Shelby man, former Roseville teacher publishes second book

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — A Shelby Township man who retired from a career teaching in Roseville Community Schools released his first book, a teen and young adult mystery about a pandemic called “Operation Arrow Fletcher” during a real pandemic, COVID-19, and has now released his second book, “Burying the Shadow.”

His book is a thriller, blending elements of realistic fiction, international espionage and a hunt for a serial killer. “Burying the Shadow” is a sequel to “Operation Arrow Fletcher.”

James Byrnes, 65, began writing his first book in 2017 and released the novel in 2020. This year, he has released his second book.

“I am really excited as to how the book turned out. I have gotten awesome reviews so far,” he said.

Byrnes was born in Detroit. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1977. He graduated from Oakland University in 1984. He spent 30 years teaching for Roseville Community Schools at Fountain, Kaiser, Lincoln and Steenland elementary schools and now writes books. He and his wife have two sons, a daughter-in-law and three grandchildren.

In “Burying the Shadow,” protagonists Carly Fletcher and David Farris return to face a new wave of danger and deception. The story is set in Michigan and the historical cities of Europe. Meanwhile, CIA agent Stacey Canter is tracking down a serial killer who leaves a trail of fear and death. This subplot is meant to add a chilling layer to the story as it intersects with the main plot.

“Burying the Shadow” spans 328 pages. It delves into mature themes, making it a read for adult audiences.

Byrnes said he has always had a deep love for reading, and over the years, he dabbled in writing while balancing his career as a teacher and running an irrigation business.

“However, writing demands time, something I couldn’t fully commit to until now. With retirement and the sale of my business, I’ve finally found the time and luxury to pursue my passion for writing, a passion I’ve mostly kept to myself until now,” he said.

Byrnes said that with a strong interest in science and its potential dangers, he gravitates toward the thriller genre.

“Becoming a suspense novelist has been a long-held dream of mine,” he said.

From start to finish, it took him 2 1/2 to three years to write the book. He looks back at the time after he graduated from Oakland University with a teaching degree as a key time for his later career as an author.

“At that time, teaching positions were scarce, and rather than relocating to another state, I decided to take the law school entrance exams and enrolled at Cooley Law School. It was there that I truly honed my writing skills,” Byrnes said.

Teaching also helped him with his writing.

“Years of working with my students on writing definitely sharpened my skills. Like any sport, the more you practice, the better you get,” he said. “Teaching the fundamentals of writing kept me actively engaged, but I had to adapt when it came to writing dialogue. In teaching, we focus on grammatically correct sentences, but real human conversation doesn’t follow those rules. We speak in fragments, interrupt each other, and often leave thoughts unfinished. It took some time to ensure that my characters didn’t sound like professors giving a lecture. Instead, I had to let them speak like real people.”

To celebrate the new book, Byrnes is having a book launch party from noon to 3 p.m. Sept. 15 at Octopus’ Beer Garden, 152 N. River Road in Mount Clemens.

“The Garden is a really neat family-friendly venue with a Beatles theme. It is an actual barge restaurant that floats on the Clinton River. They have been very supportive and even came up with a signature drink for the book launch called “Berrying the Shadow.” It is a delicious drink with a hint of raspberry. There will be live music by Michigan-born singer-songwriter Steve Gulian,” he said.

Cheryl Bogner, Byrnes’ editor, described Byrnes as a storyteller.

“Nothing is as it seems in his stories and reading his books involves an abundance of twists and turns and several OMG moments. The characters are likeable unless they are villainous, and then you will cheer when they get what they deserve,” she said.

Bogner said that in “Burying the Shadow,” Byrnes introduces new characters who are complicated and deadly. These characters have chilling backstories that influence their motivations for revenge and recognition. The plot moves swiftly, keeping the reader engaged.

“One reader of Jim’s novel said it was the first book he had read from cover to cover since high school. This was an adult who had not read a complete book for almost 30 years. The book has an exciting plot, but also is a plot that is easily followed, yet keeps one guessing what will happen next,” she said.

To learn more about his book, visit www.byrnesgroup.net.