From Lowell, With Legacy: Ed DeJesus Returns

Ed DeJesus returns to his hometown of Lowell, MA, to present his award-winning novel, The Vulnerable.

On Saturday, October 11, at 3:00 p.m., a live reading, Q&A session, and book signing will take place at LaLa Books, 189 Market St., Lowell, MA. The event happens the weekend Lowell honors its iconic author, Jack Kerouac, and visitors from around the world come to the city to visit his museum and hear authors who have written about him.

The Vulnerable, a timely, award-winning thriller set against the backdrop of climate crisis, domestic extremism, and social unrest, features gritty characters from Lowell. DeJesus will read excerpts that highlight the city’s rich industrial past, its diverse culture, its movie stars, Jack Kerouac, and other well-known writers.

Jack Kerouac wrote in his novel, On the Road, “Everyone goes home in October.” “Returning on the weekend that Lowell Celebrates Kerouac is special for me,” said DeJesus. “Lowell shaped my roots — and now I get to bring The Vulnerable home, where it all began.”

A bout The Vulnerable

Set in snowy Massachusetts and sunny Florida, The Vulnerable has won the Literary Titan, the Pencraft Best Summer Book, and the Readers' Choice Best Book Awards. This gripping, thought-provoking thriller explores themes of crime, domestic violence, corruption, climate change, personal reckoning, and family conflict. The intense, character-driven story follows a missing Lowell woman, a young man caught in a web of secrets, a father facing threats over climate activism, and the families and ideologies that clash between them.

Praise for The Vulnerable

“Gripping, timely, and unafraid to confront uncomfortable truths, this is a thriller that lingers well beyond its final page. Our verdict: get it!” —Kirkus Reviews 

“Through clear, straightforward prose and skillful development, Ed DeJesus strikes gold. Very highly recommended.”★★★★★ — Readers' Favorite 

“ The Vulnerable delivers both suspense and substance with a plot that mirrors real-world issues. It’s not just a thriller; it's a book that forces you to think.” —The Literary Titan

About the Author

Ed DeJesus is an award-winning novelist. His short stories have appeared in The Lowell Review and in Indies United's 2025 Anthology with other award winners. They preview his upcoming memoir collection, Simpler Times in The Spindle City, a nostalgic look at Lowell during the 1960s and ’70s.

A technopreneur, he served as President of Sightline Solar, CEO of JustZip.com, and VP of Engineering at MSL. His pioneering work at Digital Equipment Corp was published in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Design Automation journals. Born in Lowell, he raised his family in Chelmsford, MA, and now lives in Fort Myers, FL. He served in the US Army Reserves, and his education includes studies in Computer Science at Boston University and in Creative Writing at UMass Lowell. 

Event Details

What: The Vulnerable – Book Reading, Q&A, and Signing with Author Ed DeJesus

Where: LaLa Books – 189 Market Street, Lowell, MA

When: Sat 10/11/2025 at 3:00 pm

Admission: Free & open to the public – RSVP encouraged via Author Ed DeJesus | lala books

Copies of The Vulnerable will be available for purchase, and guests can have their books signed by the author. It's also available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon The Vulnerable: DeJesus, Ed: 9781644568101: Amazon.com: Books

Website: Ed DeJesus: Award-Winning Author | Ed DeJesus Author