James B. WellsJAMES B. WELLS is a retired criminology and criminal justice professor in the School of Justice Studies in the College of Justice, Safety, and Military Science at Eastern Kentucky University, and is the recipient of the 2025 Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences John Howard Award, an award given intermittently, upon significant demand, to recognize an individual who has made significant and sustained contributions to the practice of corrections. A former carpenter, soldier, and correctional officer in a super-maximum-security prison and later as a researcher/planner assisting architects in prison design, he has multiple degrees, including an M.S. in Criminal Justice, a Ph.D. in Research, and an MFA in Creative Writing. He’s authored or co-authored over sixty-five books, chapters, articles, and essays, as well as over a hundred and fifty research reports for various local, state, and federal agencies. Recent essays from his research and memoir work appear or are forthcoming in Collateral Journal, About Place Journal, Wild Roof Journal, Military Experience and the Arts, The Wrath-Bearing Tree, Shift, Proud to be: Writing by American Warriors, Trajectory Journal, and From Pen to Page III: More Writings from the Bluegrass Writers Coalition.
His investigative memoir about his father's still CIA-classified death in Vietnam in 1965, titled Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew, will be launched on Father's Day weekend, 2025. Links to publications, presentations, trailers, social media, blog, and other information can be found at https://jamesbwells.com. James enjoys spending much of his leisure time with his spouse on their Lexington, Kentucky farm located on the palisades of the Kentucky River, where he is an organic gardener and beekeeper.
I spoke at the American Legion Post #67 in Versailles last night, telling the crowd about my soon-to-be-released investigative memoir and upcoming author events in the area. I love coming early and engaging in fellowship with these men and women who served, and I welcome the opportunity to continue to do so with other posts. […]
Both “art imitated life” and “life imitated art” last night at the packed Bluegrass Writers Studio open-mic at Dreaming Creek Brewery as I read an excerpt from my soon-to-be-released investigative memoir Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew, describing the CIA’s CONTINUED reluctance to reveal what they […]
Guess whose soon to be released book is listed on the front of their publisher’s website now?
At our grandson William Jack’s 11th birthday party, I surprised him with the very first signed copy of my investigative memoir about his grandfather’s still-classified death in Vietnam. The book is titled, Because: A CIA Cover-Up and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew. In his book, I wrote in it I hope he […]
I had a fantastic time at the 2025 Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) Conference in Los Angeles! I want to extend my gratitude to Tracy Crow of Milspeak Books, as well as authors Liam Wil Cor and Lauren Kathleen, who joined me at the Milspeak Booth to promote our incredible titles. I also […]
I started writing my investigative memoir about my father’s still-classified death in Vietnam over 12 years ago at the Carnegie Center in Lexington. When I received my first set of Advance Review Copies from my Milspeak publisher on Wednesday, I felt a strong urge to attend the Carnegie Center’s monthly “Burn the Mic” session the […]
We were fortunate tonight that our grandson William Jack could join us as Brenda and I opened a package from our Milspeak publisher containing our Because Advance Reviewer Copies.
My publisher’s media release of my investigative memoir about my father’s still CIA-classified death in Vietnam looks fantastic! Note that so that retailers can have my book in time for my book tour, which starts immediately after its launch date of Father’s Day weekend, June 14, versions of the book will be released a little […]
Our first Because Newsletter was sent out this week to audiences across the United States and around the world, including France, the UK, Germany, Australia, Vietnam, and Laos. A friend I made through mutual contacts received the newsletter and forwarded it, along with his email below, to over 250 of his friends. He is a […]
My Milspeak Books publisher has reviewed and approved the latest version of my investigative memoir Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew. It’s now available for pre-order: https://jamesbwells.com/pre-order-from-your-favorite-bookstore-or-one-of-the-following/
James B. Wells