Coming June 17, 2025 from Regal House Publishing
Three Guesses
Recipient of the Fugere Book Prize Recognizing Finely Crafted Novellas
Sharp. Eccentric. Funny. Soulful. Refreshing.
Pre-Order THREE GUESSES
Regal House Publishing
Burkes Books, Memphis TN
Three strangers, connected only by a mesmerizing painting named Three Guesses, embark on an extraordinary journey of friendship. Compelled by their agreement to communicate only by mail, Sam Brooks of Memphis, TN, Richard Mabry of Phoenix, AZ, and Pete Wren of New York City reveal surprisingly intimate, personal details in a series of letters over the course of seven years. Then, as each contends with critical turning points in their lives, the unlikely trio breaks their mail-only pact and makes a life-changing decision to finally meet in person at the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Humorous and heartbreaking, soulful and breathtaking, Three Guesses celebrates the power of friendship to carry us though the most joyful and the most difficult chapters of our lives.
“An epistolary celebration of creativity, art, and the written word, Three Guesses is an enchanting treat of a novella. I absolutely adored it. When a bored temp worker sends an illicit letter to both an artist and to a man who owns one of his paintings, these three very different people start a correspondence that develops into an unlikely friendship. Only communicating through the mail, this odd trio will come to sustain each other in the most unexpected ways. With vivid, poetic storytelling and warm humor, Chris McClain Johnson weaves their loneliness and longing into a life-affirming and joyful tapestry of connection. Warning, you might find happy tears rolling down your cheeks as you turn the last page.” —Jennifer Oko, author of Gloss and Just Emilia