Local Author Explores Racism and Abuse in a Small Town

Atlanta, GA– “River mist reveals its secrets slowly and quietly. It’s unsettling as you are never sure, of course until you are certain, what is there and what is not. So it was the awful morning they found TJ Bucknell’s body hanging in the shrouds of the Hickory River mist. I should know: I left him there and the fog will never tell that tale.”

Lewis Bryan’s debut novel, Harmony, USA, takes place in the fictional small town of Harmony. Told from the perspective of the murderer, the narrative unfolds the story of Harmony following the hanging of TJ Bucknell, an African American teenager. As the story progresses, however, it becomes clear that the quiet town of Harmony, USA, has more than its share of secrets.

Weaving this dark narrative around the complex lives of its characters, Harmony, USA explores heavy themes, such as race and abuse, with complexity and honesty

“I really became most interested in how people deal with the things that impact their lives,” explains Lewis. “Race became one of those things I could explore, as did abuse.”

Born and raised in America’s Heartland, Lewis Bryan has lived most of his adult life in the Deep South, giving him a unique perspective on the American experience. Using this perspective, Lewis is most interested in the human experience, especially in regards to what we are able to know and accept of each other, and what we choose to keep in the shadows.

Harmony, USA is available in print and eBook through Amazon and BookLogix.