Douglas Wells is an award winning author who was born in Seattle, Washington. His father was an officer in the U.S. Army, and by the time Douglas finished high school he had lived in Hawaii, North Carolina, Texas, Okinawa, South Carolina, Alabama, and Florida. He earned his B.A. and M.A. in English from the University of South Florida and has taught English and Literature at several colleges.
Douglas has a unique interest in and perspective on the tragic, comical, and the redemptive in his characters.
Douglas' third novel, "The Mourning Islands," was awarded a Gold Medal for Mystery in the Florida Authors and Publishers Association President's Book Awards and was awarded Finalist for Mystery/Suspense in both the International Book Awards and the American Fiction Awards. His second novel, "How We End Up," was an Award Winning Finalist in the Fiction: Literary category of the 2018 International Book Awards, the Literary Fiction Category of the 2018 American Fiction Awards, and the Top Shelf Magazine Book Awards. It also received the April 2018 Literary Titan Silver Award and was awarded Distinguished Favorite in Independent Book Awards
His first novel, "The Secrets of All Secrets," received the Literary Titan Silver Award on August 4, 2017, was a Finalist in the 2017 Independent Author Network’s Book of the Year Awards, and was a Finalist in the 2018 Amelia Island Book Fest and Expo Book Island Literary Award.
All three of Douglas' book have been published by TouchPoint Press.
The following are some comments excerpted from reviews. of "The Mourning Islands." The complete reviews can be found on Amazon and Goodreads:
"This book is engaging from the beginning and I loved it. The author presents the reader with a subtle air of mystery and it only grows and develops as the story progresses. I have to admit that I appreciate how the author gives the reader little tidbits of information where appropriate. You don't have to worry about waiting for clarifications, explanations because the author does an expert job inserting them at the right times."
"This book is engaging from the beginning and I loved it. The author presents the reader with a subtle air of mystery and it only grows and develops as the story progresses. I have to admit that I appreciate how the author gives the reader little tidbits of information where appropriate. You don't have to worry about waiting for clarifications, explanations because the author does an expert job inserting them at the right times...The mystery and suspense build in this book and makes it hard to put down. In some instances you see the danger coming, but in others, you honestly are on the edge of your seat in that intense situation."
"This is a story full of mystery, murder and a little romance in the mix. This is a full length novel. Well worth the read.
I really love this story. It was a true rollercoaster of suspense. Never a dull moment. Talmon is a veteran, suffering from PTSD. His duty with the Army may have ended, but the nightmares have not. Not long out of the hospital, he gets hired as a spy. That is where the story takes off.
Douglas Wells has written yet another fast paced suspense story. I really have come to like this author. He has a way of getting you worked up. The emotional settings, the romance and the killings all brought out the feels. I fell in love with his characters and want to read more. Keep them coming Douglas Wells!"
"The most compelling authors write in a manner that fully engages the reader. When you are fortunate enough to read the work of an author of that caliber, you don’t simply read the story, you experience it. You become so drawn into the writer’s fictional world, the characters become real.
This book led me on a different journey than I expected. Without giving too much away, all I can say is that I envy those who are about to open this story for the first time."
"The Mourning Island – This is my first read by this author and I was impressed. I felt as if I was reading a Ludlum or De Mille.
A well written, intriguing story filled with storylines that take the reader down multiple paths through the journey a damaged veteran travels. The emotions run the gamut including fear, loss, hope and love.
While a crime story, more than one criminal and crime, there are two touching love stories about two defective couples. Toss in a couple that never gave up hope in their quest of over twenty years.
This author is talented and good with his descriptions, placing the reader in the midst of the story. Good intrigue. Good suspense. Good twists. Good editing. This is my type of book."
The following are excerpts from reviews of "How We End Up."
“Poignant and expressive, How We End Up is a novel of humanity. In precise authenticity, Wells exposes the complexity of the human condition by unifying his readers with characters…How We End Up is an experience that lingers long after the last page has been read...This story forces us to transcend the pages of the book. A true masterpiece.”
“This is my first book by this author and I enjoyed it. His writing is creative and engaging. This book pulled me in from the first chapter. It was easy flowing, and the story is fast paced. I found it easy to get lost in and feel as if I was right there with the characters. The characters are both connectable and true to life. They took me on an emotional roller coaster ride that kept me reading until the end.”
“This book was different then the stories that I usually read, but it was a very good story. It took me on an emotional roller coaster. I found it to be very introspective. This book drew me in from the beginning and kept me enthralled through the whole story…I highly recommend this book, it is so well written, and you become invested in these characters and needing to know how their lives turnout. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author, I truly enjoyed his style of writing.”
“Douglas Wells’… book is anything but a fairy tale. It is the sordid truth of how they [the characters] become, not what they turn into. It conveys the twists and turns of modern life, the mistakes and consequences and the facts over which there is no control save acceptance…the book threatens to be about this reflective outlook on life more than about the characters themselves…all the characters have a lasting effect.”
“This book is not only well written, it is also pacey and extremely gripping drama. The characters all feel real to me, being an individual whom can be seen to have perhaps made less of himself than apparent opportunity might suggest…Wells has a deep understanding of intrinsic, often genetic, behaviour that usually dictates life despite rather than because of the paths we are placed on, and the deviations we discover for ourselves.”
“This is my first book by this author, but it most definitely won't be my last. I truly enjoyed this book. I was hooked from the beginning till the end. The characters are very true to life I connected with them and felt as if I was right there with them. This story will take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride, but I couldn't put this down once I started reading.”
“I was thoroughly intoxicated by this story. A new fave author and a new book on my favorites list.”
"Suspenseful…Nothing can prepare you for this tale as you find out how these characters ‘end up.’ Thought-provoking and intelligent.”
“If you only take one suggestion this year on what to read. Read this!”
“This book has it all.”
Douglas is a Professor of English at Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, Florida. He is the father of two grown sons, and he lives with his wife and two cats in Panama City Beach.
Contact Douglas at
Facebook: https://facebook.com/DouglasWellsAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Wellsdadouglas
Website: www.douglaswellsauthor.com
email: wellsda65@gmail.com
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