Hamilton Sleuth-turned-Author Launches Detective Novel Series

Author and former private investigator, Jim Shephard, celebrates the launch of his debut novel, P.E.Eyes (Brigham Press), at Lowville United Church's Art-Lit event, 2:00 P.M., Saturday, October 18th. Shephard will read from the first in a series of Ben and Vern Detective Novels© and speak about the inspiration behind the writing of the book. Signed copies of P.E. Eyes, the account of two novice private investigators in the fictitious seaside town of Misty Harbour, Prince Edward Island will be made available to the public

(PRWEB) October 8, 2008 -- Author and former private investigator, Jim Shephard, celebrates the launch of his debut novel, P.E.Eyes (Brigham Press), at Lowville United Church's Art-Lit event, 2:00 P.M., Saturday, October 18th. Shephard will read from the first in a series of Ben and Vern Detective Novels© and speak about the inspiration behind the writing of the book. Signed copies of P.E. Eyes, the account of two novice private investigators in the fictitious seaside town of Misty Harbour, Prince Edward Island will be made available to the public

Shephard, who became a licensed private investigator in Ontario c.1980, later founded a family-run document-handling business which has been in operation for over a quarter of a century. "As a private investigator," recalls Shephard, "there were a number of times when I had to don the hat of someone far removed from myself. I was a business tycoon on one job; a newspaper reporter on another; I was even called upon to be a local Texan on a job where I had to master a southern accent. It all played into my ability not only to fabricate characters, but to adopt their personas."

Shephard's case files, although closed and confidential, continue to be a source of inspiration in the development of plot lines and characters. Shephard, known as "Sleuth" amongst his business associates, recounts, "people come to you with some fantastic tales when they need an investigator. It was the stories they told that intrigued me and gave me the impetus to take on risky assignments. The seed for P.E.Eyes was planted when I asked myself what would happen if a couple of novice P.I.s set up practice in this island oasis, content in chasing down cheating husbands and insurance scammers. Then one day an assignment is dropped in their laps that has the potential to turn their lives and the community upside down."

Lowville's Art & Literature event is free to the public and runs from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Saturday October 18th. Several artists, photographers, storytellers, and authors including Mobile Millinery Museum director, Norma Shephard will showcase their work.

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