Home
Welcome!
We’re looking forward to meeting again with folks in Houston to talk about Drew’s story, Never Cry Again. This time, we’ll be at Kroger Store #309 in North Houston, Champion Forest and Cypresswood, 10AM to 3PM.
See You There!!
/////
Big News!!! You can now order your autographed and endorsed copy of Never Cry Again directly from the author!! Check out the BUY IT NOW tab on the menu at the top of this page!! Follow the prompts, order the book, and….
RECEIVE A $5 CASH REBATE WHEN YOUR BOOK IS DELIVERED!!
(August and September, 2017, only)
////
The Kroger Store signings are good fun. Folks have brought us cookies from the Starbucks, and even brought their cute puppies in to see us. Whoo-Hoo!!
To all those who stopped by to visit and talk about Never Cry Again, THANKS!
/////
If you don’t yet have a copy, but are interested in what all the “BUZZ” is about, look at the “Previews of Never Cry Again” (see the menu bar). You can read the first five chapters, FREE.
Fair warning!! You’re likely to get hooked.
/////
“Never Cry Again is sure to break your heart and make you believe that you can overcome any odds”—www.outrageouslywonderful.com
“…excellent character development, perfect editing…nicely incorporated backdrop…a flawless book…perfect 4 out of 4 stars”–onlinebookclub.org
“An engaging coming of age tale…part Huckleberry Finn and part Stand by Me”–Kirkus Reviews
Click on the posts and read the full reviews!
Already have a copy, but it’s not signed? Bring it to Kroger’s for an autograph and personal endorsement!
/////
Never Cry Again was presented at the Victoria Public Library’s annual ‘Friends of the Library’, Sunday, April 30, 2017:
NOTICE: If you live within 200 miles of Victoria, Texas, and would like to schedule me to come and visit with your high school, book club or library, contact me via email, jim@colemines.com
/////
SYNOPSIS of the Sequel to Never Cry Again:
(Estimated Publication: Late 2018)
NEVER GIVE UP (Current Working Title)
(Synopsis updated August 6, 2017)
By Jim Cole
Presenting 12 years in the life of a multi-racial family, set against the backdrop of 1960s racial unrest, the murder of a president, and national turbulence as the United States cascades toward, and becomes involved in, an unwanted and unnecessary war in Southeast Asia.
Drew Neilan and his wife, Kowanda, a descendent of Hawaiian Japanese-Americans, after 7 years of childless marriage, decide that their destiny is to adopt. They take the opportunity to adopt a mixed-race orphan boy, whose black father and white mother were murdered by racists. A month later, they become pregnant. Ultimately, two boys and a girl are added to their family of four children.
Drew and Kowanda, living in Washington, D. C. at the time of Elton’s, Charly’s and Thomas’ births are hardly noticed by their neighbors. People of color and multi-racial families, in the late 1950s in Washington, are generally accepted. But when Drew resigns his position as a ranking Civil Rights attorney working in the West Wing, accepts a partnership with a prominent Dallas law firm, and moves his family to Dallas’ Oak Cliff area, he and Kowanda discover that racial prejudice in the South is far from dead. and that they are indeed considered “mixed race”.
When the Neilan’s first arrive in Dallas in 1959, they discover that even though Brown vs. Board of Education, outlawed school segregation in 1954, Dallas’ schools are still segregated. A private-citizen lawsuit, with Thurgood Marshall as lead attorney and Drew, working in the background, leads the following year to the Dallas Independent School District being ordered by Federal Court to institute “stair-step” racial integration of schools (i.e., one grade each year until all 12 grades are desegregated). Drew’s sons will go to separate schools–Elton, now in the second grade, attends a black public school while Charly, 10 months younger, attends a white school in a desegregated first grade.
White supremacists in Dallas are infuriated by the presence of a well-to-do “mixed-race” family, especially one led by an attorney and friend of both Thurgood Marshall and President Lyndon Johnson. They conspire to eliminate the Neilan family from their midst. Protecting his family becomes Drew’s primary focus as Kowanda moves into a political career at the urging of President Lyndon Johnson and First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson.
The story contains scenes from Drew’s earlier life, as he finally learns his mother had committed two murders in addition to her other misdeeds. Along the way Drew learns the identity of his father and discovers a brother he never knew. Martin, only six months younger than Drew, and uncle to Drew’s four children, becomes more important to the family than they would have believed.
/////
January 28, 2016 at 10:55 pm
I could see the picture as you were painting it with your words as if it were a movie in front of me. Well done.
February 15, 2016 at 10:43 am
Each sentence, no each word, left me hungering for the next. Great read.
February 20, 2016 at 9:24 am
Don’t know where you found the photo at the beginning of Chapter 1, but it eerily portrays the ramshackle house where young Drew existed with his mother . Can almost hear the creaking of the front porch as Uncle Eugene shuffles in the front door for another visit with Edith
February 20, 2016 at 8:20 pm
Your writing simply mesmerizes me. The words you chose paints such a vivid picture of this skinny, little forlorn kid named Drew I felt I could reach out and hug him. He reminds me of many of the students I taught and what went on behind closed doors. Can’t wait for the next installment!!
March 6, 2016 at 5:33 pm
Each sentence keeps me wanting more. Such a amazing read that makes me feel like I’m there in the book!. Bravo 👏
Can’t wait to read more
March 13, 2016 at 10:14 am
Maude is Drew’s life vest during these early years of his turbulence and uncertainty. She keeps him afloat and does so in a loving way for she is his protective angel on earth. And her sweet spirit glows as she instills her love of GOD in Drew as they gather to worship and sing great gospel songs.
GOD’s Word tells us “Don’t neglect to open up your homes to guests, because by doing this some have been hosts to angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2)
March 13, 2016 at 11:05 am
I appreciate all comments, Thanks.
April 16, 2016 at 8:33 pm
A realistic portrayal of mother-son relationship. The mother is not much of a mother, it is amazing how the young lad accepts it. Masterfully done. I feel for both, the boy and his mother, and would love to know what happens to him in the next installment.
April 24, 2016 at 7:45 pm
What a tough life for the ten-year-old, and you have portrayed it well enough for us readers to love him, and hate Edith and Eugene. Can’t wait for the next installment.
April 24, 2016 at 9:40 pm
Wait until next weekend. Thanks for your comment.
May 11, 2016 at 12:15 pm
Hello! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow
you if that would be okay. I’m undoubtedly enjoying your blog and look forward
to new posts.
May 11, 2016 at 2:29 pm
Sorry, I don’t use Twitter. Glad you’re enjoying the blog. I post something new every weekend.
May 15, 2016 at 10:37 pm
Hi, Jim. Just started reading, now on Chapter 5, and I am enjoying it so much. Knew you wrote historical facts well, but your talent to tell a story is phenomenal. Even though we grew up in the 40s and 50s with relatively little, at least by today’s standards, of material things, we were blessed to grow up in Victoria with parents and friends who protected and cared for us. Unfortunately, many do not, in earlier days or today. Thank you for allowing us to share your talents, and I look forward to being able to buy the published work, and have the author sign it. It is good to be able to really get to know you and Marian as we share our interest in preserving our past.
May 18, 2016 at 10:12 am
Astonishingly well written and insightful for a freely available online editorial!
Kudos for this share!
May 20, 2016 at 5:43 pm
Appreciate you sharing, great forum post.Really thank you! Fantastic.
August 17, 2016 at 5:36 pm
Great read. I really love the main character . I look forward to read more of your work.
August 17, 2016 at 10:29 pm
Thanks for the comment, Cindy. The completed novel is available on Amazon.com, as e-book, soft cover, and hard cover.
October 15, 2016 at 1:13 am
Wow because this is excellent work! Congrats and keep it up. http://tinyurl.com/jjl3tn9
October 15, 2016 at 9:33 am
Thanks, Corene.
January 20, 2017 at 12:26 pm
Anticipation!
January 20, 2017 at 6:33 pm
Yea, Jodie! Yep, gonna keep you waiting!
April 7, 2017 at 3:55 pm
I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it up!
I’ll go ahhead and bookmark your website to come back
down the road. Cheers
April 16, 2017 at 9:09 am
Thanks for the comment Eloy.
July 23, 2017 at 12:53 am
Nice post, im ron spinabella, a freelance writer and blogger for various different websites
July 26, 2017 at 9:51 am
Fantastic goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous
to and you are just extremely excellent. I actually like what you have acquired here, certainly like what you’re stating
and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you
still take care of to keep it sensible. I can’t wait to read
far more from you. This is really a terrific website.
July 30, 2017 at 12:56 am
Hi there! This post could not be written any better! Looking at this
post reminds me of my previous roommate! He constantly kept talking
about this. I most certainly will forward this information to him.
Pretty sure he’s going to have a great read. Many thanks for sharing!
August 1, 2017 at 9:48 pm
Hi colleagues, its wonderful post regarding cultureand completely
defined, keep it up all the time.