I’m
not usually one to get all excited for Spring. Having lived in Wisconsin, I’ve
seen too many ugly winters prolonged into late March and April. Snow turns dark
and dirty. Slushy. Everything is wet, rather nasty. There is still a chill in the
air almost to May. Not a fan.
However,
since we’ve moved to Virginia, there is a difference. It gets warmer faster.
Snow doesn’t last or have a chance at becoming nasty. The sun is brighter, and
more of it, longer than in Wisconsin it seems. A few of our windows are open
year-round, but now there are more of them open, at least during the day. The
air smell fresh, clean.
I
wandered around our yard yesterday and spotted buds on our rose bushes. A few
on the trees, and those will become many in no time. We’ll begin mowing either
this week or next.
Life
is changing. Life is growing. Life is becoming. It begins, again!
This
past week was spring break, and Kim and I used it to travel to Wisconsin to see
her parents. We’ve not seen them in a year and a half, and phone calls, while
nice, don’t match physical contact that a visit can bring. All of us had both
Covid shots, and her nephew who lives with her parents had his second this past
Thursday. We also visited my brother and his wife, who had their two shots
also. We were safe. We’ve been conscious of our, and other’s, safety. Have to
be.
We
limited who we were around purposely, unable to see many we had intended to
see. Her parents are elderly, but in fairly good health. We had to be
responsible to and for them with how we interacted with others. Washed hands.
Masks. You know the routine.
Spring.
Show
of hands . . . how are those New Year’s resolutions coming? Are you still
working on them? I’m guessing there are more hands unraised than raised, mine
included. I think that is because it is harder to redo oneself in winter all
bundled up from the cold. It doesn’t matter if one works out in a nice, warm
gym. It seems to be a bit tougher, taking more time and effort.
We
had a dark, dark year. Covid, while not beaten back, is at least an arm’s
length away. It seems to be retreating as many are receiving their shots and as
many are following guidelines and safe practices.
Spring.
Now,
there are more people- young and old- out walking or jogging or riding bikes. There
seems to be more smiles, more talking taking place. Perhaps, people are
happier, but that could be my imagination.
Spring
brings us an opportunity for renewal. Spring gives us, like nature all around
us, an opportunity to be reborn.
Spring
brings us hope, and besides love, one cannot exist without hope. Hope leads to
faith. Hope leads to belief in oneself and in others. Hope gives us courage to
take on that which we might not in winter.
Spring
gives life an opportunity to begin again, once again. Birds build nests and lay
eggs. Their babies eventually take flight. Other animals are born once again. Life
is renewed; life begins again.
Perhaps
we can use this time, Spring, to move forward with purpose, with energy, and
with hope. So much hope. There is possibility and promise in Spring that isn’t
there at other times of year. Let’s use it for the better. Let’s use it for
each other, for ourselves. Let’s embrace the opportunity, the beginning, the
chance. The hope. Something to think about . . .
Live
Your Life, and Make a Difference!
To
My Readers:
Great
News!!!!!
I
signed a 4 Book Contract with Black Rose Writing to Re-Issue the Lives
Trilogy and Prequel! I am thankful to BRW for their continued belief
in me and in my writing. This past week, I re-edited all four books, Taking
Lives, Stolen Lives, Shattered Lives, and Splintered Lives.
I will keep you posted as to when they might be available for purchase on Amazon
and on Barnes and Noble.
More
Great News!!!!!
I
signed a contract with Black Rose Writing for my new book, Blaze In, Blaze
Out that will be published January 6, 2022! Like the others, it falls
in the thriller/mystery/crime genre, but this time around, it features my trio
of cops: O’Connor, Eiselmann, and Graff. It will be more cops than kids, though
you will always have a visit with the Evans Family! I will give you updates on
when it will be available for preorder, as well as provide snippets from the
book on my author website and Facebook.
Last
Bit of Great News!!!!!
During a recent promotion, Betrayed, earned a Best Sellers Rank in Traditional
Detective Mysteries on Amazon earning a high of #8 in Kindle Store (See
Top 100 in Kindle Store)
#1 in Traditional Detective Mysteries (Books)
#1 in Traditional Detective Mysteries (Kindle Store)
#8 in Crime Thrillers (Kindle Store)
So far, Customer Reviews: 4.2 out of 5
stars with 43 ratings. I’ll take it!
I have an author's
website, in addition to my Facebook Author’s Page.
On
it, I talk about writing. I introduce characters from my books. I release
snippets from those books. I let you in on any interviews I have done. I will
let you know of any events coming up for books sales and signings. Mostly, it
is my way of reaching out to you so that you get to know my author side of
life. You
can find it at: https://jrlewisauthor.blog/
Other
ways you can connect with me on Social Media:
Twitter at @jrlewisauthor
A
Five Star Review for my book, Betrayed:
“Having read all of Joe's books this is my
favorite. I truly couldn't put it down. It was exciting to watch how his
characters continue to grow up and develop in Betrayed. Although I suspect it
could be read in isolation, it is so much better having read all of his previous
books. It's a fast read that keeps you eager to turn to the next page. Thanks
for reminding us that the word family can be defined in so many ways and most
importantly that all kids, regardless of age or background deserve to be loved!” – KB
A Four Star Review for my book, Betrayed:
“The action keeps you reading and the emotions
get you thinking on all
and many things in life. Tough times and Friends.” – Jhari
Betrayed:
A Literary Titan Silver Book Award Winner! A Reader's Ready Recommended Read
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://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. 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, have no idea
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
The
bodies of high school and middle school kids are found dead from an overdose of
heroin and fentanyl. The drug trade along the I-94 and I-43 corridors and the
Milwaukee Metro area is controlled by MS-13, a violent gang originating from El
Salvador. Ricardo Fuentes is sent 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. 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, especially George or members of his
family. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CKF7696
Book
One of the Lives Trilogy, Stolen Lives:
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. http://tinyurl.com/Stolen-Lives-J-Lewis
Book
Two of the Lives Trilogy, Shattered Lives:
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. http://tinyurl.com/Shattered-Lives-J-Lewis
Book
Three of the Lives Trilogy, Splintered Lives:
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 can protect him or his family. And
he cannot protect himself or his family. http://tinyurl.com/Splintered-Lives-J-Lewis
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
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. http://tinyurl.com/Taking-Lives-J-Lewis
Photo
courtesy of Anders Jilden and Unsplash
