Charles Wells

Biography

I was asked why I'm a writer and responded with the following. I didn't choose writing, it chose me. I've spent the better part of my life (and I'm 60 years old) writing, but I still hesitate to call myself an Author. I've written and published seven books, six are fiction, and still I don't feel like a writer because I don't fit my mental image of one. I don't feel compelled to be the next Mark Twain or Tom Clancy. I don't want to get filthy rich from my writing and I don't care for the glory of being recognized while walking down the street. All I want to do is entertain people and hold that wisp of power and control knowing I can make you laugh, or make you cry. I can take you to heaven or send you straight to hell, all with a few words placed appropriately. I can do in one paragraph what God needs seven days to accomplish. Best of all, I can make you think great thoughts or I can help you dream in a reality that I create. A reality you can enjoin or not with the flip of a book cover or press of a digital reader button. All of this isn't writing, it's insanity and escape for the sake of entertainment.

http://www.charleswells.us

Before turning to fiction writing, Wells spent most of his career as a newspaper reporter and journalist in middle Georgia. He covered everything from high school sports to front page news stories. During the last fourteen years of his career he worked as Managing Editor for “The Robins Review” a military town’s 25,000 weekly edition publication. The city’s mixed population of civilian and military called for a unique brand of writing skills that Wells found comfortable supplying. The highlight of his career was in 1988 when a sharply written article was picked up by the national wire services and republished around the world. The topic was the advance of technology in the Air Force’s electronic warfare division and aptly titled “Stone Age to Star Wars.” Copies of the article made it to the desk of then President Ronald Regan who had initially emblazoned the term into the minds of the world.
The article also caught the attention of an NBC News Producer as well as ABC’s nightline’s Associate Producer, Terry Irving. The sad news through it all was that just as Wells’ writing career was taking off, his personal world was “going south and silent.” Plagued since childhood by an ongoing progressive hearing loss, Charles Wells lost all usable hearing and went completely deaf. When the handicap peaked, Wells found it impossible to function for the newspaper any longer and resigned at age 38. He fell back on his original “day job” returning to work as an electronics technician at the same military base where he once “entertained the troops.” When his hearing problems also unraveled his efforts there, he threw in the towel, took a disability from service and dropped out of sight for three long years.
During that time he switched his writing presentations from the “pomp and ceremony” of print to the more open and space filling approach of the www. The writing needs of that medium grew to an insatiable level as more and more quality articles and information was needed to fill the millions of web pages springing up online. Best of all, those markets offered Wells a “deaf friendly” environment in which to work. He began his new career using old skills after refocusing his talents and adjusting them to the new technology and class of readers it presented. By swapping pen and paper for a keyboard and mouse, he positioned himself on the cusped of the informational highway. Still, he needed to crack the shell and get inside the medium which meant calling on his reputation as an old print writer and trying to capture the younger audiences of the internet.
Normally bashful about self promotion, Wells shamelessly flaunted his accomplishments from the newspapers and soon gained the attention of higher ups in the news organizations that were testing the waters to see if there really was an audience online. All those “loud noises” made during his print career opened the doors for Wells and landed him a “digital online” job with CNN News of Atlanta. His “computer based” job description became one of the first “telecommuter” jobs in the world and for the next year he worked from home full time.
CNN’s bold move to the internet was followed by a joint venture between computer software giant Microsoft and television’s NBC network. The two companies formed what is today MSNBC and then took CNN’s internet/TV interactive format and ran it deeper into the digital realms of society. Both networks quickly discovered the power behind having instant viewer response taken from “online news chat rooms.” MSNBC realized it faster and quickly moved the concept deeper passing CNN’s online presence during the second year of operations. After that, MSNBC became the envy of every news operation on earth especially to those wanting to work for them on the computer. Wells, still with CNN when MSNBC went flying past, watched and waited, trying to gauge the right moment to attempt a jump over to MSNBC. That moment came when MSNBC hired ABC’s Terry Irving and put him in charge of the “Don Imus in the Morning” simulcast show on the network. Irving’s first order of the day was to start an online interactive chat room and the man he wanted to operate it was Charles Wells. He had quietly spent a lot of time online in the CNN chats and had watched how well Charles had interacted and inspired comments from the users, comments that quite often made it to the bottom of any given news show’s TV’s screen as well.
Wells enjoyed the interactivity and fun dealing with regular people online and relaying their questions and responses over to the on air television people. Best of all, his handicap wasn’t an issue or a problem. It never interfered with his work because one didn’t need to hear the words spoken. His computer scrolled them across his screen flawlessly. Still, Wells was a writer at heart and the tug to write fiction adventure stories was still strong but dormant.
During the year he stayed at CNN he was constantly asking for web space in which he could write short journalistic features, a concept that today is referred to as “Blogging.” Wells idea was simply too far ahead of the times and his idea fell on deaf yet hearing ears at CNN. When he persisted and then demanded the space, his manager made it clear that CNN was not interested and to not mention it again. They felt that online readers would never sit still long enough to read a thousand words of personal opinions and commentary.
Frustrated at the lack of insight shown by his employer, Wells resigned and almost gave up entirely on his attempt to join the web. He was on the verge of unplugging the computer when Terry Irving heard about his departure from CNN and dropped him an email asking if he was interested in opening a new chat room for radio personality Don Imus. Wells agreed to do so on the condition that he would get a small spot on the MSNBC website to write his daily commentary feature. Irving loved the idea and six weeks later, Imus in The Morning on MSNBC took to the air on the same day that “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” by Charles Wells hit the MSNBC web pages. It lasted over eight years and Wells never missed a deadline.
The highlight, if one cares to look at it that way, of his career at MSNBC happened on that fateful morning of September 11, 2001. Wells was in charge of the morning Imus chat and assisting another host working in the news room chats. Between the two, there were over 150 visitors in the two chat rooms when the first aircraft hit the World Trade Center. His steady and cool handling of site visitors as they flooded in for the latest information, established his reputation as being one of the internet’s top hosts controllers after he juggled a staggering 2400 chatters solo for almost an hour until help could arrive. He then stayed on duty for a solid twelve hours straight.
Even with such public exposure under his belt, Wells did not feel quite ready for prime book publishing especially since he was switching from factual reporting to fiction mystery as his genre of choice. After MSNBC ended the chat room days and let Wells and a dozen others go, he stayed below the radar for several years until 2009 when his first fiction novel hit the markets under the name “Sand Hill Estates the Murders.” That book, one of the first classes of digital only books offered online, trudged along quietly with modest sales but drew few raves or reviews outside the mystery community. In 2010 he took the characters and plots and reworked them, then expanded into today’s “Whispering Pines.” From one book grew a six and counting series of fast paced suspense thrillers geared for all age groups. Book seven has a tentative release date of January 2012.
On several occasions during interviews, Wells was asked if he had plans yet to eventually wrap and end the series. “I haven’t told all the stories yet so no. At this time I’ve still got one story in progress and two more in mind waiting.”

Smashwords Interview

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in middle Georgia (USA) on a small farm along with six siblings, two parents, a grandmother, 200 chickens and an old dog. I started telling "ghost stories" around ten years old that scared my mother worse than my listeners (mostly the old dog) A cousin encouraged me to start writing them down and a half dozen wire bound notebooks later, I had what one might call a book of short stories. Then I came home from school one afternoon and our home place had burned to the ground, notebooks and all. I almost didn't start over again but the itch to write and entertain readers was strong and the loss in the fire put a fear in my heart that I hold to this day. My published books of today are a mix of horror or ESP driven characters and Mystery/Suspense and you can bet your bottom dollar that I have copies in fire proof safes and online in cloud servers. Most important of all, I found out quickly in life that if I wasn't having a good time writing a story, then nobody would have a good time reading it and that is my credo as a writer. Have fun and your readers will follow.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
I was thrilled the day a publisher signed me to a contract for the Whispering Pines Mystery series I write (9 books and counting) but a year into that contract, the publisher went belly up but kept selling mine and 200 other books by contracted authors and kept the money. It took me a year of legal brawls and threats before I as released from the contract but it taught me a lesson. With today's technology I realized there was no need for a publisher (in my case at least) and took the plunge into the Indy world. That was two years ago as of this writing and I've never looked back; never wanted to go back. I'm doing well and the future is bright as an Indy author.
Read more of this interview.

Where to find Charles Wells online

Books

13 Strange Short Tales
Price: Free! Words: 58,900. Language: English. Published: July 14, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Horror » Weird fiction, Fiction » Science fiction » Short stories
13 short sci-fi/horror stories with twisted endings similar to the old Twilight Zone styled entertainment. These are easy reading, fun and enjoyable shorts that end in "wow" and "whoa" moments for the readers. "Some of the best in its class"
June Bug and the Devil (Book 9)
Series: Whispering Pines, Book 9. Price: Free! Words: 58,130. Language: English. Published: June 28, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » General
In this story of the series, a child serial killer is about to strike again and an unexpected turn of events puts the familes of West Creek County back in action to stop him. A dark evil resides inside a pastor and drives the plot hard from start to finish. Nail biting suspense, theological twisting by paranormal forces, and heart touching characters. No cliff hangers in any of the 9 books.
Digital Detective (Whispering Pines Book 8)
Series: Whispering Pines, Book 8. Price: Free! Words: 73,450. Language: English. Published: June 14, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » General
A Private Investigator's best friend dies of cancer but not before his memory and personality are transferred into a mainframe computer system of his own design. Along with the prime characters of the Whispering Pines Suspense Series, watch a murder investigation take place in a manner you never envisioned.
Turkey Creek (Whispering Pines Book 7)
Series: Whispering Pines, Book 7. Price: Free! Words: 54,040. Language: English. Published: February 3, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » General
Gail Veal is sent back in a vision to save her own future. The action in Turkey Creek, book seven of the Whispering Pines Thriller/Suspense series takes place in two time frames, each clearly marked to avoid confusion, so the readers are getting two independent stories that collide near the end. Walk from the present back to the Georgia era of 1862.
Hear the Sunshine
Price: Free! Words: 30,310. Language: English. Published: November 3, 2011 . Categories: Nonfiction » Health, wellbeing, & medicine » Family health
“Hear the Sunshine” is a true, light hearted look inside the world of a man who is thought to be the world's longest living Cochlear 22 Channel implant patient. (Since 1987) It's a must read for anyone with loved ones who are hearing impaired but especially suited for parents with children who are deaf and considering implant surgery.
The Garden Patch (Whispering Pines Book 6)
Series: Whispering Pines, Book 6. Price: Free! Words: 47,230. Language: English. Published: October 22, 2011 . Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » General
Whispering Pines "The Garden Patch" is book six in the six books (and counting) thriller/suspense series by Author Charles E. Wells. It's a southern flavored fast paced "small town vs big city" crime adventure series centered in Georgia USA. Each book in the series stands alone with no cliff hangers. Read one or read them all in order. Exciting edge of your seat enjoyment for all ages. Rated PG
Indian Giver (Whispering Pines Book 5)
Series: Whispering Pines, Book 5. Price: Free! Words: 51,270. Language: English. Published: October 22, 2011 . Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » General
"Indian Giver" does not mean to take back as the modern definition implies. To the inhabitants of the ancient river Indian tribes around mid and South Georgia, Indian giver means a person who is bearing a gift to another and expecting one in return. This book and title by author Charles Wells is a two edged sword and carries both definitions to a nail biting climax.
Cotton Tears (Whispering Pines Book 4)
Series: Whispering Pines, Book 4. Price: Free! Words: 50,640. Language: English. Published: October 22, 2011 . Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » General
Whispering Pines "Cotton Tears" is book four in the 9 books (and counting) thriller/suspense series by Charles E. Wells. ESP tinged and drama salted stand alone novel series centered in Georgia USA. Each book stands alone with no cliff hangers. Read one or read them all in order. Exciting edge of your seat enjoyment for all ages.
Rebel Gold (Whispering Pines Book 3)
Series: Whispering Pines, Book 3. Price: Free! Words: 60,880. Language: English. Published: October 22, 2011 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Action & suspense
Whispering Pines "Rebel Gold is book three in the 9 books (and counting) thriller/suspense series by Author Charles E. Wells. It's a southern flavored fast paced "small town vs big city" crime adventure series centered in Georgia USA. Each book in the series stands alone with no cliff hangers. Read one or read them all in order. Exciting edge of your seat enjoyment for all ages. Rated PG.
The Revenge (Whispering Pines Book 2)
Series: Whispering Pines, Book 2. Price: Free! Words: 76,120. Language: English. Published: October 22, 2011 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Action & suspense
An Atlanta based drug cartel takes revenge on the Veal brothers of West Creek County for their interference with a major illegal drug distribution network. Things go from hot to explosive with lives depending upon trusting Gail's ESP and visions to steer them clear of dangers. Revenge is a standalone novel, not a cliff hanger. Suggested, but not required, to read Book 1 to learn the characters
The Beginning (Whispering Pines Book 1)
Series: Whispering Pines, Book 1. Price: Free! Words: 109,180. Language: English. Published: October 22, 2011 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Action & suspense, Fiction » Adventure » Action
(4.33 from 3 reviews)
Chuck Veal has not heard from his brother in Georgia in over a week and nobody answers the home phone or cell. An employee at the timber mill his brother owns gives him run around answers and the local Sheriff refuses to post a missing person report. With his gut instincts screaming "trouble,"

Charles Wells' tag cloud

book series    charles wells    children    cochlear implant    deaf    drama    esp    georgia    hearing loss    implants    mild esp    mild paranormal    mystery    nerve deaf    paranormal    psychic    rated pg    scifi    series    series book    series books    southern    speech    strange    suspense    thriller    whispering pines    ya suited   

Charles Wells' favorite authors on Smashwords