Her oldest memories are of reading. She was always in a book, letting it take her places only she imagined. Sometimes she felt more at home in the author’s world than in her own. Stephen King and Dean Koontz are her ultimate tour guides and honorable mentions go to Jean Auel and Agatha Christie.
The daughter of an entrepreneur, Jean saw the only limitations you have are the ones you put on yourself. In the early 60’s, her father owned his own cab in NY, which was unusual for a Black man born in 1918 armed with only a high school education. When he saved up enough money, while raising a family of 7, he bought a beer and soda distributorship right outside JFK airport. He and her mother ran the store. Her younger sister, Lori and she ran the little sandwich truck they used to push in front of the store each morning. In fact, that’s where she met her soul mate and husband of 36 years.
Her father’s entrepreneurial spirit inspired her to try for goals normally out of her reach, like standup comedy and becoming an author, an idea some discouraged since she never graduated college.
“Ace of Hearts” started 27 years ago in answer to a bet. Her sister said, “You read so much, I bet you could write a book” and she answered, “I bet I could.” After many transitions, from sitting in a park writing it in longhand in 1980 to typewriter to word processor to computer in 2003, Jean learned the new technology and now thinks of her computer as her toy.
Five years ago, Jean had foot surgery and her sister suggested she get “Ace of Hearts” down, dust it off, do some editing and see if it would fly. She pushed Jean to print several copies of her manuscript and paid for her attendance at NBCC (National Book Club Convention) held in Atlanta annually, the first weekend in August. She handed her manuscripts out in a room full of Zane fans and soon book clubs were talking! She met her good friend and soon-to–be publisher, Diane Dorcé, owner and CEO of Firefly Publishing and Entertainment that weekend. Three months later, Jean signed a contract, went through the editing process one more time and “Ace of Hearts” was born!
The moral of Jean’s story: Never give up your dream.
Jean Holloway lives in Kennesaw, GA with her husband, Fred and her dog, Kayla. Her six grown children and eight grandkids all live nearby.
Visit her at www.deckofcardz.com
Synopsis:
Shevaughn Robinson is investigating an especially gruesome case which emerges into serial murders. The story evolves as she follows murder after murder trying to solve the case, not realizing the murderer is a man who not only becomes obsessed with death, but obsessed with her.
