Chapter Development and Another Snippet from Fan Mail
A thriller-crime-fiction story by Joseph Lewis, Author
I’ve written before about how I craft my books. Each chapter needs to do one or two things, sometimes more, and if the chapter doesn’t propel the reader to the next chapter, it doesn’t work. If it doesn’t work, it needs to be rewritten.
A chapter might introduce you to a character or further develop a known character by delving into his or her thoughts and actions. Sometimes a chapter will describe, hopeful through conversation and action, a relationship that exists between one or more characters.
I’ve written before, and other authors echo these words (or perhaps I’m echoing their words), that a story is all about character. If the story, or in this case, a chapter, doesn’t have well-rounded, fleshed out characters, the story will be flat. I mean, you can only have so many car chases, bullets flying around, and bombs going off. Each of these elements need to be tied tightly to the whole, or you really don’t have a story. I’ve turned off many movies simply because I didn’t care about the characters, or maybe because I didn’t think the characters were realistic.
Fan Mail is my latest story about a stalker. This person is fixated on three teenage boys, two adopted brothers, Randy Evans and Bobby McGovern, and their best friend, Danny Limbach. These three boys, along with several other friends, are in a popular country rock band, Bits and Pieces named after the popular Dave Clark Five song. The fan mail starts innocent enough, but boys being boys, they ignore the letters.
The letters become aggressive, threatening, and at least one contains a foreign substance. There is a car bomb that may or may not be tied to the letters. There is so much stress in the Evans family, that the boys’ father, Jeremy, has a heart attack, and this event threatens to pull apart the close knit family. The boys point fingers at one another, and at least one, Brian, blames himself for his father’s heart event.
You and I know there is never just one thing that causes something like that, but teenagers often are far too critical of themselves and each other. They place the blame, warranted or not, on themselves. We might have seen that in ourselves, and those of us who work with kids for a living, see it all the time.
In this snippet from Fan Mail, Jeremy’s heart attack has already occurred. Brian drove three of his brothers, Billy, George, and Two to the hospital. A detective friend of the family, Pat O’Connor, led them there for safety’s sake. While he is close to each of the boys in the family, O’Connor and Brian are much closer, having a big-little brother relationship.
CHAPTER FOUR
It had been uncomfortably quiet on the ride to the hospital. Brian held onto Billy’s forearm for most of the trip, unless he turned or changed lanes. Billy stared out the side window, as did George and Michael.
There was little traffic, so Brian had no trouble following O’Connor. They arrived at the large hospital complex, and Brian pulled to the curb and dropped the three boys off, saying, “I’ll go park the truck.”
“Do you want us to wait for you?” George asked.
Brian shook his head and said, “No, go inside and find the others. I’ll catch up to you.”
George hesitated. He glanced at Billy and Two, who had crossed the road to the hospital emergency room, and then back at Brian.
“I’ll be okay, George,” Brian said. He tried to wear a smile, but it slipped off as quickly as it appeared.
George reached through the window, grasped Brian’s arm and said, “This is not your fault.”
Brian sighed and said, “You better catch up to Billy. I don’t want him by himself.”
Reluctantly, George turned and followed his two brothers. O’Connor stood outside the front door of the hospital, watching the scene at the truck.
George glanced back, watching Brian pull away and drive the short distance to the parking lot.
“Is he okay?”
George shook his head, but made no other comment. He entered the hospital, leaving O’Connor to wait for Brian.
Brian parked his truck in the visitor lot and sat quietly with his hands in his lap. There was no one else in the parking area, and that was okay with him.
His sat with his chin on his chest and his forehead on the steering wheel. As hard as he fought it, tears dribbled down his cheeks and along the side of his nose. He pushed his glasses up to wipe them away.
Despite what George had said, Brian knew he was at least partially to blame for his father’s heart attack, or whatever it was. A part of him wanted to leave. Just drive off and head anywhere.
There was a rap on the window. Brian didn’t look up because he knew who it was. He dried his eyes with his hands, and his hands on his jeans. He readjusted his glasses, took a deep breath, and opened the door. He got out and locked his truck by pushing the button on the key fob.
“Are you okay?”
Brian didn’t look at O’Connor. He nodded and tried to walk past him.
O’Connor took him by the shoulders and wrapped him in a hug. Brian broke down again and wept against O’Connor’s chest.
Pat let him for a minute and then took him by the shoulders so they could look at each other eye to eye.
“We don’t know anything yet.”
Brian nodded.
“I know you’re worried about your father, but there is something else bouncing around your head, isn’t there?”
Brian said nothing.
O’Connor said, “You’ve held it together this long. You’ll need to hold it together a little longer. You’ve got to be tough for your brothers and your mom.”
Brian nodded again.
“Can you do that?”
Brian nodded.
Then O’Connor smiled and said, “You’re a tough young man, Bri.”
“I don’t feel tough.” O’Connor hugged him and said, “Tough guys never feel tough. They just are.”
—
Fan Mail won a Maxy Finalist Award, a Literary Titan Silver Book Award, and a Reader’s Favorite Five Star Award. It was also an Eric Hoffer Award Nominee. Below are some reviews and a purchase link for your convenience.
I would love to hear your thoughts, so please use the comment section below. As always, thank you for following along on my writing journey. Until next time …
“It (Fan Mail) raises questions on whether integrity deters one from breaking rules, if a leader must have followers, and whether speaking truth and integrity makes one strong.” -Okoko Ayezu Tamarapreye, Influencer & Reviewer
“An intense emotional rollercoaster ride, written with immense detail to feelings and dialogue, with a constant thread of mystery that holds you to the end to find out what happens. Excellent writing.” -International Writers Inspiring Change
“Lewis takes after authors such as C.J. Box, James Patterson, and David Baldacci, as he immerses readers in his characters by having them in reoccurring roles and appearing throughout each of his books.” -TheAuthorSpot.com
“The writing is top-notch, with vivid descriptions and snappy dialogue that bring the story to life. It’s clear that the author put a lot of thought and care into crafting this tale, and their efforts have paid off.” -MD White, Bestselling author of The Influence of Military Strategies to Business
“Fan Mail masterfully explores brotherhood and healing while delivering a compelling crime thriller in this latest from Joseph Lewis.” -Sublime Book Review
“An emotionally explosive and life-affirming coming of age story wrapped within a simmering crime thriller.” -BestThrillers.com
“Tough. Gritty. 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 Middleton, author of the McCarron’s Corner series
“Fan Mail is a thrilling and suspenseful family mystery novel…a page-turning mystery touching different parts of your heart at each turn.” -Literary Titan
“Starts with a bang and does not stop its relentless shrapnel barrage until you are crying with the characters. Fabulous job by the author. You want to read this one.” -Tina O’Hailey, author of Dark Drink
“Fan Mail is like a mirror held up to contemporary society, brilliantly reflecting and portraying our lives, struggles, troubles, delicate relationships, and so much more.” -Readers’ Favorite
“An interesting coming-of-age novel with a dark twist. Looking forward to the next one.” -Joan Livingston, author of the Isabel Long Mystery Series
“Short chapters, fast-paced, and terrific attention to telling details combined with a strong plot and great characters added up to a satisfying read. Thanks for another excellent story!” -Karen E. Osborne, author of Reckonings and Tangled Lies
Barnes & Noble Link: https://bit.ly/3CRNHya
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3eNgSdS
