One of the things that you can take to the bank about me is that if you tell me a secret, it remains a secret. Whatever you told me, I will take to my grave. I believe that is part of my integrity as a person. However, it also is what makes my relationship with my husband, daughters, and grandchildren extremely special -- we trust each other and we always say what we mean and mean what we say. It will be a forever bond that we share and I thank God everyday for that.
Now that my mother has passed, her words of wisdom still comfort me. She said, "Don't ever lie to your doctor, your lawyer, or to your mother." I'd like to add, never to lie to your grandmother too.
This brings me in a round about way to my next author, James Ronan, and his book "The Secrets We Keep" that will debut on April 10, 2020. I don't have a link for you yet, but visit back often because as soon as I do, I'll post it for you are you can visit authorjamesronan.com. I think you'll enjoy learning about James and his book. I believe the cover is worth a thousand words. Take a look.
AVAILABLE APRIL 10, 2020
Tell your readers a little about yourself,
where you grew up, where you live now, where you went to school etc. Let them
get to know the personal you.
I grew up in southern
Ohio, in the greater Cincinnati area. I have lived in Kansas and Washington
state, supporting my spouse’s military career. I currently live in Northern
Kentucky with my spouse and our two boys, who are 4 and 6 months old. I went to
high at a vocational school in Ohio. Oddly enough, I went for law enforcement
but ended up spending my professional career in business development and office
coordination. I went to college online and my degree is in business
administration.
What inspired you to author this book?
My mom. She's my biggest
inspiration. My earliest memories are listening to "Hooked on
Phonics" cassettes on the floor of my bedroom. I was raised by a
wonderful, hardworking single mom who didn't get a lot of free time. The time
she did get was spent on me, teaching me and raising me to be a good person.
She's the one who really fostered my love for reading and writing. The
dedication pages of my book are for her.
Where did you get the inspiration for your
book’s cover?
I really wanted the cover to draw readers in.
I want it to be "Oh I wonder what this is about?" People say they
don't judge books by the cover, but we all know that isn't true. I want
something that will catch the eye and make someone pick it up.Who has been the most significant influence on you as a writer?
I read a lot of Stephen King, he taught me how to write. I always wanted to create horror fiction, something that scared readers but made them continue reading in spite of that fear. I love psychological films and books and wanted to write something that I would love to read.
What were your struggles or obstacles you had
to overcome to get this book written?
I work full time. I have
two children, my spouse is at the beginnings of law school after medical
retirement from the Marine corps. I have very little free time, and I have
stopped and started books many, many times. I have a few chapter
ones saved right now. I had to find something that I not only wanted to
write but that I needed to write. "The Secrets We Keep" gave me that.Tell your readers about your book.
It's set at a forensic
hospital, Overlook Hill The main character, Gabriel Colle, is a psychiatrist to
the criminally insane. There's 12 patients on unit 5, and each has a story more
sordid than the last. The staff all have a past too, and each of them is drawn
to Overlook Hill for one reason or another. The book details how everyone ended
up at the hospital, why some leave, and why all of them eventually return.
Who is your target audience, and why?
People who love horror.
People who never want to sit comfortably in their seats because they prefer the
edge of them. Psychology fans, people who love to read & people who only
seldom read. I want this to be a book for anyone who loves fiction, or anyone
looking to start reading more. If you haven't read a book in years, I'd love
you to start with mine.
What do you consider your greatest success in life?
My greatest success is my
children. They are wonderful, bright little boys. Without them, I'd have
written this book a lot sooner with much less purpose.
What one unique thing sets you apart from other writers in your genre?
I've always wanted to be a
writer. Once, when I was about 12, my mom found a legal pad in my room with
story remnants scrawled on it. It was probably only two pages of an actual
story, and I can't remember what it was even about. A haunted hayfield I think?
But my mom read it and wanted to read more. She comes to me with this legal
pad, asking if I'm going to finish it. I knew what I wanted to do early, it
just took me a while to get there. Now that I'm here, I plan to stay.
