James Lewis

 

James Lewis is a geophysical consultant in the oil and gas exploration industry. He has lived and worked in South America for over 20 years. His long-term exposure to latino culture developed his understanding of its socio-economic class structure and provided the impetus for this book.

Book Description: Franco Jenke and David Martinez are two childhood friends who create a philosophy on how life should be lived in our capitalistic times. After being given the key to acquire an incredible amount of wealth, they devise a plan to spread their millions to the world in a way they believe would benefit mankind more than the normal routes of charitable donations or governmental programs. Share, Inc. begins in 2017, when Franco uses his extraordinary athletic ability to amass a large fortune in a very short time. David, with his background in world economics, becomes the manager of Franco's wealth and together the pair clash with both sides of the human spectrum: the obscenely wealthy and the abject poor.

The pair travel Latin America and encounter resistance to their plan from corrupt government officials, religious organizations, and big business. Along the way they experience physical dangers and finally come up against the world’s most powerful leaders. In this, the me generation, Franco and David attempt to make the world see, through the eyes of the media, that vast amounts of wealth can be shared in a fair and just way. They create a system whereby the individual is allowed to develop based on his/her own level of intellect or talent.

 

Pageonelit.com: Where did you grow up and was reading and writing a part of your life?
Who were your earliest influences and why?

James Lewis: I was born in Holden, Massachusetts in 1954, and lived in the northeastern U.S. until my early 20's. Reading and writing have always been a part of my life. I grew up reading classic American tales such as The Catcher in the Rye. My favorite author is perhaps Ernest Hemingway. I enjoyed the latino influence in some of his books, and since I live in Peru, I can really associate with his writings.

 

Pageonelit.com:  Why do you write?

James Lewis: I write because I enjoy writing stories with exotic settings in some of the places I've lived and worked. It is truly a challenge to make the reader feel what I have seen and felt in my travels, and still continue to feel. Sometimes I fail at that, but it is always challenging to try.

Pageonelit.com: What is your background, and how did you obtain your extensive knowlege of the socio-economic class structure of the latino culture? In real life you are a geophysical consultant - Please explain.

James Lewis: I've lived and worked most of my adult life outside the United States, and most of that time has been spent in South America. My work as a geophysical consultant in the oil and gas exploration industry takes me to many strange and fascinating places. I supervise and manage large exploration projects?usually in very remote locales?with sometimes up to 1000 workers per project. Many times I am the only native English speaker in the lot, so having a firm grasp of Spanish was and is a priority for me. Currently I am supervising projects in Ecuador.

Presently, I live in Lima, Peru, a city of almost 9 million inhabitants. Living there for over 8 years has provided me with many interesting tales of cultural differences between North and South America. Each day spawns a new step in my continuing education of latino culture, business and society.

 

Pageonelit.com:  Share Inc. is the story of two men who have a plan to turn the world around by sharing their wealth. How did you get this idea? Share Inc. begins in the year 2017 - How do you write and set a story and characters 13 years in the future?

James Lewis: There is no better place to start with new ideas for wealth-sharing than Latin America. In the U.S. the middle class is large and diverse, and the chance for personal economic advancement is far greater there than in all the lands south of Texas. Every time I return to the United States this fact becomes more evident to me. Because the U.S. shares a very long border with Mexico, it makes it more likely that Latin Americans will interface with their northern neighbors rather than the underdeveloped countries of Africa and Asia. The very fact that the United States has a massive illegal immigrant problem, mostly latino, is a case in point. Waiting lines for visa applicants in American embassies in most South American countries are usually the longest of any embassies, including those of Europe and Canada. The most popular reason for latinos wanting to emigrate to the United States is simple: real opportunities for economic advancement. This fact will not change, even in the near future such as 2017.

 

Pageonelit.com:  What problems do Franco and David run into when trying to spread their wealth to the world?

James Lewis: There is a great chasm in the underdeveloped nations (in this case, South America) between the wealthy and what one might call the middle class. This is evident not just in personal financial wealth, but also in levels of education. If one is not wise to the ways of the modern business world, then it is next to impossible to succeed economically?unless one is well connected. Franco and David attempt to select talented, capable individuals from the middle or lower social economic classes, and then give them the wealth and the chance to succeed?or fail. Certain elements of the South American upper class see this as a threat because, if at least partly successful, then it will demonstrate that the political and business leaders of the continent are essentially inept or corrupt, and that they have never had the will, nor the desire, to try such an outlandishly simple scheme using their own resources. Franco and David put their ideas to work, become successful, and then they are attacked by the upper class in all manner of ways?espionage, media campaigns and physical danger.

 

Pageonelit.com: What's next? Tell us about your next book.

James Lewis: My second book I hope to have published in 2005. It will also be set in the not too distant future, and will intertwine high technology's coming of age in the Third World with intrigue in the battle against world corruption. There is a blurb about it on my website: http://www.JamesLewisBooks.com

Pageonelit.com: What do you hope to achieve with your books? What do you hope readers will take away after reading your books?

James Lewis: Share, Inc. is a work of fiction. I have tried to tell a believable tale as to what might happen if such a scheme were ever hatched on the continent of South America. It is perhaps simplistic and naive of me to think that such events could ever transpire, but when I began writing the story the "what-ifs" never stopped. After all…the southern continent is a fountain of great story ideas, and every day for me the source of that fountain is broadened. Getting your readers to wonder "what-if" is a goal in itself.

 

Pageonelit.com: What has been your feedback from readers?

James Lewis: The feedback from readers has been generally positive, and I've received many questions as to where I came up with my plot and storyline ideas. I welcome all comments and they can be addressed to: author@JamesLewisBooks.com

 

Pageonelit.com: What's next?

James Lewis: I am currently doing research for my second book. At the same time I am working in Ecuador, and enjoying the steamy heat of the eastern jungle in one of the most biodiverse spots on the planet.

 

Pageonelit.com: What was the last book you read?

James Lewis: Just read Digital Fortress by Dan Brown. An interesting thriller about code-breaking by the NSA.

Pageonelit.com: Do you have any hobbies? What are they? How do they enhance your writing?

James Lewis: I enjoy traveling and sports. Traveling enhances my writing in the obvious ways as mentioned above, and sports help to relax the mind.