John Lack

With everything going on in the world, it’s good to take some time to absorb a positive message while having a few laughs. These are my stories. I’m hoping that you make them your stories.

My writings are about life, our successes, our struggles, and the things that make all of us human.

I invite you to check out one of my more recent books, “Negotiating Puberty.”

Francis Flanders came of age on the familiar streets of Paebety, South Dakota. From day one, he could lay claim to being the youngest in his class at Paebety Elementary School. Being the biggest child in school made him easy to notice. But it wasn’t his size, or his age that made Francis a noteworthy lad. It was how he bargained his way through adolescence that makes him worthy of note. A boy who braved the loneliness of growing up and negotiated soul-saving settlements with his heritage, friendships, authority, the ten commandments, war, relationships, drugs and fidelity, while coming to terms with a candid assessment of his own shortcomings. And he did it all, without the help of the internet.

I’m often asked, “Why does so much of your writing and storytelling highlight strong female characters?” The opportunity to create the strong-willed, precision oriented, math genius, Tempest’s Arrck, is why I love to write. Inventing characters like Annie Davis in “The Context of My Life,” Thelma Nature, of “Thelma’s Chance,” or Sarah Thompson in “Negotiating Puberty” was also a joy.

I hope you are just as pleased with my male protagonists and that you enjoy their stories as well. Dr. David Paine’s post-mortem journey in “The Other Side of the Kneeler," and John Davis’s potholed path to adulthood in "The Context of My Life," will fulfill you as a reader as much as it did me as a writer. The challenges and deception faced by Richard Heiding and Richard Feinding in “Heiding Fortunes, Feinding Truths,” will keep you riveted in what is my attempt at a Dickensian novel. Whether you are following my men or women, I hope you enjoy reading all my characters.

Let me give you a little more detail about my works. The following are the book jacket blurbs and other insights into my eleven works of fiction.

Here is what you can expect with "Thelma's Chance."

As the handywoman of choice for the small town of Bassville, Thelma Nature was known and trusted by the community. The poor, widowed mother of one was also known for the loss of her newlywed husband. Fred Nature’s untested heart could not withstand the throes of consummating their marriage. The seemingly healthy young man died on their wedding night. The vacuum left by his untimely death defined the next thirteen years of her life. Mother Nature abhorred that vacuum. But Thelma always knew that someday her life would change for the better. Although not taken by fanfare or folly, she had a dream. She had a dream of a better life. Then one day, that dream came true.

With a parochial school upbringing and experiences gained through an affiliation to the funeral home industry, I was equipped with enough knowledge to weave a not so dark and delightful tale. In "The Other Side of the Kneeler", you will go on a journey as seen through the eyes of Dr. David Paine, a psychiatrist for a fine wine importer in North Texas. Dr. Paine foretells his death in the first lines of the book. He dies shortly thereafter and narrates his entire story as a spirit, occupying his friend’s funeral home. Dr. Paine chronicles being prepared, waked and tops it all off by recalling a memorable funeral at Our Lady of the Bad Haircut Church.

"The Context of My Life" was forty-six years in the development and five years in the writing. This was actually my very first book, but being an Independent Author and anxious to protect my prime story, I published six other titles to ensure I had the process locked-in before taking this on. Now in December 2019, it's time to offer this story to the public. John Davis is a young man with some significant faults which he refers to as his shortcomings. The story follows John through a potholed path to adulthood and chronicles his growth in dealing with these often uncontrollable flaws. At its heart is a love story that blossoms between John Davis and his first true love.

Perhaps you might be interested in some input concerning my novel Tempest's Arc. Growing up in a small town, I became steeped in the structure and norms of small town society. A passion for mathematics also brings a familiarity with the high ground from which to effectively assault that field of study. These inputs provide the raw material for "Tempest’s Arc". The book focuses on the main character, Tempest Arrck, her love for math and the deep feelings she has for her lifelong friend Caleb Baxter. The story follows Tempest’s battles to bring precision to what she perceives as an imprecise world. The young woman’s very principled positions will bring a smile to your face, although her pointed opinions often bring frowns to her math teachers. While appearing to focus attention on the disparities of modern mathematics, she is in reality lashing out against the deceit and fiction that underpins her life.

"Our Second Chance Mary" is considerably less irreverent, but also contains significant religious overtones. The novel highlights the timeless lesson that we are all better off when we push anger from our hearts and act better towards one another. The story line drives home the important message in an entertaining and creative way. Here is the book jacket content: Disabled, alone and angry, an unheralded eighteenth century author is driven by anguish and isolation to make a most egregiously flawed choice of targets to focus his ire. Overcome by a perceived lack of fairness, Oren Worley, failed to remember that it was he, not God, who would one day face an ultimate day of judgment. Poised to endure an eternity of suffering in order to reconsider his short-sightedness, a ray of hope shines through to make the case for leniency. An angelic intervener ordained with divine credentials comes forward to defend the writer’s worthiness and secure his destiny. A second chance for life. A second chance to be heard. A second chance for redemption.

Another one of my fictional titles with a meaningful message is, "Genes Skunks and Heroes". From his initial brush with mortality, Allen Hayes adopted the unsupportable belief that he would be the first person to escape the inevitability of death. A poorly founded conviction for sure, but more a matter-of-fact opinion than a fanatical obsession. A bizarre series of events combine to deliver him to the doorstep of a life altering decision. The young man is faced with a choice to knowingly put his own life in mortal peril to forever change the path of humanity for the better. The trials of his ordeal imbue him with an unparalleled perspective. His unique viewpoint provides a platform for him to consider the question; What has to happen for people to treat each other better? The difference between the enabling of a quality life and the mere duration of a lifetime, frames the eternal question only he can answer.

Secrets and the influence of an unnamed paranormal gift compel John Hoff in my most recent novel "Graveyards Courtyards and a Two Person Two Act Play." John Hoff had a gift. At least he thought he might have a gift. He wasn’t certain where or when he received that gift. He wasn’t even certain that the capability really existed. Despite the lack of clarity, whenever the spirit moved him, John would offer a transitory reprieve to anyone who had already passed on. At first, the brief holidays from eternal boredom would take the form of a simple bike ride or a day on the ski slopes. Then John’s engagements with the spirit world changed. But for all his secrets, John Hoff was an unusually normal young man. An unusually normal young man indeed.

"Heiding Fortunes, Feinding Truths: A Tale of Two Richards" is a serious Dickensian style work. The novel features two stories, linked by a nameless clandestine enterprise operating in the shadows, secretly steering society with a benevolent invisible hand. The book follows two men, each defined by a single traumatic event, both finding themselves unknowingly dragged into a lifetime of service. The story compares and contrasts a 19th century view of a world of wealth, poverty, inheritance and deception, with a modern cautionary tale highlighting the current state of forthright communications and biased messaging. One story highlights the curious path taken prior to the entry of the enterprise into Richard Heiding’s life. One account defines the lasting impact that Richard Feinding’s actions have on us all. Richard Heiding succeeds by overcoming the harsh realities of his destiny. Richard Feinding overcomes insurmountable loss by forgiving his accusers and following his heart. Inspired by the works of Charles Dickens. Made current through the events that define our modern existence. Dedicated to Independent Authors everywhere. “It’s in vain to recall the past, unless it works some influence upon the present.” Charles Dickens

The laws of economics get taken for a spin with "Scarcity Bites." I would love to tell you more, but have run out of characters for my bio.

Try one or try them all. They are available in paperback or as an ebook. Also, please check out my Goodreads posting.

JOHN LACK BOOKS, LLC All Rights Reserved