Featured Interview With Author Joseph Lewis
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up poor in a family of ten with one income. But it was a happy home and one I’d never trade. My interest in writing began in sixth grade and grew from there. I took screenwriting courses, creative writing courses, and at age 60, my first of ten books was published. I’ve been married for 33 years and have raised three wonderful children. Unfortunately, my son is deceased, but my two daughters are married, and my wife and I have one grandson and another on the way. We grew up in Wisconsin, but now reside in Virginia. I am finally retired after 49 wonderful years in education as a teacher, coach, counselor, and administrator. And my wife and I share our home with two rescue dogs, a Golden Retriever named Daisy and a Beagle mix named Stella.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
During elementary school, I would wait for my father to pick me up on his way home from work. My school was across from the public library, and I would wander the stacks until a book cover and blurb attracted me to a book that looked and sounded interesting. I would sit on the floor between the rows of books and read. Many times, my father would have to hunt for me, but he never complained. I wrote my first short story after watching the movie Stand By Me, and it was published in 1987. My first book, Taking Lives, Prequel to the Lives Trilogy, was published when I was 60 in the summer of 2014. I had actually wanted to be a singer/songwriter, but that dream fizzled out shortly after high school and during my first year in college. I still sing, though. Instead of giving a principal address at my high schools commencement ceremony, I would pick a song that fit the class or a song that had meaning to me, and I would sing it to them. Years after a class would graduate, I still have parents and students who see me and remark that they remember “their song.” That makes me incredibly happy.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Oh man, there are so many! Stephen King because he is undeterred and unafraid of laying it all out there. His descriptions and settings are by far the best in the business. Joan Livingston and her Isabel Long Mystery series are a fun read. Gary Gerlacher, Cam Torrens, and Brian Kaufman, authors out of the same publishing house as me, write fun, interesting stories. David Baldacci and John Sandford have interesting characters, and their books always have a dark twist or two. I read in my writing genre, which is thriller-crime-mystery, but stray out of it especially when another author asks me to read and review their work, something I enjoy doing. In my writing, I explore the themes of love, family belonging, and death, all mixed into a tight thriller mystery. I think that’s why I have a strong and loyal fanbase. They like the realism in my characters, their actions and their dialogue.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
Black Yéʼii (The Evil One) comes from the Navajo Nation. A Yéʼii is a spiritual deity, and in the Navajo culture, there are many. However, there is one they never speak of, and even refrain from saying the name. By doing so, they feel that “the evil one” will come into their lives and cause harm. In my book, Black Yéʼii does, and it causes harm to many- both knowing and unknowing. I think several of the reviews captured my book nicely: Cam Torrens wrote, “On one side, unconditional familial love supported by the camaraderie of law enforcement. On the other? Guns, drugs, and hatred. Black Yé’ii stages an epic battle between good and evil.” Sublime Book Reviews wrote, “Black Yé’ii explores both the darker side of human nature and the positive theme of family and friendship.” And, Brian Kaufman wrote, “Gang revenge in a small Wisconsin town – a prescription for tense action sequences – elevated by the nuances of a psychological thriller. The novel features two kinds of family – the supportive kind that rests on unconditional love, and the toxic kind that binds gangs, which is a stark contrast and befits a battle between good and evil.”
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