Everything fell together nicely for T.J. Turner as he attempted to become a published author. The first draft of his book, Lincoln’s Bodyguard, took just six months to complete, he landed an agent fairly quickly, and the book was published one year ago to positive reviews.

“It’s been a magical ride,’’ Turner has said. “From signing with (an agent), to finding a publisher, to seeing the cover art come out, to getting a box of advanced reading copies, to seeing the final book out, and to signing that very first edition. Amazing.”

Turner will visit the Blanchester Public Library at 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 5 to discuss this experience in the program Writing Your First Novel: The Inside Story.

Turner, a Yellow Springs resident, will provide motivation and advice for all aspiring first-time novelists during the program, which is being held as part of Clinton County Reads 2016.

The author already is at work on a sequel to Lincoln’s Bodyguard, which provided an alternative version of American history in which Abraham Lincoln is saved from assassination due to the heroics of his bodyguard. Turner still writes in his spare time, as he holds a full-time job, has a wife and three children, and is a reserve military officer who has served three tours in Afghanistan and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal in 2013.

The program is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the library or call 937-783-3585.

Clinton County Reads 2016 includes book discussions and programs revolving around the book Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng. Clinton County Reads is sponsored by the Blanchester Public Library, Sabina Public Library, Wilmington Public Library and Watson Library at Wilmington College.