CONTACT TIM SHEARD
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
After working as a nurse, mainly in critical care, for close to twenty years, I began got to thinking about the patients I'd cared for and about the
co-workers I'd left behind looking for greener pastures. I wanted to tell the world about these wonderful, frail, noble, heroic people. About what they
endured and how they triumphed. And most of all, about what they meant to me, having never told them so at the time.
So at the ripe age of forty I began writing short pieces about my nursing experience. Sold a bunch of them to nursing journals and mainstream
magazines. It was exciting to see them in print. It made me feel connected in a weird sort of way.
After that I collected a whole bunch of stories into a collection, with a spine that traced my personal development, such as it was, plus my
marriage to my dear Mary and the birth and changes of my two fine sons, Matthew and Christopher. I tried for several years to sell that collection,
titled, The Cup of Human Kindness, but never landed an agent or a publisher.
My wife was a big mystery fan. She got me reading Holmes and Miss Marple and Nero Wolfe and lots of other characters. I decided to try my
hand at fiction, writing short mystery stories. There were many rejections, but also quite a few acceptances. I had a gig for while selling 350 word
Five Minute Mysteries to one of the weekly tabloids. That was a terrific learning experience, because I had to deliver a tight story on deadline. I sold
around 30 stories until they abandoned the format.
Finally, I decided to take the plunge and try a crime novel. But who would be my protagonist? I'd never worked in law enforcement, so I was
unprepared to write a police procedural. Had never worked as a private eye - that would have come off equally unrealistic. All my work experience
was in the hospital, so it had to be a medical mystery. And it would have to be an amateur sleuth; it was the only option left.
But who would be my hero? My favorite amateur sleuth was Miss Marple, Agatha Christie's redoubtable spinster detective, because she
appeared to be harmless and not terribly smart, but beneath her benign exterior was the mind of a cunning detective. Looking around the hospital
for a Miss Marple clone, I sat one day with a dear friend who worked as a janitor. He was also a fearless 1199 shop steward. My friend was telling
me yet another one of his inspiring stories about what he did to try and help a co-worker, not necessarily with a work rule infraction, but with a
personal problem as well, such as spouse abuse, immigration, addiction, and the like.
Looking at my janitor-shop steward friend, I realized it would be a simple for him to take on the role of detective, at least, in a fictional story. He
already had the trust of all the workers and quite a few supervisors in the hospital. Everyone talked to him, and everyone trusted him. And so my
first Lenny Moss novel was born. It even began with a real life incident I heard about: a white security guard searched the backpack of a young,
hot-headed black worker while allowing a white doctor to walk out with his bag unsearched. The young man became angry and threatened the
guard, which brought him disciplinary action and my friend's intervention.
What if the young black man was accused of something more than stealing hospital materials? What if he was wrongly accused of murder?
Who would come to his aid, organize workers to search for clues, and finally bring the killer to justice?
Only Lenny Moss, working class hero.
I have sold three Lenny Moss novels, all of which have received great revues. I have a forth manuscript completed. It only lacks a publisher.
With a robust list of fans, many of them activists in unions and medical organizations, I have opportunities for reviews, feature articles and
interviews, which will promote my sales. In additions, six CUNY colleges & universities have used my Lenny Moss novels in class and they are
eager to read a new novel. I only need a publisher who will print a trade paperback to see Lenny back in print. In the meantime, the first three books
are available from my website for only $10/book (plus shipping). Bulk orders for schools have a lower shipping rate.
After working as a nurse, mainly in critical care, for close to twenty years, I began got to thinking about the patients I'd cared for and about the
co-workers I'd left behind looking for greener pastures. I wanted to tell the world about these wonderful, frail, noble, heroic people. About what they
endured and how they triumphed. And most of all, about what they meant to me, having never told them so at the time.
So at the ripe age of forty I began writing short pieces about my nursing experience. Sold a bunch of them to nursing journals and mainstream
magazines. It was exciting to see them in print. It made me feel connected in a weird sort of way.
After that I collected a whole bunch of stories into a collection, with a spine that traced my personal development, such as it was, plus my
marriage to my dear Mary and the birth and changes of my two fine sons, Matthew and Christopher. I tried for several years to sell that collection,
titled, The Cup of Human Kindness, but never landed an agent or a publisher.
My wife was a big mystery fan. She got me reading Holmes and Miss Marple and Nero Wolfe and lots of other characters. I decided to try my
hand at fiction, writing short mystery stories. There were many rejections, but also quite a few acceptances. I had a gig for while selling 350 word
Five Minute Mysteries to one of the weekly tabloids. That was a terrific learning experience, because I had to deliver a tight story on deadline. I sold
around 30 stories until they abandoned the format.
Finally, I decided to take the plunge and try a crime novel. But who would be my protagonist? I'd never worked in law enforcement, so I was
unprepared to write a police procedural. Had never worked as a private eye - that would have come off equally unrealistic. All my work experience
was in the hospital, so it had to be a medical mystery. And it would have to be an amateur sleuth; it was the only option left.
But who would be my hero? My favorite amateur sleuth was Miss Marple, Agatha Christie's redoubtable spinster detective, because she
appeared to be harmless and not terribly smart, but beneath her benign exterior was the mind of a cunning detective. Looking around the hospital
for a Miss Marple clone, I sat one day with a dear friend who worked as a janitor. He was also a fearless 1199 shop steward. My friend was telling
me yet another one of his inspiring stories about what he did to try and help a co-worker, not necessarily with a work rule infraction, but with a
personal problem as well, such as spouse abuse, immigration, addiction, and the like.
Looking at my janitor-shop steward friend, I realized it would be a simple for him to take on the role of detective, at least, in a fictional story. He
already had the trust of all the workers and quite a few supervisors in the hospital. Everyone talked to him, and everyone trusted him. And so my
first Lenny Moss novel was born. It even began with a real life incident I heard about: a white security guard searched the backpack of a young,
hot-headed black worker while allowing a white doctor to walk out with his bag unsearched. The young man became angry and threatened the
guard, which brought him disciplinary action and my friend's intervention.
What if the young black man was accused of something more than stealing hospital materials? What if he was wrongly accused of murder?
Who would come to his aid, organize workers to search for clues, and finally bring the killer to justice?
Only Lenny Moss, working class hero.
I have sold three Lenny Moss novels, all of which have received great revues. I have a forth manuscript completed. It only lacks a publisher.
With a robust list of fans, many of them activists in unions and medical organizations, I have opportunities for reviews, feature articles and
interviews, which will promote my sales. In additions, six CUNY colleges & universities have used my Lenny Moss novels in class and they are
eager to read a new novel. I only need a publisher who will print a trade paperback to see Lenny back in print. In the meantime, the first three books
are available from my website for only $10/book (plus shipping). Bulk orders for schools have a lower shipping rate.
Contact info:
timsheard@optonline.net
917 428 1352
415 Argyle Rd., 6A, Brooklyn, NY, 11218
timsheard@optonline.net
917 428 1352
415 Argyle Rd., 6A, Brooklyn, NY, 11218