BETHEL – Author Harry John Faulkner Jr. says he’s not sure what exactly triggered his desire to write.

“It’s hard to explain,” he said. “Once an idea gets into my head, it just rapidly evolves.”

His recently released book “Ryerson’s Island” is about three guys who have been friends since their Army days at Fort Sill, Okla. One of them becomes addicted to cocaine and while he is in rehabilitation, he dreams up the idea of building a hotel on a Maine offshore island.

Talking his other two friends into joining the venture, this seemingly simple process becomes an adventure involving Mafia, romance, labor union intrigue and danger.

Born in Boston to an Irish/Italian Catholic family, Faulkner grew up knowing about the Winter Hill/Somerville, Mass., Mafia gang wars in the 60s. He blends some of these stories along with his early life experiences into his book, which was recently published by Publish America.

Faulkner sits on his porch overlooking Mount Abrams while melodic wind chimes play in the background, and he said his interest in writing probably stems from an early experience with two friends.

“We were all in The Backstage Bar one night and challenged each other to come up with a short story which had a rather bizarre theme,” he said. “I found this was something I really enjoyed.”

About four years ago, Faulkner looked up an Army buddy on the Internet who he hadn’t seen for 30 years and they ended up co-authoring his first book, “Brothers of Another Realm,” which is still unpublished.

Faulkner has been empowered with right brain talent. He got his first taste of the theater in third grade, when his teacher recognized his vocal talent and asked him to sing the then popular “Once I had a Secret Love” in a talent show. He said, “I was smitten with the theater from then on.”

Faulkner and his wife, Lally, have owned The Backstage Bar in Bethel since 1987 where he plays in the band, writes music and does vocals.

“He is really a very good vocalist,” said Lally. He works in community theater and also does oil paintings.

Lally, his wife of 15 years, said, “I think Ryerson’s Island’ is a wonderful book because Harry is a man of words. Sometime those words are graphic, but they fit into the dark workings of the story.”

Lally is an artist in her own right. Their home is one of the oldest in Bethel and part of it was once a one-room schoolhouse. The windows and doors display Lally’s stained glass art while the walls reflect their love of paintings. Faulkner’s oil seascape and a still life blend into the arty room.

“Ryerson’s Island” is available on the Internet and at Books-N-Things. It may be ordered from most book stores and from Amazon.com.