Buck’s ninth novel, “Mud Lake” will be released on Nov 15. The book includes multiple crime story aspects including good cops, bad cops, love, murder, and a priest’s redemption, according to a review of the book from Douglas Osgood, a Western short story writer. Buck said for this novel he wanted to focus on a small town.

“I wanted to set it in a small town that is reliant on tourism,” Buck said. “So, I set it in a fictional version of Bemus Point, though I changed some things for the story. My last few novels have been set in cities and I wanted to explore the small town and what having a serial killer might do to a place like that.”

This is Buck’s second novel this year, and while he said he usually only does one a year, after getting the idea in his head, Buck felt the need to write this one now as well. The main character, Father Joe, stems off of his previous novels, and Buck added that the other main character is an adult film star, and he wanted to explore the two main characters as polar opposites as they move to the small town and get involved in the murder.

“What I try to do with each of my novels is explore different aspects of crime,” Buck said. “I look at the victims, their families, the place, rather than the actual criminal. You know, for serial killers, everyone knows Ted Bundy, but not the names of his victims. I focused on the town at large for this novel, rather than the killer.”

Pictured is TJ Buck, who recently wrote his ninth novel, which will be released on Nov 15. Submitted photo

Buck added that he always gives each book a different twist in order to challenge himself and generate new ideas. He said he has the idea for his next one in his head already, but that he likes to sit with the ideas in his mind for a few months before beginning to write, and that the next one after “Mud Lake” will most likely come out sometime next year.

“I can sit with an idea for months before I write,” Buck said. “I like to know the end beforehand, so I have something to write towards.”

All of Buck’s books are available on Amazon in both ebook format and paperback, along with at Good Neighbor Bookstore in Lakewood. Future events for “Mud Lake” include an interview with WRAF radio and a book signing at Good Neighbor Bookstore sometime after the book is released on Nov 15.