Notes Archive

Read past issues from the Newsletter: Notes from Joe

• November 2024 •

November 14, 2024, marks one year since the release of The Wiregrass Witness!

While I don’t have a favorite story from my Blake County Legal Thrillers, there are certain characters who hold a special place in this series. And Colt Hudson—one of the key players in The Wiregrass Witness—is certainly one of those characters. The task of creating this misunderstood ex-con was one I met with a lot of enthusiasm, and I hope some of that energy made its way into the pages of my third novel.

Those of you who enjoyed reading The Wiregrass Witness may be happy to know that Colt is set to make a return to the pages of my Blake County Legal Thrillers. That’s right, he’ll be back in A Voice of Reason, the fifth installment to this series. The book is already up for pre-order, so go ahead and lock your copy in now!

More here!

• October 2024 •

A Voice of Reason is available for pre-oder!

🔗 Grab your copy!

In the quiet of the mountains, a sidelined attorney stumbles upon a case that could be her salvation…or downfall.

Amidst the fallout of a career-threatening scandal, lawyer Maggie Reynolds finds herself serving a six-month suspension. In search of some peace, she retreats to a secluded mountain cabin nestled deep in Georgia, a sanctuary offered by a reclusive friend connected to the Acker family.

Clive Mortlake, the property owner and a man of keen intellect, seeks Maggie’s legal expertise in return for her stay. He presents her with a case that’s as personal as it is perplexing: the inexplicable disappearance of his son, Art Mortlake. A senior at Duke University, Art’s sudden vanishing act after an evening at a local bar left no clues, no communications, and a cold trail. The official investigation has dwindled, and a haunting suspicion of murder looms over the unanswered questions.

Contrary to the grim theories, Clive is adamant that his son is alive, and ensnared by vindictive corporate rivals from his past. This conviction is bolstered when an enigmatic message surfaces, suggesting that Art might indeed be alive.

For Maggie, this case, laden with mystery and risk, could either mark a triumphant return to law or spell the end of her legal journey, challenging her resolve and her ability to untangle truth from fiction in a world where everyone has something to hide.

Pebbles in the Pond

Apple CEO Tim Cook—a fellow Auburn man, War Eagle!—once said: “You want to be the pebble in the pond that creates the ripple for change.” And I plan to try and start throwing my own pebbles in that pond, ones directed at some of the people and organizations that once helped prepare me to practice law in Georgia. I wouldn’t have had the privilege to do the kind of work that I once did for clients without the trust and support of those much further along in the profession, and I certainly wouldn’t have been able to write the stories that I love to write without those experiences I had practicing in the courtroom. So, a portion of the proceeds from my book sales will now go toward the training of new lawyers in Georgia. My hope is that these pebbles will help—in a small way—people in Georgia who may one day find themselves in need of legal services. And as a current board member for GCDLEF, it seemed like a fine place start.

🔗 More on GCDLEF

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