Author James Benn will tour southeastern Connecticut throughout late March and early April to speak about his own works as well as professional writing. Presentations in the region will be at the Stonington Free Library on March 26, East Lyme High School on April 3, and the Mystic Marriott Hotel in Groton on April 28 before Benn heads to major cities such as New York and Baltimore.
A Connecticut resident who previously served as the director of the Ledyard Public Libraries and currently serves on the board of directors of the Lyme Public Library, Benn is the creator and author of the Billy Boyle series, historical mysteries set during World War II and published by Soho Press.
The first book of the series, Billy Boyle, takes place in 1942 in England and Norway and focuses on Boyle, a young officer, and his top secret dealings with General Dwight Eisenhower. The second book of the series, The First Wave, occurs only months later and uses the Allied invasion of Northwest Africa as its backdrop as Boyle continues his investigation into wartime crimes.
Benn is credited with using exceptional character development in fleshing out Boyle, a probable reason for the high level of anticipation for the September 2008 release of the third book of the series, Blood Alone. A fourth installment, likely to be titled Recompense, is now being penned.
Benn has also published On Dangerous Ground, a World War II thriller, and completed Souvenir, an analysis of the various lasting effects of World War II on one man.
While not touring, writing, or doing research for his World War II novels, Benn also works as the coordinator of information technology for West Hartford Public Schools.