Interview with Author Joseph Lewis
After having been in education for forty-six years as a teacher, coach, counselor and administrator, Author Joseph Lewis is now semi-retired and work part-time as an online learning facilitator. He uses his psychology and counseling background to craft thriller/crime/detective mysteries. He has taken creative writing and screen writing courses at UCLA and USC.
Born and raised in Wisconsin, he is happily married to his wife, Kim. Together they have three wonderful children: Wil (deceased July 2014), Hannah, and Emily. Kim and Joseph reside in Virginia.
Tell me more about your latest book
Blaze In, Blaze Out is a bit of a departure for me. In my other books, my main protagonists are a patchwork family of adopted boys who carry baggage and trauma from their past. In BlazeI feature the three cops who have appeared in my other work. Two of the cops testify against and help put in prison the head of a crime family. They thought it was the ending, but it was only the beginning. From his prison cell, the crime lord orders a hit on the two cops, not only endangering their lives, but their families and several of the boys from the adopted family.
What was the most challenging aspect of writing this book?
Wanting to get it right! Police procedure and technique, the forensics work, and crime scene descriptions. For that, I relied heavily on a group of folks in the law enforcement community. However, the task is not to bore the reader to death on detail, but to make the story come alive! That’s the fun and interesting part for me.
What is your normal procedure to get your books published?
Fortunately, I have a publisher- Black Rose Writing- who has given me a home for my work. They’ve published all eight books, and I believe my ninth, which is just completed, will also have a home with them.
Do you view writing as a kind of spiritual practice?
Great question. I don’t view it as a spiritual practice, but I view it as a fun and interesting way to relieve stress and strain of every day life. I suppose that is why one chooses books to read, movies to watch, and music to listen to. Each day I look forward to writing. I spend between one and two hours writing, generally in the evening.
How many books have you written so far?
I have 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 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 . I just completed Fan Mail, which is a coming of age book embedded in a gripping thriller.
What’s the best way to market your books?
I don’t know there is a best way. I can only go by what I do, which is to use social media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. I’ve used book tours and have had success with them. I also write two blogs. One is an inspirational blog I write once a week, and the other is from my author website.
How hard or easy is it to establish and maintain a career in writing?
That’s a challenging question! I think if one writes, one has a writing career. Now, will it sustain you financially? For most of us, no. We have other means of employment. There are some who write for a living. I wish I were one of those, but sadly, I can say I’m not there yet.
What is your advice for aspiring writers?
Pick up a copy of Stephen King’s On Writing and read it cover to cover, and then read it again. Second, write every day. It doesn’t have to be long or particularly good. Third, read. Like Kin says, if you don’t read, you won’t have the tools to write. I think reading is to writing like weight-training is to athletics. You can’t do one well without the other.
Visit Author Joseph Lewis book 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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