Jim Melvin

NEW RELEASES:

"The Death Wizard Chronicles: Volumes 1 and 2."

RECENT AWARDS:

American Fiction Awards grand winner ("The Death Wizard Chronicles: Volume 1")

Best Book Awards double finalist ("Do You Believe in Magic?")

Winner of 14 international awards ("Dark Circles" trilogy)

Book 1 is Recommended by Kirkus Reviews: “A delightful beginning to a promising series that’s sure to appeal to teen readers who feel like outsiders.”

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Jim grew up on the shores of western Florida where he spent much of his childhood swimming in shark-infested waters long before the movie "Jaws" put a scare into everyone. At the time, he probably was too skinny to attract a bull shark's attention. About ten other boys Jim's age lived on his same street, and they hung out morning, noon and night playing the usual sports that young boys love — football, baseball, "kill the carrier," etc. — but as a group they also played fantastical games that contained magic, monsters and superheroes. It was in this setting that Jim's imagination was born and nurtured.

Jim's latest novels are Volumes 1 and 2 of "The Death Wizard Chronicles." Action-packed and yet profound, this dark fantasy saga will thrill and challenge fans of the genre in new and thought-provoking ways. Volume 2 will go live July 2025. Volume 3: October 2025.

Jim's recently debuted a memoir titled "The Adventures of a Florida Boy." It’s a short and sweet book about his childhood growing up on Tampa Bay, Florida, that won't challenge your beliefs or try to change your opinions. Rather, Jim hopes it will make you laugh and put a warm feeling in your stomach. He also hopes it revives memories of your own childhood wherever and whenever you grew up. If you’re in the mood for a lighthearted read that will lift your spirits, "The Adventures of a Florida Boy" fits the bill.

Jim's novels recent novels include books 1-3 of a teen fantasy adventure trilogy titled "Dark Circles," which is about a group of kids who are transported to a magical land where it can be deadly to sleep. Book 1 titled "Do You Believe in Magic?" is now available on Amazon and officially launched on May 25, 2023. Book 2 titled "Do You Believe in Monsters?" debuted on Oct. 30, 2023. Book 3 titled "Do You Believe in Miracles?" debuted April 21, 2024. The "Dark Circles" trilogy is appropriate for ages 13 and older. This is a great coming-of-age series for fans of C.S. Lewis, J.K. Rowling, Neil Gaiman, and Brandon Sanderson.

Jim is also the lead writer and editor for the nonfiction book "Eclipse Over Clemson: The day Tigertown will never forget," which chronicled the Aug. 21, 2017, total solar eclipse that passed over Clemson University. The on-campus event which Jim coordinated was a once-in-a-lifetime experience attended by more than 50,000 people.

Jim is the author of nine award-winning novels, three novelettes, and thousands of magazine and news articles. He now lives in a valley surrounded by mountains in the Southern Appalachians. He was previously an award-winning journalist at several national newspapers and a communications director at Clemson University.