Books

Touch

The Run Down.

A Michigan woman was blind and now she can see, after being touched by a young man who calls himself Juvenal. Maybe it was just coincidence, but Bill Hill—who used to run the spectacular Uni-Faith Ministry in Dalton, Georgia, and now sells RVs—can see dollar signs when he looks at this kid with the magic "touch." The trouble is that others see them also, including a wacko fundamentalist fascist with his own private army of the faithful and an assortment of media leeches. But everyone who's looking to put the touch on the healer is in for a big surprise—because Juvenal's got a trick or two up his sleeve that nobody sees coming.

Published: 1987

Publisher: Arbor House

Genre: Crime

Adaptation: Film (1997)

Location: Detroit

Chicago Tribune

The publishers were wrong. "Touch" deserved to be printed, and it deserves to be read.

— Chicago Tribune

Juvenal

Juvenal was facing the congregation, he and August Murray flankingthe old priest, maybe holding him up. Juvenal moved aside and Lynn had the feeling he was looking at her, past all the heads and hats, picking her out where she stood in the back of the church. Smiling? Lynn wasn't sure if he was smiling at her—actually, she wasn't sure if he was smiling at all—a boyish face up there beyond all the hats.

Touch

Adapted for film in 1997
Starring Skeet Ulrich — Directed by Paul Shrader
Screenplay by Paul Shrader