Synopsis

During a span of four inquisitive years, Wendall, an overly curious teen, has his view of the world transformed by a colorful cast of small-town characters. Some are mentors; others are tormentors. However, each one thoroughly comprehends a specific facet of human nature: happiness, manipulation, and saying no, just to name a few.

But Wendall isn’t just a passive student. He gets his hands dirty when his father transplants the family to a rundown farm and soon finds himself up against a sadistic psychopath, a con man, and a close friend who has attempted suicide.

Wendall’s adventures add some fun and entertainment, which balance and reinforce the seriousness of the lessons being taught throughout the story.

Amazon * B&N * BAM * Indigo

Praise

“An inspiring story about a teenage boy, Wendall, and his journey to discovering the importance of self-respect and understanding of human nature. The book is full of life lessons, stories of kindness and empathy, as well as a serious look into the issue of bullying. It is a great read for all ages, full of heartwarming moments and valuable lessons.” –  Johnston316, OnlineBookClub.org

“I rate it 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to young adults and lovers of books that share life lessons through short tales.” – Roy Nick, OnlineBookClub.org

Read an Excerpt Here

Interview with the Author

How did you do research for your book?

No formal research. I pulled everything from my experiences and people I have met.

Which was the hardest character to write? The easiest?

Hardest: Mrs. Brown – a combination of several incredible women.

Easiest: Rance Hill – an unforgettable, real-life monster.

How did you come up with the idea for your book?

The idea of the book came from patients asking me in the ER from what book I learned the 3Bs (my own description of manipulation). I wrote my book for people like them – struggling to deal effectively with other people in their lives.

Where do you get inspiration for your stories?

Helping others and the potential to help people I will never know.

There are many books out there about self-help. What makes yours different?

Most self-help books are full of good advice and information but they are mundane and read like a college psychology text – not fun or particularly enjoyable to read. I have implanted my self-help lessons in a story line with memorable characters. Remember the characters, and you will remember the lessons.

What advice would you give budding writers?

Write and then rewrite and then refine it again. The more you write and review sometimes-embarrassing edited versions of your work, the better writer you will become.

Your book is set in Benson, Kansas. Have you ever been there?

It is set in a fictional town. I grew up in a town in northwest Oklahoma very similar to Benson.

Do you ever get writer’s block? What helps you overcome it? 

Yes. Two cures: 1) Just type down the thoughts of whatever topic you are confronting without worrying about coming up with the perfect line. You can always sift through it later. 2) Walk on a treadmill and think about what you want to say. Then stop and jot down lines or segments of lines as needed.

What is your next project?

A follow up book: Mentors and Tormentors in Medicine – the story of Wendall’s medical school and residency adventures.

About the Author

Tim Jones, M.D.  is a board certified family physician currently practicing full-time ER medicine in rural Texas. He is happily married with four grown daughters and five grandsons. He and his wife also have a toy poodle, who has more followers than Tim on his Facebook account. He enjoys fine art acrylic painting, but it has recently taken a back seat to his pursuit of writing.

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