Shreveport novelist releases second book in crime series
Novelist James L. “Jim” Wilson of Shreveport has interviewed several real-life treasure hunters over the years and found they all had one thing in common: “A vision – illusion, perhaps? – of vast riches buried in the very next hole they dig.” That is the springboard for his second novel in the “Adam Manship Inquiry” series, inspired by tales of $300 million of gold hidden in central Louisiana.
The new release, “Divining Jesse D.,” has been praised for its strong dialogue and twisting story.
More about the plot:
In 1992, a crazed treasure hunter, Jesse Dowden, claims to have killed notorious outlaw John A. Murrell and found $300 million in gold that Murrell hid in the Kisatchie Hills. Dowden’s claims are full of problems, however. Murrell, known as the father of the first organized criminal network in America, died in 1844, gunned down by a U. S. Marshall, and Murrell’s buried treasure has been largely debunked. Adam Manship, a wealthy Georgia media mogul, sends a team of journalists to Louisiana to investigate. As they dig deep, they unearth a story of murder, mad illusions and treasures of an unexpected kind.
The fictional Adam Manship inquiries, the basis for the series, were conducted over a 25-year span by investigative journalists. Manship, with his insatiable curiosity, is the galvanizing character and calls his assignments “inquiries.” The stories are for his personal use only, never for print, and allowed to be told only after his death. The question in each novel: Why is this billionaire media mogul interested in seemingly insignificant events and odd people?
“Divining Jesse D.” is available in paperback and digital formats on Amazon. The first book in the “Adam Manship Inquiry” series is “Killing Bobby R.,” and Wilson has begun writing the third in the series.
About the author:
Wilson is also the author of the biography, “Clementine Hunter: American Folk Artist,” and a collection of short stories, “The Charm and Other Stories.” He is a former stage and film director, journalist and advertising executive.
Don’t miss upcoming free Children’s Book Festival
Mark your calendar for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 7: Shreve Memorial Library has come up with a super lineup of authors for its free Children’s Book Festival at LSU-Shreveport. Among those scheduled is mega-popular author R.L. Stine, award-winning and internationally bestselling author of the “Goosebumps” and “Fear Street” series. The “Goosebumps” series, which sold more than 400 million copies in the United States, is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
Other authors scheduled: Jennifer L. Holm, three-time Newberry Honor recipient and NYT bestselling author of “Our Only May Amelia,” “Penny from Heaven,” and “Turtle in Paradise,” and co-author of the graphic novel series.
“Babymouse,” “Sunny” and “Squish”(now streaming on HBO MAX); Kwame Mbalia, NYT bestselling author of the “Tristan Strong” series, co-author of “The Last Gate of the Emperor” and editor of the New York Times bestselling anthology, “Black Boy Joy;” Brenda Maier, author of picture books, “The Little Red Fort,” “Peeping Beauty,” and “The Little Blue Bridge.”
More: Want to meet R.L. Stine? Goosebumps author to headline Shreveport book festival
Festival attendees will have an opportunity to meet authors, get autographs and see stories brought to life on stage. Treat the children in your life—and yourself—to this awesome event.
Booth space available
Deadline is April 21 for local authors and illustrators to reserve fest booth space; 10x10 booths are $25. For more information, contact Emily Horan at (318) 226-4980 or ehoran@shreve-lib.org. Community groups, organizations and businesses are invited to join Literacy Lane, a special area of the Children’s Book Festival where community partners will promote a love of reading and lifelong learning. Organizations are encouraged to sign up for free booth space to provide a free activity or game for children. For more info, contact Samantha Bonnette at (318) 213-4992 or sbonnette@shreve-lib.org.
Christian fiction writers offer workshop
The American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Louisiana chapter will hold its 7th Annual Aspiring Writers Workshop from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. May 14 at Barksdale Baptist Church, 1714 Jimmie Davis Highway, Bossier City. If you’re interested in learning about writing and interacting with published local Christian authors, this is a great free opportunity.
Romance author Betsy St. Amant of Shreveport will discuss her method of building characters who will live in the reader’s mind after the final page, and a panel of local authors will talk about story-crafting theory and techniques. (I’ve taken a writing class from St. Amant, and she’s a great teacher.)
The day will also include hands-on instruction to help attendees write short stories and will feature the 2022 anthology, “Second Chances: A Collection of Diverse Short Stories” by area authors. The eBook edition is free at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1130145. Print copies will be available for purchase at the workshop and are available at Amazon.
The collection includes: C.D. Sutherland, “Pop, Death, & the Devil,” Judy Burford, “The Journey;” Eileen K. Copeland, “The Fisher;” Beverly Flanders, “The Promise;” Carole Lehr Johnson, “A Chance in Time;” Susan Hiers Foster, “Goodbye Mrs. Kravitz;” Tammy Kirby, “Second Chance Daddy;” Marguerite Martin Gray, “Loyalties Severed;” and Mary Lou Cheatham, “Deborah.”
For additional info, contact Ken Aclin, kenaclin@gmail.com. And take a sack lunch if you attend—you’ll be talking about writing straight through lunch.
Columnist Judy Christie is the author of 18 novels and nonfiction books. With NYT bestselling author Lisa Wingate, she co-authored “Before and After: The Incredible Real-Life Stories of Orphans Who Survived the Tennessee Children’s Home Society,” the nonfiction sequel to Wingate’s novel “Before We Were Yours.” For more about Christie, see www.judychristie.com.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Shreveport novelist Jim Wilson releases second book in crime series
