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Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Vol. 13 Reading and RoundTable Discussion

Although I highly recommend watching the entire roundtable discussion, my reading of an essay published in this journal, where I miraculously discover and meet the man responsible for saving my grandfather’s life on a WWI battlefield, begins at 29:50 (click on Watch on YouTube).

Redaction Deja Vu

The heavily redacted Epstein files released by the DOJ remind me of the similarly redacted files the CIA sent me after I filed FOIA requests for information about my father’s still-classified death. Remarkably, at the Air America Archives at the University of Texas at Dallas, I discovered many of the same files, completely unredacted. These documents, previously held by Air America personnel and donated directly to the archives, bypassed CIA scrutiny and redaction. The unredacted records were instrumental in enabling me to confirm a government lie and a CIA coverup surrounding my father’s death. As in the Epstein files that…

“Because” Ranks #2 in Nonfiction Sales

I’m deeply grateful that my investigative memoir, “Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew,” was recognized as the #2 best-selling Nonfiction title at Kentucky’s largest literary event, The Kentucky Book Festival. Sincere thanks to Jay McCoy, the KBF team, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, and everyone who purchased a copy. To learn more about “Because,” which has garnered seven book awards to date, discover where it’s available, or request a signed copy—a perfect gift—please visit my website: https://jamesbwells.com/

“Because” Ranks #4 at Kentucky’s Largest Literary Event

I’m truly honored that my investigative memoir, “Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew,” was ranked #4 as one of the 10 best-selling titles at Kentucky’s largest literary event, The Kentucky Book Festival. My heartfelt thanks go to Jay McCoy, the entire KBF team, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, and everyone who picked up a copy. If you’d like to learn more about “Because,” which has received seven book awards so far, such as where it is available or if you’re interested in a signed copy that makes a wonderful gift, please visit my website:…

“Because” Awards To Date

Independent Author Awards WINNER – Military Nonfiction International Impact Book Award WINNER Military – Military Memoirs & Biographies NYC Big Book Award DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE – Military Nonfiction Reader Views Literary Awards 5 STAR REVIEW RECOGNITION Best Book Awards by American Book Fest FINALIST History – Military International Book Awards FINALIST History – Military  Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards FINALIST – Non-Fiction: Military/War

“Because” Receives 5 Star Review

There are so many wonderful things said in this Reader Views review of my investigative memoir, I plan to highlight my favorite ones, starting with this: “Vietnam radically changed the way American writers approach the war narrative. This is not to say that James B. Wells’ current tome, Because: A CIA Coverup & a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew, is a war narrative, really, but it uses one of the country’s most unpopular conflicts to examine issues that reach beyond any standard retelling of a military scandal or incompetence by superior officers. The book instead focuses on…

Event at Estill County Library

Yesterday, Brenda and I had a memorable experience with the veterans group at the Estill County Library. My presentation of my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew, was especially meaningful for both me and the veterans group, as it focused on it focused on how military veterans, their family members, and others who have been traumatized by war or other events and have unanswerable questions may learn how to seek answers, conquer pain, and achieve peace from my story. A representative from the local VA office attended the presentation with…

Nuremberg

A rough draft of an unfinished chapter of my father’s life that did not make it into my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew, is about my father’s duties while in Nuremberg from 1946 to 1952. He was a Provost Sergeant in charge of a special confinement unit with the 793rd MP Battalion that was in charge of security at the Nuremberg war crimes trials. We know from the historical record that he was involved in the confinement of the Nazi war criminals and may have had some involvement…

Event at Spencer County Public Library

Brenda and I had a wonderful time today at the Spencer County Library in Taylorsville. I discussed and signed copies of my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Cover-Up and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew. We particularly enjoyed the discussion afterward, where we had the opportunity to meet and converse with people whose life experiences often shared something in common with my own story. Adding a PowerPoint to my presentation where audience members can read excerpts of my father’s letters and meet some of the people I interviewed, including eyewitnesses to my father’s death, has already…

Event at Woodford County Public Library

My Veterans Day presentation for my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Cover-up and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew, was particularly meaningful last night, as it took place in Versailles—a location featured in the final chapters where several members from St. John’s Episcopal Church were included as characters. I would like to thank Tommy Dennison and the other library staff for their support during the event, A Likely Story Bookstore for providing copies of my book, and some members of St. John’s for attending.

A Soldier’s Prayer

On this Veteran’s Day, I honor the sacrifices made by those in uniform, including the thoughts and prayers they offered to help them come to grips with what they have to do. “I live good enough when I am out then its hell. I take a few jugs of whiskey with me, my prayer book and bible. But you know I’ve never seen a battle or war fought to victory on prayer so I work like hell, drink like hell, and say oh God of God light of light forgive me for my hate but perhaps you will understand part…

“A Right to Go – Come As We Choose and to Breathe Air Without the Smell of Gunpowder”

Most of the 400 letters I discovered after my father’s death in Vietnam were love letters. Because of this, I felt compelled to include a chapter in the draft of my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew, where I resurrect his words and actions through a couple of these letters. In these letters, he reminisces about his honeymoon with my mother, and writes a beautiful and amazingly elegant quote, that still haunts and blesses me to this day To write this chapter, I conducted extensive research and consulted several…

Fantastic Day at the Kentucky Book Festival

We had a fantastic day at the Kentucky Book Festival yesterday. Sales at my table were terrific, and I thoroughly enjoyed my participation in the panel titled “Uncovering Family,” where all four panelists discussed their nonfiction works to an engaged audience. It was meaningful to be at the same bookstore where I launched my investigative memoir, “Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew,” during the 2025 Father’s Day weekend last June. Since the launch, Brenda and I have spent our summer and fall on a whirlwind Florida-to-Maine Book tour in our RV,…

Event at the Kentucky Book Festival

Whether or not time, shame, ambivalence, prejudice, or the government has intentionally buried secrets about a member of your family, you’ll want to attend this panel on “Uncovering Family” at 11:00 am on the KCTCS stage at the Kentucky Book Festival tomorrow. Three other panelists and I will discuss our books and focus on the unexpected elements and complications we uncover through our research. Before and after the panel I’ll be on the lower level discussing and signing my investigative memoir about my father’s still CIA classified death in Vietnam.

Event at West Virginia Book Festival

West Virginia continued to welcome us this week with lots of great conversation and book sales at the West Virginia Book Festival in Charleston. With West Virginia having one of the highest per-capita rates of veterans, I was hoping my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew, would attract a lot of attention…and it did. My mother’s family was from West Virginia, and “cousins” Mary Taylor, Butch, and Leah Green honored her, Brenda, and me by paying us a visit, where we got to catch up and talk about old…

Event at Shawnee State University

Yesterday, we had a great author event at the Kricker Innovation Hub at Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, OH. I was in conversation with Andrew Feight, Professor of American History and the Director of the Center for Public History. The event was attended by several locals, including cousin Mary Jo Pfleger, friend Laura Womack, students, and a character from my book. Dan Sullivan and his wife, Kathy, drove 12 hours from Nebraska to see me at this author event. I was blown away! Dan wrote a book, The Murder of the Real Jack Ryan, a USAID Public Safety Advisor, whom…

WSAZ TV Interview

WSAZ TV Channel 3 in Huntington, WV did an excellent job with their interview of me discussing my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew

Event at Our Heroes Military Museum

Our last event in Maine was at Our Heroes Military Museum in Lincoln. This is an incredible museum, all run by volunteers, most of whom are veterans. The veterans who attended the author event for my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew, asked some great questions and really appreciated my story and book tour. Incredibly, they all bought hardbacks instead of paperbacks. When I asked why, they all said, “It’s because we’re all collectors!” Duh! What would you expect from veterans who collect various memorabilia to put in a…

Podcast with Mission 22

Marcus Farris, an Army Veteran, engineer, and psychological operations officer who serves as the Post-Traumatic Growth Director at Mission 22, a non-profit organization that teaches veterans and families how to recover, reconnect, and rebuild, recently interviewed me for their Resiliency Program, a holistic initiative designed to support veterans, active-duty military, and their families in healing from trauma. Marcus did an excellent job with some unique and interesting questions for this Mission 22 podcast.

Event at Ellsworth Public Library

The Ellsworth Public Library and Union River Book and Toy Company hosted a fantastic author event last night for my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew. I want to extend special thanks to Assistant Director Renee McManus and, particularly, to Berit Becker, the Communications and Development Director, for promoting the event and arranging interviews with two local radio stations. I also appreciate Joanna Dotts for spreading the word with her friends and neighbors. We had a great turnout, and Union River Book and Toy Company sold out nearly all…

Event at Collingswood Book Festival

Brenda and I had a fantastic time at the Collingswood Book Festival in New Jersey. This was one of the largest book festivals we have ever attended, featuring over six blocks of streets lined with two rows of 10×10 pop-up tents where authors sold their books. The weather was perfect, sales were great; we sold about a box of books to a diverse range of customers. What struck me most about the day was the number of people who, after hearing my brief pitch and reading a few testimonials on the back of my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Coverup…

Event with Lutheran Men’s Book Club

Last night in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, I met with a fantastic group of men, all of whom are affiliated with the Lutheran Church. They chose my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father they Never Knew, as the book for their club to read and study this month. What’s really incredible is that I never intended for my book to take on a spiritual theme. Still, after encountering numerous miraculous experiences during my odyssey that my training as a research scientist could not explain, I had to rely on my faith and the…

Fall Book Tour Continues

Our Fall Book Tour with my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew, continues: September 30 | Crestview Hills, KY | Book Club Meeting | Discussion and Signing Because | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | Books will be available at the event. October 4 | Collingswood, NJ | The Collingswood Book Festival | Discussion and signing Because | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | Books are available to pre-order at most bookstores or at the event. October 8 | Bangor, ME | The Briar Patch BookSpace – 48 Columbia…

60th Anniversary of a Whistleblower’s Death

On the 60th anniversary of my father’s death in Vietnam on September 27, 1965, I want to highlight that he was a whistleblower long before the term “whistleblower” was widely recognized. His first documented case occurred in March 1948 when he was a 21-year-old Provost Sergeant at the Nürnberg War Crimes Trials. Other documented instances occurred in Vietnam during his first tour in 1962, when he served as a US Army Counter-Insurgency Expert and Battalion Weapons Advisor. In 1965, while working as a Senior Public Safety Advisor with USAID’s Office of Public Safety, he blew the whistle on widespread corruption…

Seek the Truth

Not bad advice for current times from someone who witnessed the lies throughout most of the Vietnam War. BTW, Chuck has focused much of his post-Vietnam War life on being the co-founder of Project RENEW, which focuses on mitigating war legacies, including UXO and Agent Orange/dioxin.

Print Media Still Pays Off

Special thanks and gratitude to Stephen Vest, publisher of Kentucky Monthly, and to Steve Flairty’s Book Review, “Deeply Personal Search,” of my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew, and to Kentucky author and Poet Laureate, Richard Taylor, for his terrific testimonial of my book in the review. A member of a men’s book club in northern Kentucky, who was able to contact me, said, “As soon as I first became aware of your book by reading about it in the Kentucky Monthly, I knew that it would be my…

Event at North Georgia Book Fair

Brenda and I spent the day yesterday at the North Georgia Book Fair on the campus of the University of North Georgia (UNG). I left that campus (North Georgia College (NGC) then) more than 30 years ago to take on a position at Eastern Kentucky University that allowed me to not only teach but also to do unlimited research. Brenda and I could hardly recognize the former NGC campus. In addition to selling some books, I was a panelist on a panel about researching and writing history for fiction and nonfiction works, where I focused on how historical fiction and…

Event with Book Club

The Suspicious Minds and Snacktime Book Club, which was formed as a result of my book, welcomed me with welcome arms, food, and gifts when I showed up for their fifth meeting about my book. This book club impressed me so much. They came with lists of questions, and when discussing the book in one of their earlier meetings, bought a map of Vietnam to see where Jack and I had been. They had a gift bag for me containing items a detective should have including disguises), as well as a wood bookmark with “Because” engraved in the same font…

On My Mother’s Birthday

On my mother’s birthday this year, the same day we start our fall book tour, I can’t help but think of her involvement in my story and what led to my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew. In many of my father’s 400 letters, I found 26 years after his death, he left clues about what actually led to his death and why, and which I was later able to confirm through my archival and field research. My mother left a clue after her death, which I was able…

EVENT WITH SPINDLEKINDLES BOOK CLUB & SPINDLETOP HALL

Brenda and I enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Spindletop Hall, accompanied by an engaging audience that asked insightful questions about my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew. I would like to thank Cheryl Jones, the chairperson of SpindleKindles Book Club, and Becca Morrison, the Club Services Manager at Spindletop Hall, for the invitation and the meal.

Upcoming Event at Spindletop Hall

I am super excited about this author event with SpindleKindles Book Club at Spindletop Hall on September 4th. Interest has grown so much that the Alumni Club Member Services Director has had to switch to a buffet-style dinner to serve everyone more efficiently. Given that this event is the first one of our fall tour (we took a few weeks off after finishing our summer tour), it’s also extra special to me because of the critical University of Kentucky (UK) connection to my investigative memoir about my father’s still CIA-classified death in Vietnam. Vietnam War scholar George C. Herring (now…

“Suspicious Minds & Snacktime” Bookclub

As a result of my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew, being released, these amazing women from the Odyssey Charter School in Georgia decided to form their book club, which they named “Suspicious Minds & Snacktime.” I was so taken with their themed menu preparations (zoom in & read them) and pictures from their first meeting, I made it a point to promise them that I would stop by and discuss my memoir with them when they meet again in September. I can’t wait!

Event with Highland Books in Brevard, NC

What an incredible author event Highland Books hosted for my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew, at the Mary C. Jenkins Center in Brevard, NC! Over one hundred people attended, making this event almost as popular as my memoir’s initial launch. What made it also truly special was that I was in conversation with my brother, Dr. Ora Wells, who is also a character in my book. Much of our discussion centered around three photographs of our father that are in my memoir and several letters he wrote, which…

Event at Snail on the Wall

We had a full house at Snail on the Wall Bookstore in Huntsville, AL last night, where I engaged in conversation with my sister Kathleen. We discussed my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew. Kathleen, a former English literature teacher, prompted me to read and respond to questions that corresponded to each step of the archetypal hero’s journey, drawing parallels to characters such as Odysseus, Frodo, Moses, Harry Potter, and Luke Skywalker. Brenda and I would like to express our gratitude to Kathleen, Lady Smith, Christina Tabereaux, and the…

The Archetypal Hero Journey in “Because”

Our parents exposed my siblings and me to books throughout our childhoods. We read and reread the complete set of The Book of Knowledge, an early form of Google. Our parents took us to military post libraries, and our homes were always filled with books and at least a dozen magazine subscriptions, including National Geographic, Reader’s Digest, Life, Boy’s Life, Time, Popular Science, and Popular Mechanics. My sister Kathleen attributes this exposure to her becoming an addict of literature, who decided early on to make it her career goal to become an English literature teacher. Throughout her career, she aimed…

Event in Pensacola

After leaving Georgia, Brenda and I spent yesterday afternoon in Pensacola, Florida, where I was invited by Barnes & Noble to do a signing event. What I love about these smaller signing events is the opportunity to engage in lengthy conversations with people who are possibly interested in my book. Imagine my surprise when one of my former graduate students from 2001 walked in—Dr. Lisa Carter. She is now a tenured full professor at Florida Southern College in Lakeland and is highly respected in the field of criminology. Lisa drove with her husband, Karl, for eight hours to see me.…

Event at Myrte’s Plot Twist

Last night, Brenda and I hosted another author event that I never wanted to end. Relatives, friends, former high school classmates, Vietnam War veterans, and readers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC), who had read Book Critic Suzanne Van Atten’s feature story in the Father’s Day edition, spent over two hours discussing my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew, at Myrtle’s Plot Twist in Griffin, GA. We spent the evening together, enjoying food and drinks while sharing laughter and tears. The staff at Myrtle’s, William and Brittany, took great care…

Second Signing & Discussion Event at St. John’s

A second signing event was held at St. John’s for interested parties who are not members of the congregation. Former elementary and high school classmates of Brenda and I (including a character from my book), and even my older siblings, former neighbors, including those we grew up with and from when we were married adults, showed up to reconnect with us, purchase signed books, and share stories of my father and us from long ago. Brenda and I were amazed to hear from old friends how my father had positively impacted their lives, including their envy of how my siblings…

Discussion & Signing for Congregation of St. John’s in College Park

Imagine our surprise when Brenda and I walked in the church I was raised in, that buried my father, and Brenda and I were wed in, to discover a candle burning at the base of the stained-glass window of “Christ Healing the Sick” purchased with proceeds from my father’s memorial fund. The entire congregation had been informed of our visit and warmly welcomed us back home. During announcements Father Alex brought tears to my face acknowledging our family’s involvement with the church. After the service and brunch, Father Alex led a discussion about my spiritual journey, followed by a Q&A…

Events at Liberty Books

Friday and Saturday evenings I did signings at Liberty Books, a quaint and historic bookstore in downtown Lawrenceville GA. There I met old friends and new friends, several of which were drawn to the bookstore based upon the feature story Atlanta Journal-Constitution book critic Suzanne Van Atten did on my book and me for the Father’s Day edition. Relatives, high school classmates, former neighbors, former students from when I was a graduate teaching assistant in the early 1990s at Georgia State University, lovers of history, readers wanting to know more about how to stand up against injustice and corruption, some…

Whistleblower Network News Podcast

Thank you, Jane Turner and Whistleblower Network News, for the interview and podcast that highlighted my father’s whistleblowing efforts during the early part of the Vietnam War. Organizations like Whistleblower Network News play a crucial role in reminding Americans that whistleblowing has been, and continues to be, an essential aspect of our democracy since its founding. I encourage everyone to listen to this podcast and similar ones, and to take action in reporting injustice, corruption, and any illegal, immoral, or illegitimate activities.

Event at my Father’s Hometown

The author event in my father’s hometown of Minford, Ohio, turned out to be an incredible experience. Brenda, our daughter Millicent, and my brother Ora reconnected with many friends we hadn’t seen in decades and with relatives we hadn’t seen for a while. I would like to thank my brother, Dr. Ora Wells, for serving as my discussant and for posing some thought-provoking questions. I’m also grateful to my cousin, Mary Jo Pfleger, for all the effort she put into promoting the event in the Minford community. I also want to thank the Portsmouth Regional Airport for the use of…

Alumni Reading

Wow! What a night! I was honored to be invited by my former Blue Grass Writers Studio MFA program to be one of the featured readers at the Alumni reading at Dreaming Creek Brewery last night. It was quite a rush to see your reading resonate with new students who were not familiar with you, as well as students confessing that your research and writing have influenced what and why they want to write. Brenda and I took a box of books and sold out of every one. It was 10 years ago that I began this MFA program and…

“Echoes Here of Hamlet”

In Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew, “There are echoes here of Hamlet’s search for the father cut off in the prime of life under circumstances that are purported to be true but are actually false. Hamlet’s quest is to find the truth and thus put his father finally at ease.” – Larry Abbott, The Wrath Bearing Tree

From the Vietnam Veterans of America

Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew “is a detective narrative chronicling a skilled researcher analyzing letters, reports, and interviews to bring closure for himself and his family, while also providing a record of events from half a century ago. James Wells’ efforts add to our understanding of a war that harmed so many, perhaps shaping events to avoid similar tragedies in the future.”-The VVA Veteran, a publication of the Vietnam Veterans of America

Events at From the Ground Up Books

Over the past two consecutive days, Brenda and I visited both branches of From the Ground Up Books in the charming towns of Shepherdsville and LaGrange, KY. I had the opportunity to meet locals and tourists while selling copies of my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Cover-Up and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew. To my surprise, I encountered one of my most memorable graduate students from EKU, Laura McCoun McCauley, whom I had not seen in almost 20 years. Laura, her friend Fred, and I enjoyed reminiscing and discussing how the themes of my book…

Event at Carmichael’s

I would like to thank Ellen Birkett Morris for speaking with me last night at Carmichael’s Bookstore in Louisville. I would like to extend a special thanks to event coordinator Alex, who did a marvelous job with the setup. Autographed copies of both of our books are available at the store. Although Ellen’s book, Beware the Tall Grass, is a novel, and mine, Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew, is an investigative memoir, both books explore the Vietnam War and how the echoes of the past can continue to reverberate through later generations.

Event in Frankfort

Last night, I had the honor of conversing with Kentucky Poet Laureate and author Richard Taylor at the Paul Sawyer Library in Frankfort. During our discussion, Richard asked me questions about my investigative memoir, “Because: A CIA Cover-Up and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew.” He wrote an amazing testimonial about my book, stating that it “unearths the spiritual truths that bind a son to his father” and helped me gain “an understanding of a deeper spiritual wisdom that transcends cultures.” I was pleased to delve deeper into that topic during our conversation. I was thrilled that…

International Whistleblower Day

On this International Whistleblower Day, I am proud to highlight my father, Jack J. Wells. As early as March 1948, while serving as a 21-year-old Provost Sergeant at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials, he acted as a whistleblower, risking his own safety so much he had to sleep with a gun under his pillow and carry a weapon with him at all times. This is documented in his own letters and revealed in my investigative memoir, “Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father the Never Knew.” Interestingly, the term “whistleblower” did not gain prominence until the 1960s.

Event at Read Spotted Newt

Yesterday, I was honored that local author Matthew Sidney Parsons, someone I admire very much, chose to be in discussion with me about my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew, at Read Sotted Newt Bookstore in Hazard. Given Matt’s interests and background, he asked some amazing questions not yet asked to me, about different conceptions about masculinity and spirituality and how they emerge as themes throughout my book. 

Event at Our Saviour

Last night, the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour in Richmond hosted a wonderful author event and book signing for my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew. Episcopal Deacon Emily Cardwell, a character from one of the closing chapters of my book, asked me insightful questions about my journey to find peace with what I know and what I may never know.  Brenda and I would like to express our gratitude to everyone who helped host the event and made us feel so welcome. The reception featured delicious food and…

Events at Bert’s SpeakCheezy

It was the first of the year when I stepped into Bert’s SpeakCheezy in Berea and thought, “What a wonderful place for writers and others to gather, do readings, and hold author events.” Last night, Brenda and I held the first author event and reading/signing there with my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Cover-Up and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew. Logan Bertrand, the owner, along with his team, welcomed us and helped make the event truly special. Local authors Libby Falk Jones and Rogers Jones served as my discussants. They did an excellent job asking…

Event at St. John’s

Last night, I was in conversation with Rev. Dr. Christian Brady at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Versailles, KY, a location where some chapters of “Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew” actually took place. Following a discussion and Q&A session with the audience, the church hosted a lovely reception. This incredible church does so much for its members, the community, and beyond.

Event at Faith Lutheran

Last night was truly memorable as we laughed, cried, and groaned during the author event and reception held by Faith Lutheran Church and “The Evening Sophia Book Club” for Brenda and me. We shared reflections on various aspects of my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew. Many attendees had already read the book, which made the post-discussion Q&A particularly engaging and unique. Pastor Dana (referred to as Father Dana in the book) asked me questions that had never been posed before, many of which explored the spiritual direction my book took.…

June 18 Author Event

Tomorrow, I will revisit with some key characters from my investigative memoir at one of the actual scenes where incredible revelations from “Because: A CA Coverup and A Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew” were brought to light. Join us at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Versailles, KY, located at 210 N. Main Street, at 7 pm, where Rev. Dr. Christian M.M. Brady will lead the discussion.

June 17 Author Event

How do you resolve the unresolvable? How do you find peace with what is known and unknown? Can a soul reach out for help and be rescued? This evening at 7:00 pm at 1000 Tates Creek Road, Lexington, KY, I will be in conversation with a key character from the closing chapters of my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew.

June 14 Book Launch

Despite the simultaneous occurrence of a large book festival and protest marches in Lexington and nearby cities, Brenda and I were delighted to see around 100 people attend the book launch and post-launch reception of Because: A CIA Cover-Up and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew. We are especially grateful to our host, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, for accommodating our unique needs and ordering a substantial number of books for sale. (All but a dozen were sold, and Joseph-Beth had me sign these). We want to thank everyone who attended, especially those who traveled long distances to be there.…

“Because” Feature Story in Atlanta Journal-Constitution

I’m thrilled to see a review of my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew, by Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) book critic Suzanne Van Atten as the feature story in the online edition of the AJC’s Arts & Entertainment section this morning. It will also appear as the feature on the cover of the print edition in the Living and Arts section of the Sunday paper on Father’s Day. There is a minor misprint that I’ve asked to be corrected. The story mistakenly quoted the book’s Canadian price rather than its…

“Because” to be Feature Story on Father’s Day in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution

Since the death of my father was an early casualty of the Vietnam War and attracted a lot of media attention, including the article below in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution (AJC), I contacted the AJC Book Critic Suzanne Van Atten, to see if she would be interested in reviewing my book as part of her column that appears in Tuesday editions. Well, after reading my investigative memoir Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew and interviewing me, she informed me:  “By the way, I’ve upgraded this story to a feature on the cover of the…

‘Because” to be featured in Whistleblower of the Week Podcast

There’s a lot of buzz in the media about the Father’s Day weekend launch of my investigative memoir Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew. Here’s an example. Jane Turner, a famous FBI Whistleblower, hosts this popular podcast. I’ll announce the date of its airing as soon as I have that information.

Join Us as We Connect My Story and Your Story with “The Story.”

I never intended for my investigative memoir about my father’s still CIA-classified death in Vietnam to take on a spiritual theme…but it did. As a consequence, some churches have expressed a willingness to know more about my book and discuss it with their congregations and others. Feel free to contact me at because@jamesbwells.com if you think your church or group may be interested in knowing more. Spiritual questions and themes covered in my book and follow-up discussions include:  How can we, as Christians, free ourselves from the pain and suffering of being unable to resolve the unresolvable? What drives the human spirit…

What Happens to a Wartime Whistleblower?

Whistleblowing Fact 898: If my father was a wartime whistleblower, which now seems certain, it occurred to me that the missing pieces of what happened to him may lie not in enemy actions but in allied retaliation. As a result, I turned to a popular whistleblowing theory and its ancillary theoretical model explaining retaliation against whistleblowers to help me fill in the possible missing pieces and help me understand what may have happened to him and why. The results of content analyses and my archival and field research, combined with what is known about whistleblowing theory, have resulted in my…

Whistleblower Characteristics

Whistleblowing Fact 897: A partial listing of whistleblower characteristics my father “possessed included being strong-willed, stubbornly committed, and obsessed about a personal belief. He also had a proactive personality, which allowed him to be more willing to go against social conventions. Like many whistleblowers, he possessed high levels of moral judgment and felt more inclined to judge a questionable act to be wrongful and deserving of action. He also had a strong religious commitment that was unshakeable, and which motivated him to act out his ideas of individual responsibility. He was a perfectionist, and possessed negative affectivity, which allowed him to…