A University sophomore’s first crack at a published novel has ended in a “mystery romance suspense thriller.”
 
Nineteen-year-old author Jules Haigler recently debuted with “The Color of Red.”
 
The novel was published under Xlibris Book Publishing Company, and an ecstatic Haigler said he hopes to have several book signings in the Baton Rouge area.
 
“Red” is a fictional novel set in England during the World War II years.
 
Haigler said he plans to arrange book signings at Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million and the LSU Bookstore. The print and e-book versions became available in October at the online stores of Barnes & Noble, Amazon and Books-A-Million.
 
“It took me two years to write the book but six years to come up with plot and characters,” Haigler said. “After that, writing the book was easy.”
 
Catherine Glueck, elementary education sophomore and Haigler’s friend, recalled when he began working on his story.
 
“I remember in high school when he started writing it, he’d sometimes let his friends read the rough draft of a chapter he had started, and everyone loved it,” Glueck said. “Every day when I’d see him, he’d have some new development in the process of publishing to tell me about.”
 
Writing became stress relief for Haigler, who said he was bullied in the past. After doubting would finish his book, he said the publishing of his first novel is a huge success.
 
Occasionally, Haigler would become overwhelmed with the prospects of publishing the book, but once his goal was accomplished, he returned to his usual, happy self. Glueck said he was deeply invested in the production.
 
“I enjoy writing, and I wrote most of the book between classes on my laptop,” Haigler said.
 
He also designed the cover and illustrations in the novel.
 
“Jules is a very creative person with a unique way of looking at things, which is why I think he makes such a great writer,” Glueck said. “He was very excited about getting his book published.”
 
Haigler said he was inspired by Dan Brown, author of “The Da Vinci Code” and “Angels and Demons,” and wanted his book to portray the same dramatic style as many of Brown’s novels. Haigler said he was also inspired to use the color red as a theme after he read “The Giver” in middle school.
 
Haigler uses the color to represent the characters’ emotions, like passion, love and anger.
 
The novel is centered on themes of greed, innocence, betrayal and secrecy, and each of the four parts has a unique ending. But Haigler says they all connect into one story.
 
He said there are 16 possible endings, and the reader can choose, though he provides a definite ending in the epilogue.
 
Inspector Danforth Rouge, the novel’s protagonist, is a colorblind detective who seeks justice in a corrupt world, Haigler said.
 
“Each of the characters presents a different form of evil in the human soul,” Haigler said.
 
One of the characters, the pretentious Madame Scarlette, dresses richly and represents pride, Haigler said.
 
And Haigler said some of the physicality and personality of his characters matches his family and friends. One of the protagonist sympathizers is based on his grandmother. Others embody character flaws of the people Haigler encounters in real life, he said.
 
“Although the novel involves several murders, the story has a good message. But the readers must read the novel themselves to find out what it is,” Haigler said.
 
He said a stormier sequel is in the works.
 
 
 
 
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Contact Kate Mabry at [email protected]