In Print

The debut of a major new writing talent is always a notable event and Vero Beach readers are lucky to be among the first to meet James Reese, author of the historical thriller, The Book of Shadows (William Morrow, $25.95).

The story behind the novel is as intriguing as the book itself. Reese was a student at the University of Notre Dame when he was invited to join a team working on the restoration of a dilapidated 17th century chateau on the Brittany coast. While involved in the project, he chanced upon a cache of letters, journals and ledgers that revealed the history of the chateau and its owners. It was this discovery that became the basis of the plot for The Book of Shadows.

Upon his return to the U.S., Reese settled in New Orleans, where he worked at an art museum. He researched the background to his story in his spare time, then left the Big Easy for Key West, where he wrote by day and earned a sparse living at night waiting tables. He completed his 480-page saga in 18 months and then – a rare occurrence in the book world – immediately found a publisher.

Read the entire article in the March 2002 issue