J. A. Landry
James A. Landry
James is a book writer from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, now living in Raleigh, North Carolina. His storytelling and a rich and checkered life add up to adventurous tales that immerse the reader in entertaining journeys and into the minds of his main characters. The pulp-style fiction he wrote early on was so well-received in his first two novels (“Fool Star,” “Eaves Drop”) that it became his forté, and dark, yet comedic textures and sub-plots became and kept his interest. Naturally, he is a Quentin Tarantino fan.
Landry was born into a journalist, sports, and music family, and he learned very early on about his love for writing in those subjects (“Pronator,” “On Me || On Music”) and more. Through this love of writing, his photojournalist father introduced him to and coached him along, and consequently, his son began reading adult novels, such as “Black Like Me” and “The Illustrated Man” when he was just nine years old. His dad’s example also compelled a young James to delve into the family encyclopedias and dictionaries. As a young adult, music was a huge part of his life, but he continued to write. He took a shine to Information Science Architecture (“Planet Fix,” Solitary Refinement”) and opened a consultancy of his own. He was soon, once again, settled full-time in writing.
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Personally, from James
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My first pulp-style fiction is “Fool Star,” a survivor’s tale from an insider about sex, drugs, and rock and roll on the road and in the studio. My second pulp-style fiction, titled “Eaves Drop,” is a contemporary murder mystery.
The contemporary fantasy fiction “Above Beyond” is a good (heavenly) versus evil (hellish) story told like never before.
The story “Solitary Refinement” is somewhat futuristic; the time frame 2025 to beyond 2036. It involves a hero saving the Earth and its inhabitants from ugly politics, government corruption, and big oil.
Finally, “Pronator” is a feel-good baseball story of contemporary fiction. I was born into a baseball family: My Godfather is Jimmy Piersall of the Boston Red Sox, who came up with Ted Williams. So, a baseball book was inevitable.
The book, titled “On Me | On Music,” is my only non-fiction, but it may not be my last: Writing it was fun and different for me. The book is a memoir that covers my learning and working in the music business.
My latest, “Breightman Parish,” is about a man and a witch, inside the integration between a one-hundred-ninety-nine Wiccan witch community and a quiet farming town.
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I enjoyed a long career as a professional musician from 1966 through 1988. I toured the country, logging more than 250,000 miles with one rock and roll outfit, playing in fourteen states, performing in some two-hundred-forty cities and towns. The band and I landed a No. 1 spot on the Southeastern Billboard Charts, followed by three other top 10 singles. I have also toured New England and the Maritime Provinces, performing with a regionally famous New Hampshire rock band. I continued my musicianship, collaborating in New England with area songwriters and working as a session drummer and producer through 2011.
At one point in my life, as a struggling artist, I enjoyed a successful career as a contractor with Information Sciences Architecture in the New York City metro area. Trains are handy getting in and out from northwestern Jersey. I was also an instructor and counselor at the famed Chubb Institute for Computer Technology. Through it all, I never lost my passion for writing and music.
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I enjoy listening to music and instrumental performance (Live and Studio Sessions). In addition to novel-length writing, freelance writing also interests me. I like hiking or walking, especially in natural wonders: I stroll along, nothing competitive. For entertainment, concerts, film, sports, and Smart-TV do it for me. A good party is always a high time for me.
Time with my family and my friends is most important to me. Keeping up with social media outside of book promotion and marketing takes a back seat.
