PRISON SUPERVISOR PENS BOOK; SAYS IT WAS WHAT GOD WANTED HIM TO DO

Long hours working as the laundry supervisor at the prison, he wakes up at 3 a.m. to be at work by 5 a.m. In these quiet moments when the rest of the house is asleep, he writes down notes. Sometimes the words come from thoughts, others from vivid dreams or inspiration from God.

These early morning hours are when independent author James Lindsay writes his book, poems, or other stories. He has been passionate about writing since he was 17-years-old and just published his first two books in 2018 and most recently in 2020 under the penname J.E. Lindsay Jr.

Lindsay, originally from Dallas, moved to Tyler when he was in second grade. He calls himself a Tyler-ite now and feels at home with his wife of almost 15 years, Stacy. They have three of their eight children currently living at home in Whitehouse, Texas.

The 54-year-old Lindsay feels like this is his life’s mission and recently published Analyses of a Slave Mentality on July 4, 2020 right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and peak of civil unrest.

With his life experience working as a juvenile correction officer as well as an adult correction officer he drew on his own life experiences. He found many themes from early slavery, still manifest today in the African American community. As a Black man, he researched these issues, read articles, and wrote this book as a way to generate discussion about these issues. He feels many are accustomed to their own way of life and rarely step outside their cultural norm to address other societal issues.

“The book analyses the toll of slavery, systematic notions, facts, feelings and opinions,” Lindsay says. “I asked a lot of open-ended questions so we can create a discussion and use our own logic to understand.”

Lindsay recalls the emotions when he held his book in his hands.

“Of course when I received my first copy, I welled up,” Lindsay said. “It was relief. It was that gorilla off of my back and it allowed me to see that the message that God had for me, that this is the direction he wants for my life.”

Lindsay is passionate about giving God the credit for much of his success as an author.

“It’s a gift,” Lindsay says. “Without trying to get emotional, when God sets you apart and this is what He designed you to do. Sometimes it takes you a long time before you realize this is what he really wants you to do.”

Lindsay says he often woke up and wrote for two or three hours at a time, often prompted by inspiration. He drew on some of his life experiences, and continues to write psalms, poems, and other notes.

Baptized in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints years ago, Lindsay continues to improve his personal relationship with God.

“I have known James for more than 20 years and have discussed the gospel of Jesus Christ with him in our home,” says church friend Anne Rhodus of Tyler. “He is a man of great faith, and we are thrilled for him to release this book. We can learn so much from his insight and experience as a spiritual and cultural leader.”

His first book was a children’s book released in 2018, 31 Ways to Use a Leftover Pizza, which is a silly rhyming book and taught him valuable lessons in the publishing process.

The Barnes and Noble in Tyler carries Lindsay’s book, with an in-person book-signing put on hold due to the pandemic. Analyses of A Slave Mentality can also be read online in e-book format.

Featured Photo: James and Stacy Lindsey of Whitehouse, Texas. Photo courtesy of James Lindsay.