On this site, I will introduce you to the characters and worlds of my debut novel, IT GIVES YOU STRENGTH -a mash up of science fiction and alternate history. 

Set in New York during prohibition, the fictional characters interact with actual historical figures, including mobster Jack “Legs” Diamond, heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey and World War heroine Edith Cavell. For more about the plot, see the About the Book page.

The story follows an alien scientist from a distant galaxy caught on Earth in the middle of a mob war over the lucrative Canada to New York rum smuggling market.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy reading IT GIVES YOU STRENGTH as much I loved writing it.

Welcome to the website for my debut novel

about the book

IT GIVES YOU STRENGTH

On a rescue mission to the distant planet Earth in 1926, an alien scientist, Tashan Zho,  is transported into the dying body of bootlegger Ryan Costello. Upon his death, Costello’s body is reanimated by the alien, and endowed with supernatural powers. Unfortunately, the body is so damaged from years of alcohol abuse that the alien’s memory and his vital files are corrupted. All that remains of his mission plan is one phrase: “Find the one called Mike Kelly.”

Complicating matters, the alien soon discovers that Kelly is the leader of a criminal gang of World War veterans, who are battling mobster Jack “Legs” Diamond for control of the lucrative Canada/New York rum-running market. Upon recognizing Costello's enhanced abilities and physical strength, Kelly forces the alien into the mob. Since Kelly is his only chance of discovering and completing his mission, the alien agrees.  Costello soon learns his crucial task - to free an alien child from the infamous Craig Colony before his home world dispatches its  “rescue armada.” A force so massive that its mere entry into the Earth’s atmosphere would devastate the planet.   

about the author

Philip Raymond Brown

Philip Raymond Brown lives in Colorado with his fabulous wife, four beautiful children, and two good dogs.  He has his B.A. in History and Political Science from Le Moyne College and his J.D. from Washington & Lee University School of Law.

Writing Fiction is Philip's lifelong dream, and is his second career. In 2017, he walked away from a highly successful career as a trial attorney to pursue this dream. While writing STRENGTH, he devoted his time to his family, coaching little league and youth basketball. This year, while his heroic wife, the fabulous Dr. Sarah Brown, was on the front lines of the battle against COVID 19, Philip was homeschooling their four children. 

As a trial attorney, he received numerous accolades, including being named to Best Lawyers in America, attaining the highest ethical/ability peer review rating ("AV") in Martindale-Hubbell, and being listed in Super Lawyers. 

The yet-untitled sequel to STRENGTH will be released in the Summer of 2021.

The story, a mashup of historical fiction, science fiction, and fantasy, is set in upstate New York during prohibition. The fictional characters interact with actual historical figures, including mobster Jack “Legs” Diamond, heavyweight champ Jack Dempsey, and World War heroine Edith Cavell.  

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" I was a pretty good fighter. But it was the writers who made me great."

- Jack Dempsey

Featured in the novel IT GIVES YOU STRENGTH