Baseball, science and intrigue spurred Jim Devitt’s imagination and drove his desire to pursue a dream project on pages.

The Auburn man is no accidental novelist, but someone who is exploring the possibilities to create and shape engaging stories for readers of all ages.

In his recently released debut book, “The Card, a Van Stone Novel,” Devitt succeeds on all fronts. The action-filled story, set in Seattle, weaves a suspenseful tale, replete with unexpected twists and turns and a surprising end. It’s a believable, true mystery with a local flavor, a fast-paced journey of clues and characters that appropriately fit the young adult genre.

“It’s a good, fun mystery. It moves along. It’s a cool story,” said Devitt, 49, an independent sales agent with a passion for prose. “When I write, it goes. It just doesn’t stop. I can’t get enough of it.”

Devitt combines his love of baseball with a background in research and science to bring out a message in his high-stakes drama.

“It’s not a baseball book,” Devitt pointed out. “It’s a mystery, suspense (book).”

“The Card” features Van Stone, a boy who has it all, the perfect family, great friends and the best job in the world as a batboy for a Major League team. Then, his life falls apart. Thrust into a deadly plot masterminded by unknown enemies, Van is thrust in a race against time to save those closest to him.

The plot develops when Van’s father, who works for a large and secretive biotechnology company, is on the verge of making a stunning discovery, a technology that could change the world forever. While finishing the project, the company forces Van’s father into a leave of absence. In an effort to protect his secrets, the father may have endangered his family.

The plot thickens when Van must persevere, drawing on his strength and attitude to combat corrupt forces. Not knowing who to trust, Van and his two best friends set out to solve the secrets behind an innocent gift, a Moe Berg baseball card.

For Devitt, initial reviews have been good.

“(It) had them on the edge of their seats. And surprisingly, I’ve had them fooled to the end,” Devitt said. “And for me, that’s rewarding.”

Devitt hopes readers will enjoy the book’s intent.

“There’s different levels of what I hope people get,” he said. “One, I just hope they have fun. It’s a fun read. This is not rocket science and it’s not philosophical … it’s not too deep. It’s supposed to be fun.

“Secondly, there is a true message in the story. The main character (Van) does go through a development, and he changed. What he is on day one of the book and what he is on page 235 is completely different. And there’s a little bit of a message built into that.”

For Devitt, the project was 1 1/2 years in the making. Writing, whether conducting research in college then, or composing a fiction novel now, has been an important part of his life.

Devitt, an Auburn High School graduate, earned a degree in zoology at Washington State University, then completed his master’s in education from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla. He has written many peer-reviewed research papers and presented them at conferences throughout the country.

Baseball, a component in his debut novel, follows a special chapter in Devitt’s life.

As a teen, he won a Seattle Times essay contest to become a bat boy for the 1979 Mariners season, which included the All-Star Game in the Kingdome, where Devitt worked in the National League clubhouse. He would go on to work in the clubhouse for eight years, an unforgettable experience for the young man.

Novelists also influenced Devitt’s writing. Among his favorites are David Baldacci, Clive Cussler, Dan Simmons and Tim Dorsey.

“The Card” is the first in a series of adventure novels for Devitt. The next Van Stone book already is in the works.

Devitt lives in Auburn with his wife, Melissa, and their son, Gavin.

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“The Card, A Van Stone Novel” ($10.99 paperback, $2.99 Kindle Edition) is available at several online outlets, including www.amazon.com.