WILLIAMSBURG — Barnes & Noble Booksellers will be holding a book-signing event with local Williamsburg author J.E. Tobin for his new book “When We Were Wolves” on July 9.
The new work centers on Tom Wingfield, a small-town Virginia resident who finds out the town hero and college football coach has been accused of horrific crimes by a boy.
Tom must now decide between risking the life he’s built for himself or bringing a horrible man to justice.
The book is inspired by the saga surrounding former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, as well as the #MeToo movement.
“I said to myself at that time, what would have happened if it was Joe Paterno, who was like a god among national football coaches,” Tobin said about his inspiration in an interview with WYDaily.
Tobin conceptualized the book in 2012, but had to put on the back burner due to career demands. That changed after a heart attack resulted in his decision to retire from his career as a Psychologist.
“I had decided to stop working,” Tobin said. “And I said ‘what am I going to do with myself?’ And my son said to me, ‘dad, you used to write when you were a young man. You always loved it. Why don’t you go back to writing?’ And so I started writing again.”
Proceeds from the book will be going to the Prevent Child Abuse America charity, whose goal is to help prevent child abuse before it happens. Promoted by science, it is designed to help children, families, and communities thrive.
“It’s part of my giving back,” Tobin says about that choice. “In my life, I’ve been very lucky to have had help along the way. In terms of my career, in terms of my life, and other kinds of things. And so this was my way to give back.”
“When We Were Wolves” has been endorsed by the likes of Whoopi Goldberg, Michael Gurian, and Jessie Chaffee. More can be found on Tobin’s website.
The signing event will take place from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, July 9 at the New Town Shops Barnes & Noble Booksellers. For more information, check out the Barnes and Noble events page.
