Press Kit

John Rhea was born and raised in Rock Hill, S.C., the youngest of three children. His parents were politically active and community-minded. Growing up, Rhea attended both public and private schools. He was fortunate to have several wonderful teachers who instilled a love of reading at an early age: “I vividly remember sixth grade when Mrs. Moore did a deep dive into Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities and how moved I was by the sacrifice at the end. It was like I had time-traveled back to the French Revolution. I was hooked on fiction from that moment. And I can still see the yellow chalk dust on Mrs. Moore’s hands as she enthusiastically waved them around. Now that was teaching.”

In high school, he turned his attention to reading novels and listening to music—his inability to play guitar is not from lack of trying. At age fifteen, Rhea contemplated a career path as a lawyer, but that ambition was sidelined for years in favor of trying to become a writer. After graduating from Clemson University he chose to live a bohemian existence in New York City and, later, New Orleans, while completing his first novel at the age of twenty-five. (“I was idealistic and full of self-confidence. But it was not my time as a writer. Thankfully, that noble failure of a book has been destroyed.”)

Afterward, Rhea graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law and worked as a criminal defense attorney in his hometown, becoming a partner in the firm of McKinney, Tucker and Rhea. “Those years of practicing law were rewarding yet stressful, filled with long work hours and intense courtroom situations. During this hectic time, my dream of becoming an author was reduced to little more than a dim pilot light.” But in retirement, he managed to resurrect his literary ambition and has now written his first published novel, Lifer, due out in June of 2025 by Redhawk.

After retiring from the practice of law, he moved with his wife, artist May Rhea, to the mountains of Western North Carolina. “We were drawn by the outdoor activities, music, art, and food that Asheville has to offer. My perfect day starts with a vigorous hike on a mountain trail with May and the dogs, followed by several hours of productive writing before going downtown for a gourmet meal at one of the many fine restaurants.” 

The fact that the protagonist of Lifer is an animal lover is key to understanding the story. “To say that my wife and I love animals is something of an understatement,” Rhea admits. “Years ago when we lived on a small farm in South Carolina, we had eight dogs, six cats, and four horses—my wife would discover a litter left on the side of the road or find a malnourished orphan by a dumpster. This gift for discovery is her superpower. In many ways, my domestic life has always revolved around the question of what new love interest my wife might be bringing home!”

When asked about his current animal status, Rhea says, “We are low right now with only three (two dogs and a cat). Sadly, all of our horses have passed, but rest assured that they led very long, happy, and pampered lives. The last man standing was my horse Apache, who at the ripe age of 33 (old for a horse) enjoyed a senior romance with a feisty chestnut mare three years his senior. Some guys have all the luck.” He continues, “Both of our dogs came from Brother Wolf Animal Rescue, where May has volunteered for many years. Mayder is a lovable 70 pound mutt who looks exactly like Tramp from Lady and The Tramp. Our other dog, ZZ, is a little 9 pound hellion who likes to boss everyone in the house around, humans and animals alike. He’s half terrier, half chihuahua, which explains his inflated opinion of himself. Winston, our gregarious black cat, is a foundling from South Carolina. As a five-week-old kitten trying to stay warm in wintertime, he climbed into the engine of my mother-in-law’s car at the CVS parking lot. He somehow survived the perilous mile-long journey from there to her home, where she finally heard his high-pitched screams. After learning of this inspirational story of survival, of course I offered to take him. Winston now lives in my study and constantly stares at me while I’m trying to concentrate.”

Like his novel’s narrator, Rhea is a huge music fan: “Asheville has marvelous live music venues. Unfortunately, some were destroyed by Hurricane Helene. But the outpouring of community support for them has been phenomenal, and I’m confident they will return and be better than ever. Prior to the storm it was not uncommon for me, in the span of a week, to check out an Irish punk band one night, then see a wunderkind jazz guitarist the next, and then catch a Southern jam band at a different venue after that. For me, live music is one of the few things in life that has the drama and excitement of a courtroom setting.”

The photo of the storm moving over a South Carolina farm on the cover of Lifer was taken by May Rhea.

Photos of the author were taken by Lucy Cobos.

Author Photos

Q: What was your inspiration for writing Lifer?

A: The idea came to me in a flash, late one night. I had been struggling with another novel, set in New York City in the early ‘80s when I lived there after college. That book was quickly coming apart amidships and I was very frustrated. And that’s when the idea for Lifer came to me out of the blue. Before I went to bed that night, I quickly wrote down a few notes on the back cover of a NewYorker magazine I was reading. . . .