08/11/2026
Just For You will be offering this book in the store!!! Coming soon!
Set in Hiawatha, Kansas, the novel follows five teenage friends, Ryan, Rob, Brett, Shane, and Chris, after they discover a mysterious journal containing symbols, hidden information, and clues connected to familiar places throughout town. As they search for answers, they uncover a fictional underground system of tunnels, chambers, mechanical transfer equipment, and secrets tied to a group known as the Preservation Network.
Hiawatha plays a central role in the story. The novel incorporates recognizable locations and landmarks, including Hiawatha High School, the Brown County Courthouse, the town clock, the Davis Memorial, the old National Guard Armory, Noble and Bruning Park, and several longtime community businesses.
Although The Roundhouse Boys is a work of fiction, it was inspired by the people, places, friendships, and memories of Lowe’s youth in and around Hiawatha. The central mystery, underground tunnels, Preservation Network, transfer systems, hidden chambers, and related events are fictional creations.
“This book was inspired by the friendships, memories, and places that made growing up in Hiawatha special,” Lowe said. “The mystery is fictional, but the sense of community, adventure, friendship, and small-town pride comes from real experiences and real people.”
At the center of the novel is the friendship between the five boys. Their different personalities, humor, curiosity, and ability to work together guide them as the mystery grows and the risks become greater.
The story combines mystery, adventure, local landmarks, hidden clues, mechanical puzzles, humor, and the discovery that familiar places may hold secrets no one expected to find.
Lowe wrote the novel as a celebration of Hiawatha, its history, and the people who call the community home.
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About the Author:
Rob Lowe grew up in Hiawatha, Kansas, where small-town life, close friendships, local history, and childhood curiosity shaped the stories he would later tell. His debut novel, The Roundhouse Boys, was inspired by the real friendships and adventures of his youth during the early 1990s, when a bicycle, a little nerve, and a good group of friends could turn an ordinary day into something unforgettable.
Set in and around Hiawatha, The Roundhouse Boys blends mystery, adventure, history, humor, and the lasting bonds of friendship. While the central mystery is fictional, many of the personalities, locations, and experiences that give the book its character are rooted in real life. Lowe wrote the novel to preserve the spirit of growing up in a time when kids explored more freely, learned by doing, and discovered that some of the best stories began with curiosity and a close group of friends.
In addition to writing, Lowe is a longtime woodworker and the creator of Sawdust Phil, a social media personality built around woodworking stories, humor, practical lessons, and wisdom passed down through generations. His work often reflects the same themes found in his fiction: curiosity, craftsmanship, friendship, perseverance, and respect for the people and places that shape us.
Lowe also brings years of professional experience in safety, compliance, leadership, and business development to his work. That background has given him a strong appreciation for how people respond under pressure, how teams work together, and how ordinary decisions can lead to unexpected consequences, all of which influence the way he develops characters and stories.
Lowe currently lives in East Dubuque, Illinois, with his wife, Shannan. Together, they have four children. The Roundhouse Boys is the first planned book in a series that will continue exploring Kansas history, local legends, hidden places, and the enduring friendship of the boys at the center of the story
