Rocco Russo Jr.
While my teachers were busy trying to fill my head with important facts, I was in the world of make believe, far, far away. My desk was the battlefield with my pencils and erasers taking on the roles of the different characters. Sometimes they were warriors fighting to save their kingdom. Other times they were monsters. Rarely were they just pencils and erasers.
My childhood was far from perfect, and often times I was lonely. The void in my life was replaced by my pet, Toy Toy, a German Shepherd, who was always at my side, true, loyal, and always giving unconditional love.
As a child who suffered the hardship of a broken family, I always yearned for the true bond of a mother's affection. Yet time comes full circle and little boys grow up to be men with children of their own. My wife and I, along with our 4 dogs and 4 cats, moved upstate into a house I built myself. Enchanted by the beauty of nature and the frequent glimpses of wildlife, those stories which were buried deep in the recesses of my mind started to once again take shape. This time I relied on my old friends-pencils and erasers-in a different way, using them to write down my thoughts and open a new chapter in my life, and enter a mystery threshold.
My inner craving for a mother's love became my inspiration for the topic found throughout the pages of Bundle at the Threshold. There, in that story, a mother knows no boundaries when faced with the prospect of losing her child, and she will do anything to keep him, even if that means murder.
Having a son of my own whom I love dearly started the wheels turning for my second book, For Love or Soul. Once again, family values come into play, and I concentrate on a father's love for his son, one that is so deep that he is willing to go against extraordinary odds to prove his love.
So I decided to combine my two dreams of a mystery writer and animal advocate. Animals have always been there for me, getting me through the rough times, and now it is my turn to be there for them as well. We are their guardians, and they rely on us to be their voices. Too many animals are mistreated and are thrown into shelters, suffering a life of loneliness and possibly even death. Therefore, I do all I can to support animal charities with no kill policies, have adopted a shelter dog, pick up strays, and have promised to donate a substantial portion of the proceeds from the sale of both my books to various animal groups. I am proud to say I have kept my commitment and will continue to do so. Together we can make a difference.
