Like Mark Doty's Heaven's Coast, The Book of Timothy: The Devil, My Brother, and Me weaves a lyric voice into a difficult subject matter; in this case, a sister's attempt to extract a confession from the Catholic priest who abused her brother. When the legal system fails, is restorative justice still possible?
Join us Thursday, November 18th for a discussion with Joan Nockels Wilson. She will be joined by her brother, Timothy Nockels and Kathleen Tarr, author of We are All Poets Here.
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About the book:
Set in Rome, Chicago, and Anchorage, and spanning thirty years from crime to confrontation, The Book of Timothy: A Sister's Pursuit recounts in lyric movements a sister's journey, partly through trickery, but eventually through truth, to gain a long-absent admission from the priest who abused her brother. While on that journey, Nockels Wilson, a former prosecutor, confronts not only the priest, but her personal quest for vengeance. She further seeks an understanding of how the first Book of Timothy, the work of St. Paul, contributed to the silencing of women in her once loved Catholic Church. This Book of Timothy promises to take the reader on a quest for justice and down a path of unexpected coincidences that ends where it first began: out of a great love for a brother and in the power of first memory.
About our guests:
Joan Nockels Wilson is a writer and lawyer. A native of Chicago and a forever-learner, she has studied at Northwestern University, University of California Berkeley, Lewis and Clark College, and the University of Alaska. In addition to her law degree, she holds a Master’s of Fine Arts in creative nonfiction, is a Rasmuson Foundation Individual Artist award winner, and is a member of the Bread Loaf community of writers. Her work has appeared in literary journals and audio shows, most recently Cirque and Arctic Entries. Joan has practiced as a civil and criminal litigator in Alaska for twenty-five years. She currently serves as a Senior Assistant Attorney General for the State of Alaska. She lives with her husband, daughter, and a vizsla named Vivian in Anchorage, Alaska. This is her first book.
Kathleen Tarr, Anchorage, is the author of We Are All Poets Here (VP&D House, 2018), a memoir that explores how the famous Trappist monk and spiritual writer,Thomas Merton, became her spiritual guide. Her work has appeared in a wide variety of publications including literary journals, newspapers, magazines, blogs, and in several Merton-related anthologies. Kathleen serves on the national board of the International Thomas Merton Society, and is founder of the Alaska Chapter of the ITMS. She is the former program coordinator of UAA’s low-residency MFA Program in creative writing and teaches a variety of popular literary seminars. Kathleen holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Pittsburgh. For more information: https://kathleenwtarr.com/.
Timothy Nockels was the first of Father John Baptist Ormechea’s victims to come forward and the only one to do so publicly. Thanks to his bravery, at least seven more victims followed. Shortly after completion of an investigation of Tim’s and other victims' charges by the Cook County State’s Attorney, who deemed all allegations credible, Father Ormechea was removed from public ministry. The Book of Timothy: The Devil, My Brother, and Me is the collective product of Tim and his sister -- Tim had to live it. Joan had to write it -- that began with a promise to bring accountability to Ormechea, the Archdiocese of Chicago, and the Passionist religious order. Timothy Nockels has worked in financial futures for 32 years, working his way up from floor runner at the Chicago Board of Trade to his current status as President and Owner of Pure Soul, Inc. where he advises Morgan Stanley on the pricing and execution of Euro Dollar options and trades at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Tim also serves as President and program leader of the Special Recreation Association of Central Lake County Foundation which provides athletic, theatrical, and equine therapeutic services to children and adults with autism and Down Syndrome. Known as Coach Tim, he was awarded “He’s the Best Dad,” by his town’s local newspaper. Tim and his wife Lisa reside in Vernon Hills, Illinois with their two teenage boys.
Set in Rome, Chicago, and Anchorage, and spanning thirty years from crime to confrontation, The Book of Timothy: The Devil, My Brother, and Me recounts in lyric movements a sister's journey, partly through trickery, but eventually through truth, to gain a long-absent admission from the priest who abused her brother.