Book Reviews

Jones, a veteran Canadian playwright, provides an engaging twist on the nurture-versus-nature conundrum in this novel.

In the late 1960s, Jake Chin, a California teenager, enlists in the U.S. Marines to fulfill a sense of familial obligation. Like many other young men of his generation, he gets sent off to Vietnam to keep the geopolitical dominoes from falling. This enables his twin brother, Harry, his father’s favorite, to attend college instead of him. But Jake demands a steep price for sparing his brother: “Since Harry goes to college and I go to Vietnam, Dad gives me the winery....Mom gets it if I die.” While attending the Defense Linguistics Institute, Jake meets his good friend Bohdan Chin, a Canadian volunteer born on the same date as Jake, and the “Double Chins” end up serving in Special Operations together. The pair soon grow to hate the war, and when a tragedy hands Jake a way out, he takes it. To do so, however, he leaves behind his country and family and begins a new life. He enjoys a new relationship, makes new friends and attends college, all the while fearing that his deception will fall apart. As a result, he accepts that he’ll have to evolve as a person. Jones skillfully uses Jake’s emotional metamorphosis to provide a window on the tumultuous times of the late 1960s and early ’70s. Specifically, he shows how the war declined in popularity and how radical youth upended American culture. The author also includes a liberal dose of suspense, as circumstances keep sending Jake back to his California home. He even mixes in a little mysticism, as well, with a wise Laotian rebel who pops up at key moments to bail Jake out of trouble. The result is a heady brew that will have readers rooting for Jake during the many difficult changes in his life.

An intriguing portrait of one American’s life north of the border during the Vietnam era. 

- Kirkus Reviews

Good books have a wonderful way of taking us on a journey into different eras and life experiences, and “Heir of Promise” is one of those books.  Readers are reunited with the days of the Vietnam War, and they are drawn into two sets of family dynamics; one being an affluent vineyard in California, and the other being a modest farm family in small town Alberta.  Layer by layer Jones peels and reveals insights into his characters strengths, weaknesses, and pasts.  He exposes some of the political corruptions surrounding happy and sad times during the psychedelic sixties.  This novel serves to educate while it entertains. 

What began as campfire stories this fiction book is well researched and written.  It provides vivid imagery and intimate insights and details into a young man’s emotional being, and a soldier’s courage, hardships, and fortitude.  More than once this book takes readers to the edge.  It is well paced breaking through boundaries of love, entitlements, and circumstances. 

- The Scugog Standard

What a pleasant read is Heir of Promise. This is an intriguing story set in the late 1960's and early 1970's of two friends that go off to the Vietnam War. Only one returns. Jake, the survivor then delves into the enduring family conflicts he thought that he had left behind: his 20 plus year rivalry with his twin brother, his father's unfair treatment, offset by his mother's deep love of him because of this. We also find out that aspects of the war follow him home as well. Romance, murder and adventures across North America lead to a climactic finale....or does it. If a sequel is in the mix, I eagerly await it.

- Ron Graham/The Clock Gallery

Llewellyn Mark Jones

How did Heir of Promise develop?

Around a campfire at a family reunion on Otty Lake in late July 2011, Larry Claeys had an idea for a movie. As he was describing it, other members of the family contributed modifications and ideas. Larry insisted that my son, Dylan (a Film Studies graduate and video editor), direct the movie and that I write the screenplay. Larry even had casting ideas. I made notes, sent them to my brother-in-law, David Kravacek for verification. Soon after, I began to research the war in Vietnam. Larry’s plot became the skeleton for the plot of Heir of Promise.

Writing plays, short stories, and poetry did not intimidate me, but writing a novel did. I realized that this story should be a novel first and a movie second. Insecurity needed to be overcome by writing the novel. It was time to slay my dragon.

 In February 2012, Larry asked if I had written the book yet. I was still working full time then, and the project required extensive research. “Forget Vietnam.  Just set it in Canada,” was Larry’s response. “Let’s go!” His enthusiasm was encouraging. However, I was too far into the research at that point to change.

 I also was not prepared to make writing a novel a spare time experience. Other than occasional covering for absent vice-principals in local high schools, I retired from a career in education July 2012. Writing a novel was the second thing on my retirement “bucket list” after travelling Route 66.

 By January 2013, I confronted my procrastination by deciding, “Enough research.  Create an outline and put your fingers on the keys.” Continuing research, problems with the plot surfaced. While realism guided the writing, mixing mystical elements from the biblical story of Jacob and Esau made the project more inspirational. It became an exciting, living process when the characters told me that they would not do what my outline said they should do. I revised my outline several times.

 In July 2013, with fifty-five pages written in Word, I took a weeklong course at University of Toronto with several other aspiring novelists under the teaching of Joy Fielding. The advice of classmates and Joy contributed to sharpening my focus. I scrapped what I had written. A linear plot appeared. The working title changed from Leftovers to Identity to finally Heir of Promise.

 Several literary friends and family members gave me advice as I wrote. As a result of their input and the first professional editing, the linear plot reverted to a non-linear storytelling structure. By late August 2014, a second professional editor made suggestions. Dylan and Susan with Tim’s help designed the cover. Susan and I completed another edit after the first interior proof. Printed copies of the novel appeared in mid-October, 2014.

 Self-publishing has provided learning experiences and it will continue to do so. I thank you all for participating in it with me. I hope that Heir of Promise is as much fun and challenging to read as it was for me to write it.

 Heir of Promise is your first novel. What in life took you so long?

 1.   Lack of confidence

Now that the novel has been written, does that mean that I have some?

2.   Commitments

Did I mention the various roles in life that I took seriously? Husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, friend, neighbour, community member, educator etc.? I know. They’re just excuses. My doctor doesn’t buy it either when he monitors my cholesterol.

3.   Pleasures of life

Yes, they were not effective use of time.  

4.   Immaturity

I still haven’t grown up, but now there’s a novel.

5.   Inexperience

There are never enough experiences from which to create art. At least, that’s my excuse. Did I talk about procrastination?

6.   Procrastination

Life goes by so quickly. It’s a good thing I didn’t die before completing the novel.

7.   Fear

Will people like it? Is success measured by book sales? My wife likes it, but I refuse to sell her a book.

8.   Time

Kinda related to number two. It’s amusing how a career in what I have enjoyed took up so much energy and time to do well. I know. It’s just another excuse.

9.   Lack of Inspiration

Like Vladimir and Estragon in Waiting for Godot, I was waiting for inspiration. Life was imitating art. Thank you, Big Guy, I mean, Yao. I mean that sincerely.

10.Bildungsroman

The first fifty-five years don’t count.

 Why do you write?

 To create enjoyment, thought, and discussion as art is supposed to do.

 Who are you?

 Certainly, the Who wrestled with this question. The Guess Who less so. While balance in life isn’t a goal, it is a governing principle along with “almost everything in moderation.” (Use your imagination on that one.) In the play of life, Everyman is the preferred name of my character. 

 My life is full of paradoxes. I’m sentimental and practical. I’m obsessive and a free spirit. I’m an extravert when I’m not an introvert. I’m a rebel in a straightjacket.

 Honesty is important, but not if you’re writing fiction, which is telling untrue stories.

 Strengths can also be weaknesses. Confidence hides insecurity. I am patient, but when I lose it, anger appears. Strange, isn’t it? 

 My pet peeves? Pet peeves.

 My favourite things? “When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I’m feeling sad . . .” I can’t remember my favourite things. That’s why I feel so bad. Getting older stinks.

 There are still challenges ahead in my life, but if it ended now, I am content. Others would be very happy.

 What are your interests?

 People ask me which sports and teams I like. As a fan of professional sports, I support millionaires and billionaires.

Oh yes, the answer is Flames, Saints, Cowboys, Redblacks (Could we please go back to Rough Riders?), Raptors (with props to Cory Joseph), Clippers, and the Blue Jays (sometimes pronounced around here also as Blow Jays).

Go McMaster Marauders, Queen’s Golden Gaels, and Calgary Dinosaurs. Rah, Rah.

 I like radio. Occasionally, I read a newspaper. I don’t have a favorite writer. My reading is varied too. Like Chance the gardener, I like to watch TV. My taste in music is eclectic, but movies bring out my snobbishness. Sometimes I try to get in shape, eat less, and reduce alcohol intake. Of course, it doesn’t help those goals when I sit at a computer to research and write for half a day, five days a week. Alas, there is another paradox in my life. Ah, the sacrifices I’ve made for art’s sake.

 Time with family and friends, as well as travel have high priority. Returning to the “bucket list,” sometime soon I want to visit northern Canada in both summer and winter:  NWT, Yukon, and Nunavut. California is a regular stop.  

What’s next?

 How does a sequel to Heir of Promise sound? There are a few unresolved issues from it. Should I do it? Let me know.

For those who know me well, they think that I need to deal with unresolved issues in my own life first before writing a second novel.