Lee Payne, who grew up in Katy and graduated from Katy High School in 1985, held a book signing at Midway BBQ, 6025 Highway Blvd. in Katy, on Saturday, July 27. Now a professor of political science at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Payne’s first novel, “The Pack” was published on June 8, 2024.

Payne’s book – the first of a werewolf trilogy -- is set in the Piney Woods of East Texas, which he says is “a good place for werewolves.” He was inspired to write the book in December 2015 after a drive home down a dark country road when he saw a creature’s eyes glittering in the dark. By the time he got home, Payne said, he had already written chapter one in his head. The book sat for a while until the summer of 2016 when Payne began working from home, teaching an online class, and then Payne picked up the manuscript again and worked on it through 2017.

Payne said that it took six years to find a publisher; he was determined not to self-publish, he said, because he said that he wanted validation that the book was “good enough.” He is working with Rogue Phoenix Press, which bills itself as an ebook publisher in business since 2008.

The second book in the series is called “The Cloud,” and is due out next summer. The third book – “The Gathering” – involves a coven of witches.

Payne’s first brush with publishing was a job with the Katy Times when he was 14. On Saturdays, he said, he would get the bundles of newspapers ready for the carriers to pick up for delivery. “It was my first paycheck job,” said Payne.

Payne has succeeded as a professor and author despite challenges. He broke his neck after a dive into a rice well and was left a quadriplegic. He said that the first three years afterward were hard, but he became interested in political speech writing. At 32 he went back to school, double-majoring in political science and communication, obtaining a degree from SFA in 2003, a masters from the University of Houston in 2006, and a PhD from UH in 2008. He returned to SFA to teach, starting as an adjunct professor and becoming a full professor after 15 years.

“I feel lucky to be at SFA,” he said.