey. I’d love to hear your thoughts so please use the section below to leave a comment. For your convenience, the link to Fan Mail is below.

Fan Mail – New Release! A Maxy Award Finalist! Eric Hoffer Award Nominee! Literary Titan Silver Book Award!

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 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?

https://amzn.to/3eNgSdS

On Editing

Once the first draft is complete, that’s when the real work begins! As some have said, the first draft is for the writer, while the final draft is for the reader. That’s a huge difference!

I can tell you that when I finish the first draft, it is pretty clean. My style is to read the previous day’s chapter, edit it, shift things around, whack other parts altogether, and clarify in terms of making it more interesting. This does two things: 1. it helps in the overall editing I do after the first draft is written; and 2. it places me in the setting and atmosphere, sometimes the character, I’m going to write next. I also use a Word add-on that edits what I’m writing in real time. It is ProWritingAid.

I try to do a chapter a day. That’s my goal, and I usually hit it, though there are times of the year when I might go several days without writing. I don’t like it. It doesn’t feel good to me, and I can honestly say I have a “need” to write. I have written in previous posts that for me, writing is like giving birth. From the idea to the publication, it takes nine months to a year. I think that’s fairly typical of most writers, though some produce faster than others. CAUTION – don’t compare your speed to other writers. You have to do what is comfortable for you. If you write fast, great. If you write slow, fine. The important thing is to write.

Back to editing, it was at some point in the first draft of Betrayed that I rearranged a chapter. I moved one of the ending chapters to the front, almost like a prologue. Here is the first chapter of Betrayed:

CHAPTER ONE

            It was still. No breeze. The air, dead, smelled of red dirt and decay. A hawk circled overhead, cawed once, and glared at him. At least Brian thought it did. He wondered vaguely if it was an omen, a message from the spirit world George often talked about. A warning, perhaps. Fitting if it was, Brian thought. If they survived, he would ask him.

He lay prone in the dirt and glanced behind him. Brett was not visible. That was good. He wanted his brother safely behind the big boulder. Hidden.

Brian wasn’t afraid to die. He just didn’t want to die. Not yet, anyway. Fifteen was too young. However, he made a promise to watch over George and Brett, and that he would do. If it came to it, he would protect his two brothers any way he could, including sacrificing his own life.

            The morning he made the promise, he didn’t think much of it. George was independent. Always had been. Brett was stubborn. Yet, Brian said he would do what he could, and though it wasn’t exactly a promise, he had given his word, and he had always kept his word.

            On the long trek to the mesa, Brian had thought about life and death. It was not the first time death had crossed his mind. He had watched his twin brother die. Brad bled to death from multiple gunshot wounds and died in a stranger’s arms. After his death, Brian’s mother shot his father, and then shot herself.

Brian ended up alone. Alone, except for Jeremy, who took him in, and made him his son just as he did for five other boys.

            He knew death. It didn’t scare him. He never worried about it. If it happened, it happened.

            However, he wasn’t ready to die, and he didn’t want to die.

            At the same time, he had made up his mind that he would do everything in his power to make sure Brett and George would live.

            No matter the cost.

—

As I said, originally, this chapter was one of the last chapters in the book, but I moved it to the first words to be read because I wanted it understood that in many respects, Betrayed is mostly told through Brian’s eyes. There are other characters in the book: George and Brett, Brian’s adopted brothers; Rebecca Morning Star, George’s life-long friend and love interest; Jamie Graff and Pat O’Connor, two detectives who are friends of the Evans family; and FBI Agent, Ronaldo Reyna. But the story truly belongs to Brian, which is why I made the decision to move him front and center in the book.

The second chapter was actually supposed to be Chapter 13 or 14. I don’t have the original first draft- long since deleted. But it was changed to the second chapter as I began to write one night after reading the previous night’s work. I felt I needed to introduce one of the antagonists in Betrayed. It also sets the tone and gives an ominous feel to the reader. If nothing else, the reader is puzzled and bewildered because of the sudden shift. However, when you read the two chapters together, the reader has a sense of where the book is headed. Here is the second chapter:

CHAPTER TWO

Several Days Previous

            They stood in the driveway of an expansive ranch home made of brick and glass that was out of place on Navajoland. When one had money, one could build whatever one wanted and as big as one wanted it. It was big and beautiful, almost obscene in comparison to the abject poverty most of the Dine’ lived in. There were several of these monstrosities dotting the desert landscape, one competing with the next in size and expense. No matter. He had money and power, and used both to his advantage. He liked what he had. His only disappointment was that he didn’t have more.

“Have you found that kid yet?”

            Two men looked at the red dirt and shuffled their dusty boots.

            “Why the fuck not?” he shouted. His anger grew in proportion to their non-answers.

            “We’ve been watching the girl and her old man hoping they would lead us to him.”

            “That isn’t good enough, goddammit! For chrissakes, we need to find that kid. We don’t have time to sit and watch.”

            He walked away from the two men. With his hands on his hips, he made two quick decisions. He was used to making quick decisions and most of the time, they worked out to his advantage.

            He viewed his small stature as a weakness, as something he couldn’t control. It angered him, so his persona was that of a small angry man. Wealthy and powerful, but small and angry. 

“I want the two of you to make sure the No Trespassing sign is strung across the road leading to the abandoned ranch. When I swing by, I expect it to be posted.”

“Yes, Sir. We will.”

“Do it now!” he added.

He turned his back on them again, walked a few steps away and pulled out his cell. He turned back around and saw the two men still standing there.

“Didn’t I just tell you what I wanted you to do?”

“Yes, Sir.”

Both men turned and walked to the pickup they used.

“And find that boy!”

The man wasn’t sure if he had wanted to keep these two nothings on his payroll. He knew of others he could use who were more efficient, smarter, and dependable. Ruthless and lethal if it came to that. They would know what to do to get answers. They would also know what to do with the boy, and anyone else, who got in their way.

He pushed the speed dial and without waiting for a hello, he said, “Do you have any leads on that kid?”

“Not yet. Still looking.”

“There can’t be that many places for him to hide.”

“There are enough,” the voice answered.

“Well find him. You know what to do once you do.”

He hung up abruptly and slid his cell into his coat pocket. He kicked a stone and stared off in the distance. The heat made the red desert floor shimmer.

He had a goal and he wouldn’t be denied.

—

This chapter gives the reader a sense of what is happening or about to happen, though it is purposely limited. The reader has several questions: Who is the kid? What happened to him, and why does this man want him … what, dead? captured? Who is this man, and who are the two men he’s talking about?

I do what some writers and editors refer to as “head hopping.” This refers to my and other writer’s tendency to write one chapter from one person’s point of view (chapter one- Brian) and the next chapter, from someone else’s point of view (chapter two- some unknown man). It can confuse some readers, but more importantly for me, it speeds the story along. The reader has a sense of urgency and the constant question, “What’s happening next?”

My chapters are purposely short. I call them “Patterson Chapters” because if you read any James Patterson book, he uses the same style: short, concise, but integral to the whole story. For better or for worse, I use Patterson as my model when I write.

Readers tell me they can’t put my books down. For the writer, that’s high praise and I take it as such. There aren’t many “dry spots” that bog the reader down. But it can frustrate the reader because he or she is torn between wanting to read and needing to get work done. Again, a great position for the writer to be in. 

Kimberly Charleston wrote a post to which I and others contributed to on the process of editing. It is a great piece because it gives the writer- the professional and the beginner some great pieces of advice. She wrote: From Kimberly Charleston “On Editing.” Must read for all authors, writers, and those who pen. Expert editors and authors share their perspectives on this critical step in The Author’s Journey. https://loom.ly/SQI8fZM

As always, thank you for following me on this journey. I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas, so please use the comment section below. For your convenience, I’ve included the link and book blurb for my book, Betrayed, just in case you might be interested.

Betrayed: A Best Thriller’s 1st Place Award for Crime Fiction! Maxy Award Runner-Up! A Literary Titan Silver Book Award Winner! Top Shelf Award Winner!

A late-night phone call, a missing kid, a murdered family, but no one is willing to talk. A promise is made and kept, but it could mean the death of a fifteen-year-old boy. Seeing is not believing. No one can be trusted, and the hunters become the hunted. https://www.amzn.to/3l2S28l

Also Available in Audio Book, as well as Paperback and Kindle/Nook!

Use of Quotes in a Book

Now and then, when you open a book and begin to read, do you ever notice some books have a quote or two before the first chapter begins? Authors might use a quote to inform or focus the reader on what his/her intentions were when writing the book. Perhaps they want to point the reader in a certain direction, to focus on a character’s thought process, or what the character might go through. Many reasons, really.

When I wrote Spiral Into Darkness, I used three quotes at the beginning of the book before the first chapter to give the reader a focus, and an idea of what to expect from the book or from the setting or from a particular character. The three quotes I used are:

“We carry these things inside us

That no one else can see

They hold us down like anchors

They drown us out at sea.”

Unknown

“No man chooses evil because it is evil; they only mistake it for happiness, the good he seeks.”

Mary Shelley

“The pendulum of the mind oscillates between sense and nonsense, not between right and wrong.”

C.G. Jung

I used these quotes primarily to give the reader a window to the antagonist’s thinking. On the surface, the antagonist moves through the world just as you or I would. The antagonist is successful and smart, if not brilliant. Just below the surface, there is an anger that builds up and bubbles over, spilling out and soiling those he comes in contact with. Such is the nature, or at least, one nature of a serial killer.

My serial killer is methodical and organized. The killer plans and organizes the kill. The killer in my book has a reason for the murders, but that reason is unknown to the protagonists (yes, multiple protagonists). That drives law enforcement crazy- no pun intended. Law enforcement is trained to look for patterns and seek to find the ‘why’ behind a killing. When there is no identifiable pattern to the killing, other than the method, law enforcement is left scratching their heads, hoping there isn’t another murder before they find the killer. And yet, it is only with another murder that might lead them closer to finding the killer.

While law enforcement in my books have had their share of handling tough to solve cases, including murders, the kids in my fictional family have no experience with psychosis or a sociopath. They are drawn unwillingly into the serial killer’s orbit without a clue one or more might be an intended victim.

I also used these three quotes to help create the setting of the book. It’s winter in Wisconsin. Cold, windy, snowy and icy. It can be mild one day and brutal the next. Much like my antagonist, the serial killer.

In my book, Betrayed, I used three quotes as well. They are:

“You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice.”

            Bob Marley

“Courage doesn’t mean you aren’t afraid. Courage means you don’t let fear stop you.”

Svetlana M.

“In the solemnity of endings, we find hope in new beginnings.”

            Anne Scottlin

In my last post, I wrote about book titles and the thought process that goes into them. I wrote my books can have, and most do have, multiple meanings in their titles. Betrayed is one of those titles that has multiple meanings.

The first two quotes give you a clue what one or more of my protagonists are going to go through. Two of the three brothers thought they were going on a fun hunting trip in Navajo country in Northeast Arizona. Little do they know they become the hunted. They don’t know why until the end of the book. Two of the three have never been to Navajoland. George, one of their adopted brothers, grew up in that country, but he is off ‘hunting’ for his missing childhood friend. He doesn’t realize his two brothers are in jeopardy.

The last quote gives a clue to the outcome, the ending of the book. The reader will, eventually, understand this quote pertains to one protagonist specifically. By combining these three quotes, I give the reader a window to what they will encounter between and among the pages.

In my newest book, Fan Mail, I use three quotes differently from my other books. They are:

“When I get hate mail, I get really down on myself, and I read it to my mom, and my mom is like, ‘So what? Who cares? These people don’t know you, so you can’t take praise or hate to heart.’”

Nikki Reed

“From the deepest desires often come the deadliest hate.”

Socrates

“Heroes aren’t born, but they are created in times of strife and struggle. Everyone is capable of being a hero in their own way; often without even knowing it, they are a hero to those around them.”

Anonymous

The first quote from Nikki Reed is related to the book’s title. It tells the reader up front what the major action of the book is going to be. I don’t pull any punches … maybe. Even the title, Fan Mail, tells the reader what the book is about. Nothing ambiguous about it. I smile knowingly.

The second quote by Socrates gives the reader the opportunity to look inside the antagonist’s head. What the antagonist is thinking, and how that thinking drives the antagonist’s actions.

The third quote applies to one of the main protagonists, but can, perhaps, apply to more than one. I like this quote because it describes one of the character’s journey. Being who he is, he is quick to deflect the hero word to others, but I don’t think the reader will allow that.

I like using quotes because not only does it help the reader on their journey from cover to cover, it also helps me, the writer, to keep focused on the what I’m writing. As I said in an earlier post, writers/authors (I use the two terms interchangeably) choose their words and create their sentences and paragraphs with great care (or at least, they should). We are specific in our word choice, in the actions taken by our characters, including what they think and what they feel. Using quotes helps the writer in this specificity. It keeps our feet firmly planted on the path we chose to write.

I would like to know what you think, so please feel free to use the section below for comments. As always, I thank you for following me on this writing journey.

One last thing: my publisher and I are running a Goodreads Giveaway. 5 copies of my newest book, Fan Mail, will be signed and given away in a random drawing to five lucky individuals. But you have to hurry. Time is running out. You can enter the Fan Mail Goodreads Giveaway by using this link: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/enter_choose_address/365972?utm_medium=api&utm_source=giveaway_widget and Good Luck!

My Books:

Fan Mail : New Release! A Maxy Award Finalist, an Eric Hoffer Award Nominee, and a Literary Titan Silver Book Award Winner!  

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 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? https://amzn.to/3eNgSdS

Blaze In, Blaze Out:  Best Action Crime Thriller of 2022 by Best Thrillers! A Literary Titan Gold Book Award Winner! A Readers’ Favorite Award Winner! A Reader’s Ready Recommended Read! A BestThriller’s Editor’s Pick!

Detectives Eiselmann and O’Connor thought the conviction of Dmitry Andruko, the head of a Ukrainian crime family, meant the end. It was only the beginning. They forgot that revenge knows no boundaries, vindictiveness knows no restraints, and ruthlessness never worries about collateral damage. Andruko hired contract killers to go after and kill O’Connor and Eiselmann.

The killers can be anyone and be anywhere. They can strike at any time. They care nothing of collateral damage. Andruko believes a target is a target, and in the end, the target must die. https://amzn.to/34lNllP

Betrayed : Two Top Shelf Awards: 1 st  Place Fiction-Mystery; and Runner-Up Fiction-Crime; A PenCraft 1 st  Place Winner for Thriller-Fiction! A Maxy Award Runner-Up for Mystery/Suspense! A Literary Titan Silver Book Award Winner! A Reader’s Ready Recommended Read Award Winner! A Reader’s Favorite Honorable Mention Award Winner for Fiction-Crime-Mystery!

Betrayed is Now Available in Audio Book, Kindle and Paperback! https://amzn.to/3AfUUpS 

A late-night phone call, a missing kid, a murdered family, but no one is talking. A promise is made and kept, but it could mean the death of a fifteen-year-old boy. Greed can be all-consuming, and seeing is not believing. No one can be trusted, and the hunters become the hunted. https://amzn.to/2EKHudx

Spiral Into Darkness : Named a Recommended Read in the Author Shout Reader Awards!

He blends in. He is successful, intelligent, and methodical. So far, he has murdered eight people. There is no discernible pattern. There are no clues. There are no leads. The only thing the FBI and local police have to go on is the method of death: two bullets to the face- gruesome and meant to send a message. But it’s difficult to understand any message coming from a dark and damaged mind. Two adopted boys, struggling in their own world, do not know they are the next targets. Neither does their family. And neither does local law enforcement. https://amzn.to/2RBWvTm

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  
 
The Lives Trilogy Prequel, Taking Lives:

FBI Agent Pete Kelliher and his partner search for the clues behind the bodies of six boys left in various and remote parts of the country. Even though they live in separate parts of the country, the lives of Kelliher, 11-year-old Brett McGovern, and 11-year-old George Tokay are separate pieces of a puzzle. The two boys become interwoven with the same thread Kelliher holds in his hand. The three of them are on a collision course and when that happens, their futures grow dark as each search for a way out. https://amzn.to/34nXBH5 

Book One, Stolen Lives: Editor’s Pick by BestThrillers! Literary Titan Gold Book Award Winner! A Crime Thriller finalist in the 2021 Best Thriller Book Awards!

Two thirteen-year-old boys are abducted off a safe suburban street. Kelliher and his team of FBI agents have 24 hours to find them or they will end up like the other kids they found- dead! They have no leads, no clues, and nothing to go on. To make the investigation that much tougher, Kelliher suspects that one of his team members might be involved. https://amzn.to/3oMo4qZ  

Book Two of the Lives Trilogy, Shattered Lives:

The boys are home, but now they have to fit back in with their families and friends. Their parents and the FBI thought the boys were safe. They were until people began dying. Now the hunt is on for six dangerous and desperate men who vow revenge. With no leads and nothing to go on, the FBI can only sit back and wait. A dangerous game that threatens not only the boys, but their families. https://amzn.to/2RAYIk2 
 
Book Three of the Lives Trilogy, Splintered Lives:

Three dangerous men with nothing to lose offer a handsome reward to anyone willing to kill fourteen-year-old Brett McGovern. He does not know that he, his younger brother, and a friend are targets. More than anyone, these three men vow to kill George, whom they blame for forcing them to run and hide. A fun vacation turns into a nightmare and ends where it started, back on the Navajo Nation Reservation, high on a mesa held sacred by George and his grandfather. Outnumbered and outgunned, George will make the ultimate sacrifice to protect his adoptive father and his adoptive brothers- but can he? Without knowing who these men are? Or where they are? Without knowing whom to trust? Is he prepared for betrayal that leads to his heartbreak and death? http://bit.ly/SplinteredLives    

What’s Up With Book Titles?

I am probably like most every author in that I choose my book titles carefully, and with a twinkle in my eye and with a wry smile. The titles of my books have multiple meanings- most of the time two, but sometimes more. As the reader becomes engrossed in my books, they uncover possible meanings.

I am never quick to let a reader know what I was thinking when I named my books, because I believe that is up to the reader. I would rather be on the side watching and waiting for a catch of the ‘ah-ha’ moment. Many times, readers will share their thoughts with me, but again, I seldom tell them they are right or wrong, and I won’t share what I was thinking when I selected the title. I want it to be theirs and theirs alone, and I tell them that.

Often, I begin with a tentative title, but as I become knee deep in the writing, I will at times throw out the original title and select a new and better one. It just happened with the book I am currently working on.

I began with the title, At Any Cost. Strong. Intriguing. You might ask yourself, “At whose cost?” I believe any title should keep the reader guessing.

In Stephen King’s book Salem’s Lot, the lead character is an author. He publishes a new book and travels to his childhood town because he has an idea to write about a scary house in the community he grew up in. One character asks him, “What does Cloud Dancer mean?” (that was the name of the character’s book). The author merely smiles and says something like, “Did you read the book?” or “You have to read the book!” He implies that the meaning of the title will be uncovered as one reads the story. Like King’s character, I believe any good title should cause questions and only when reading the book will the answers be found.

Instead of using At Any Cost as the title, I went with Black Yéʼii (The Evil One). Black Yéʼii is a Navajo term for one of their deities, but they don’t speak much of it because, to do so, might invite “The Evil One” into one’s life. Black Yéʼii uses the five senses to trick an individual to seek pleasure in areas of life and, by doing so, harms them or others. Black Yéʼii goes against ‘living in the light’, or Hozho, which means inner life and harmony. Black Yéʼii fights against Hozho by creating darkness and evil among people.

Given that background, which I state at the beginning of the book, just under the title and just under the quotes I use for the book, it gives the reader a focus. Who is the evil? What is the evil? Is it one person or more than one person? Perhaps a group of people? And will this Black Yéʼii bring harm to one of more of the Evans boys? Perhaps the whole family?

Take my book, Spiral Into Darkness. The cover is black and has the design of a downward spiral. David King, the creative genius behind my book cover designs, came up with it after seeking my input. The title is, by itself, intriguing enough. But together with the design on the cover, it becomes thought-provoking.

Now if I told you the book is about a serial killer who has murdered various individuals with no pattern and without any potential motive that ties the victims together, that might cause you to question what the title means.

But could the title have another meaning? Something going on in one character’s mind, one character’s life? I’m smiling, because I won’t tell you. You have to read the book to find out.

Another book of mine, Betrayed, the title implies someone, or a group of someones, is going to betray someone else. But could there be more within the title that meets the initial conclusion? What kind of betrayal? Who will be betrayed, and over what? You bet there is more to that title than the initial thought. You will have to read the book and come to your own conclusions because I won’t tell you.

An intriguing title works together with a great cover design and a thought-provoking book description to interest the reader. Those are the first steps to selling any book. But it should never end there. The writing has to match the title, the cover, and the description or the reader will feel cheated and won’t take another chance of reading anything else you write.

For your convenience, I’ve placed book descriptions and links to all my books, including the ones I mentioned above, except for the one I’m currently working on. But stay tuned. As I said, I’m about halfway done on Black Yéʼii (The Evil One). I’ll keep you posted as I complete it.

As always, thanks for following along with me on my writing journey. I would love to know your thoughts, so please use the comment section below.

One last thing, don’t forget to go to Goodreads and register for a signed copy of my new book, Fan Mail (talk about a title with multiple meanings, ). There are just under two weeks left, and I’d love to sign and send you a copy. Use this link: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/enter_choose_address/365972?utm_medium=api&utm_source=giveaway_widget

My Books:

Fan Mail : New Release! A Maxy Award Finalist, an Eric Hoffer Award Nominee, and a Literary Titan Silver Book Award Winner!    

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 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? https://amzn.to/3eNgSdS 

Blaze In, Blaze Out:  Best Action Crime Thriller of 2022 by Best Thrillers! A Literary Titan Gold Book Award Winner! A Readers’ Favorite Award Winner! A Reader’s Ready Recommended Read! A BestThriller’s Editor’s Pick!

Detectives Eiselmann and O’Connor thought the conviction of Dmitry Andruko, the head of a Ukrainian crime family, meant the end. It was only the beginning. They forgot that revenge knows no boundaries, vindictiveness knows no restraints, and ruthlessness never worries about collateral damage. Andruko hired contract killers to go after and kill O’Connor and Eiselmann.

The killers can be anyone and be anywhere. They can strike at any time. They care nothing of collateral damage. Andruko believes a target is a target, and in the end, the target must die. https://amzn.to/34lNllP 

Betrayed : Two Top Shelf Awards: 1st Place Fiction-Mystery; and Runner-Up Fiction-Crime; A PenCraft 1st Place Winner for Thriller-Fiction! A Maxy Award Runner-Up for Mystery/Suspense! A Literary Titan Silver Book Award Winner! A Reader’s Ready Recommended Read Award Winner! A Reader’s Favorite Honorable Mention Award Winner for Fiction-Crime-Mystery!

Betrayed is Now Available in Audio Book, Kindle and Paperback! https://amzn.to/3AfUUpS 

A late-night phone call, a missing kid, a murdered family, but no one is talking. A promise is made and kept, but it could mean the death of a fifteen-year-old boy. Greed can be all-consuming, and seeing is not believing. No one can be trusted, and the hunters become the hunted. https://amzn.to/2EKHudx

Spiral Into Darkness : Named a Recommended Read in the Author Shout Reader Awards!

He blends in. He is successful, intelligent, and methodical. So far, he has murdered eight people. There is no discernible pattern. There are no clues. There are no leads. The only thing the FBI and local police have to go on is the method of death: two bullets to the face- gruesome and meant to send a message. But it’s difficult to understand any message coming from a dark and damaged mind. Two adopted boys, struggling in their own world, do not know they are the next targets. Neither does their family. And neither does local law enforcement. https://amzn.to/2RBWvTm 

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  
 
The Lives Trilogy Prequel, Taking Lives:

FBI Agent Pete Kelliher and his partner search for the clues behind the bodies of six boys left in various and remote parts of the country. Even though they live in separate parts of the country, the lives of Kelliher, 11-year-old Brett McGovern, and 11-year-old George Tokay are separate pieces of a puzzle. The two boys become interwoven with the same thread Kelliher holds in his hand. The three of them are on a collision course and when that happens, their futures grow dark as each search for a way out. https://amzn.to/34nXBH5 

Book One, Stolen Lives: Editor’s Pick by BestThrillers! Literary Titan Gold Book Award Winner! A Crime Thriller finalist in the 2021 Best Thriller Book Awards!

Two thirteen-year-old boys are abducted off a safe suburban street. Kelliher and his team of FBI agents have 24 hours to find them or they will end up like the other kids they found- dead! They have no leads, no clues, and nothing to go on. To make the investigation that much tougher, Kelliher suspects that one of his team members might be involved. https://amzn.to/3oMo4qZ  

Book Two of the Lives Trilogy, Shattered Lives:

The boys are home, but now they have to fit back in with their families and friends. Their parents and the FBI thought the boys were safe. They were until people began dying. Now the hunt is on for six dangerous and desperate men who vow revenge. With no leads and nothing to go on, the FBI can only sit back and wait. A dangerous game that threatens not only the boys, but their families. https://amzn.to/2RAYIk2 
 
Book Three of the Lives Trilogy, Splintered Lives:

Three dangerous men with nothing to lose offer a handsome reward to anyone willing to kill fourteen-year-old Brett McGovern. He does not know that he, his younger brother, and a friend are targets. More than anyone, these three men vow to kill George, whom they blame for forcing them to run and hide. A fun vacation turns into a nightmare and ends where it started, back on the Navajo Nation Reservation, high on a mesa held sacred by George and his grandfather. Outnumbered and outgunned, George will make the ultimate sacrifice to protect his adoptive father and his adoptive brothers- but can he? Without knowing who these men are? Or where they are? Without knowing whom to trust? Is he prepared for betrayal that leads to his heartbreak and death? http://bit.ly/SplinteredLives    

Fan Mail – An Award, A Snippet, and An Interview!

Fan Mail – An Award, A Snippet, and An Interview!

I am pleased to announce that my newest book, Fan Mail, won a Maxy Award Finalist distinction, and was nominated for an Eric Hoffer Award. These go along with the Literary Titan Silver Book Award it had won previously. I am thrilled with the reception and recognition it is receiving, and pleased that so many readers found it to be satisfying.

When I wrote Fan Mail, like any author, I had a story idea and I wrote it. It wasn’t until after it was completed, with all the edits finished, did I realize just how much each chapter or paragraph or sentence impacted the whole and led to the climax.

Having been in education for 47 years and counting as a teacher, coach, counselor, and administrator, I’ve come to understand the importance of making connections, of mentoring the kids in your charge. I certainly tried to do that, especially as a coach and teacher. The stories that had been shared with me as a counselor ran the gamut of joyful, to sad, to tragic. Sometimes, even incredible.

In Fan Mail, five of the seven brothers play on the school basketball team coached by Tommy Harrison. His players, especially the five Evans boys, like him and not only see him as a coach, but as a friend and mentor. Harrison often pulls his players aside and talks to them, not only about basketball and school, but about life. In the passage below, he and Brian have a conversation that ends up playing a huge part in the book.

            “You’ve had quite a couple of months,” Harrison said as he nodded at Brian.

            Brian knew Harrison meant the scar around his right eye.

            “Then your dad with his heart thingy,” using the term the boys used. “How are you doing, Brian? Really doing?”

            He didn’t want to go into the shitty week he had, which was topped off by last night, which was shittier than the week. He didn’t want to go into the scar around his eye or the other scars. Brian didn’t know how much Harrison knew, but he suspected Brian or Billy or even his dad had filled him in on some of it.

            Brian said, “I’m okay. Not great, but okay.”

            Harrison marveled at Brian’s honesty, and his ability to compartmentalize his life. There was Brian’s school life, separate from sports, and each sport separate from each other. There was life at home, and there was his social life. Tony seemed to be a part of Brian’s life now.

            “Anything I can do?”

            Brian smiled and said, “No, I’m okay.”

            Harrison nodded and said, “Yes, that’s what you said. If you ever need anything, I’m here.”

            “Thanks, Coach.”

            Changed subjects, Harrison asked, “Is your dad going to be at the game tonight?”

            Brian shrugged and said, “We don’t know yet. I think we’ll find out at game time.”

            “Your dad has a pregame ritual with you guys.”

            Brian nodded and said, “I’ve got it covered. I’ll talk to each of my brothers, along with Mikey and Gavin.”

            Harrison smiled and said, “I figured as much.”

            Brian smiled and felt himself blushing.

            “You would have made a helluva captain. Last year, you and Brett were Co-Conference Players of the Year. You earned the respect, not only of your teammates but also the coaches in the conference.”

            Brian shifted uncomfortably in his seat and said, “Thank you, but honestly, being a captain means more to Brett and Billy. Brett, because he is the point guard and the coach on the floor. He’s our leader in a lot of ways, besides basketball. Billy, because he’s a leader and he works so hard. The guys see it.”

            “Just so long as you don’t shrink from leadership if it comes to you.”

            “I’d never do that.”

            Harrison nodded, thought for a minute and said, “Seems like you and Tony have hit it off.”

            Brian blushed and said, “He’s a good guy. All the guys like him.”

            “I think he’s as good for you as you are for him.”

            “Meaning?” Brian asked.

            “This is philosophical, but I believe people come into other’s lives for a reason, just like people leave other’s lives for a reason. I know you, and I know your heart, and I know you’ve struggled in …” he wagged his head and said, “relationships. I think Tony is good for you.”

            “I’m not sure,” Brian said, but stopped.

            “I believe everyone needs to live their own life. Unless we’re talking about an axe murderer or some psycho. But when it comes to living your own life, there is no wrong or right. We are given a life. We are given moments. We have to make the most of those moments in our lives.” He paused, smiled, and said, “That’s all I’m saying.” He leaned forward and said, “I want you to make the most of your moments. In whatever you do, and with whoever is in your life. After all, it’s your life.”

            Brian tilted his head, and he was pretty sure Harrison was tip-toeing around the issue. Brian’s issue. He didn’t know how he should respond or even if he should respond.

            “Kids follow you. They look up to you. That’s an enormous responsibility. What you do and what you say can have a great impact on others.”

            Puzzled, Brian shook his head.

            He leaned forward and said, “I watch kids in the hallways, or in the cafeteria or in my class. Some are shy. I get it. Some are struggling with who they are. I feel sorry for them. They are wasting their lives and their moments. Hiding who they are. I know our society and maybe our school isn’t ready for them, and it makes me sad.”

            Brian shook his head, unable, and perhaps unwilling, to say anything.

            “I want you happy. I want you to live your life and live your moments. If along the way you can help others do the same,” he smiled, letting the statement hang there.

Here is an interview I did with Read and Tell Reviews. You might find it interesting because of the unique questions I was asked.

What is the first book that made you cry?

The Body by Stephen King. It is one of four novellas in his book, Different Seasons, and the movie Stand By Me was made from it. It was the interplay of the characters, the setting and circumstances of the four boys and their families, and the city in which they lived that left its mark on me. In my writing, I use that story as my benchmark, my model when I craft characters and how they interact with others. From what my readers share with me, I think I’ve done that.

Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

A writer has to be original and write from one’s heart and soul. If the writer doesn’t do that, it is nothing but garbage. My readers expect two things from me: 1. A good story that is in the thriller-crime-mystery genre; and 2. A second or twin storyline that is a coming-of-age story that brings the seven adopted brothers who make up the Evans family to life. I am not formulaic, but original, and I think I am the only writer, or at least one of very few, in the thriller genre that has that niche.

Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly?

Absolutely not! If the writer has no heart in his or her work, the reader will not finish the book and will never reach for another from that author. I can honestly say that at various times in my work, I’ve wept and laughed and felt angry along with my characters. Readers pick up on it. They feel what the writer feels, and if there isn’t any feeling, the reader won’t feel it either. The writer has to “bleed” on the page and leave his or her heart on the page. If not, the writing becomes cold and sterile.

Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?

Like Patterson, Baldacci, and Sandford, I use the same characters in each of my books. My readers like to know “what is going on in their lives” and I think this breeds a familiarity for the reader. With the same characters, the reader is familiar with them, how they might react, who are their friends, their loves, their enemies and all of that brings a richness to the new adventure. I might highlight different characters among the group, but the readers still know them. The first four books I wrote were all in a series- The Lives Trilogy and Prequel, based upon my work with missing and exploited children and their families. The subsequent books use those characters, but are more or less a standalone.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

My first book was published at age 60 in 2014. Since then, my books are published about every nine months to a year. If I could tell my younger self anything, it would be to begin sooner! I waited too long to get my book published. By beginning sooner, I would have more time to write more books. Still, nine books in nine years is pretty solid writing.

What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?

A nice laptop and a software program, ProWritingAid. It is a powerful editing tool and my writing, and editing, has become so much better because of it. I urge any writer to check it out, or at least, something similar to it.

What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?

In an interview a while back, Keith Urban described each of his songs as his babies, his children. He doesn’t love one more than the other. I felt the same way about mine, but if I had a gun to my head, I would say the third book of the Lives Trilogy, Splintered Lives, is under-appreciated. It ties the trilogy up neatly and gives the reader a sigh of relief. But each of my books are special to me. My reviews and ratings have been solid, but more importantly, the feeling I get when I go back and read what I wrote is one of satisfaction and each is heartwarming to me.

What do you owe the real people upon whom you base your characters?

A debt of gratitude that I will never be able to fully repay. As a teacher, coach, counselor and administrator for over 47 years (and counting), the stories kids and their parents shared with me are in and amongst my pages. The tips and techniques taught to me by law enforcement, by medical personnel, and all the others I seek advice from have been invaluable. Some of them, at least their names, have appeared in my books and in the author’s notes in each book. I give them a shout out. It seems barely enough for what they’ve given to me.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

I read the reviews, and it is human nature to dwell on the negative ones. Even with all the positives, the one or two negative reviews sadden me. I realize that as I write, the book is mine. Once it is published, the book becomes the reader’s book. It is their heart, their head, their soul and all the experiences they’ve had that gives them their “eyes” when they read any work. I have to keep telling me it is only their perception- as accurate or as inaccurate as it might be- that is revealed in their review.

Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?

Each title of my book has more than one meaning. It is up to the reader to find them all, and they can be found. My newest, Fan Mail, has a simple title. It is what it is. But … there is more to that title than just the initial reaction or meaning in it.

For your convenience, I’ve given you the link to Fan Mail in case you might be interested. I am hoping you are. As always, thank you for following along on my journey as a writer. I’d love to hear your comments and thoughts, so please use the area below this to post them. Until next time …

A car bomb, letters that become more menacing as they are ignored, and a father’s heart attack. What else could possibly go wrong?

“Very powerful. Tough. Gritty. Character development is remarkable. Lewis cuts deep as he tackles teen sexuality questions as well as dangerous stalkers. The story explodes with tension and strength, reflective of the personalities involved. Highly recommend it!”

Sharon K. Middleton, author of The McCarron Mysteries

“An emotionally explosive and life-affirming coming of age story wrapped within a simmering crime thriller.”

Bella Wright, BestThrillers.com

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3eNgSdS