Fan MailOne Sentence Pitch:
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.
Short Blurb:
A car bomb, threatening letters, and a heart attack cause the once tight-knit and supportive family of adoptive brothers to turn on each other. Can Detectives Graff, O'Connor and Eiselmann solve who is behind it before the family is torn apart? Before anyone is seriously injured? Before one or more of the boys die?
Long 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?
Purchase Link:
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fan-Mail-Joseph-Lewis-ebook/dp/B0BLNTBTMG/
US - https://www.amazon.com/Fan-Mail-Joseph-Lewis-ebook/dp/B0BLNTBTMG/
Extract from Fan Mail by Joseph Lewis
When I wrote this book, 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.
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 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.
After having been in education for forty-six years as a teacher, coach, counselor and administrator, Joseph Lewis has semi-retired and now works part-time as an online learning facilitator. He uses his psychology and counseling background to craft thriller/crime/detective mysteries, and has taken creative writing and screen writing courses at UCLA and USC.
Lewis has published eight books, all available on Amazon and each to excellent reviews: Taking Lives (May 2021) the prequel to the Lives Trilogy; Stolen Lives (May 2021) Book One of the Lives Trilogy is a BestThrillers 1st Place Award Winner for Crime Fiction, and a Literary Titan Gold Book Award Winner; Shattered Lives (May 2021) Book Two of the Trilogy; and Splintered Lives (May 2021) Book Three of the Trilogy (May 2021); Caught in a Web (April 2018), which was a PenCraft Literary Award Winner for Crime Fiction and named “One of the Best Crime Fiction Thrillers of 2018!” by Best Thrillers; Spiral Into Darkness (January 2019), which was named a Recommended Read by Author’s Favorites; Betrayed November 2020 is a Top Shelf Award 1st Place Fiction-Mystery; Top Shelf Award Runner-Up Fiction-Crime; PenCraft Award 1st Place Winner, Maxy Award Runner-Up for Mystery-Suspense, a Literary Titan Silver Book Award Winner, and a Reader’s Favorite 5 Star Rating Winner; Blaze In, Blaze Out January 2022 has already won a Literary Titan Gold Book Award, A Reader’s Favorite Recommended Read, and was an Editor’s Pick by BestThrillers.com . Lewis has another thriller-crime-mystery, Fan Mail hitting the market March 30, 2023.
Born and raised in Wisconsin, Lewis has been happily married to his wife, Kim. Together they have three wonderful children: Wil (deceased July 2014), Hannah, and Emily. He and his wife now reside in Virginia.
Social Media Links –
Social Media Contact:
Author Website at https://www.jrlewisauthor.blog
Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/jrlewisauthor
Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Joseph.Lewis.Author
Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/Joseph-Lewis/e/B01FWB9AOI /
Blog at: https://www.simplethoughtsfromacomplicatedmindsortof.com
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