Welcome.

Feel free to wander around the blog. If you would like to contact me, please email at srovens@yahoo.com.

I’ve written 5 novels that would best be classified under the realm of suspense/thriller and three books of short horror stories. You can purchase any of them from this blog. (Go to the My Books: Purchase Here section on the main page, order from your favorite indie bookstore, or head over to Amazon.
If you dig music, check out The Flip Side, a section dedicated to all things music-related. And if art/artists are more your thing, hop on over to the Spotlight section.
All Business is a page where I share experiences, knowledge, and suggestions which touch on various aspects of writing, publishing, marketing, and more. New articles are posted on the first of each month.
The Meet & Greet features Author Interviews. As long as someone has published their work and it is out in the world for others to enjoy, learn from, or experience in some way, they are free to be a part of this section. I welcome ALL genres and ALL professional levels.

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About Me

I am an indie suspense writer with five novels currently out in the world. Badfish was first, Track 9 followed two years later, Buried came third, Rage was next, and Sanctum rounds out the count. I also have three books of short horror stories, In a Corner, Darkly: Volumes 1, 2, & 3. All are available in paperback and Kindle format through Amazon, Bobzbay Bookstore in Bloomington (signed paperbacks), TAiLs of a Bookworm in Pekin, and Wordsmith Bookshoppe in Galesburg (signed paperbacks).

I worked at Illinois State University as the Stacks Maintenance Manager in Milner Library for 30 years. I’m now retired but keep busy with more projects than I can usually handle.

I have a Master’s Degree in Kinesiology and Recreation and a Bachelor’s in Speech Communication from ISU. At one time, long ago, I held an EMT-B certification. I’ve worked briefly in radio and retail, delivered pizza, sold vacuums over the phone, waited tables, and cleaned hotel rooms, before finding a place at Illinois State University in 1991.

When I’m not writing, I’m either running, watching weird movies, lifting weights, loving on Monkey, our nine-year-old diva kitty, or hanging out with Charlie, my spouse and partner in crime.

Appearances

Chicago’s Printer’s Row Lit Fest (2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022)

Barnes & Noble, Rockford, Illinois. Book Festival. (2013)

ChambanaCon, Normal, Illinois (Dealer and Writers Panel) (2015)

Princeton Public Library (Illinois) Author Book Fair (2016, 2017, 2018)

Books 2 Benefit Writers Panel, Normal, Illinois (2017)

Duncan Manor Blues Bender, Towanda, Illinois (2017)

Bloomington Public Library Author Fest, Bloomington, Illinois (2017, 2018, 2019, 2024)

Duncan Manor Spring Open House, Towanda, Illinois (2018)

Cogs & Corsets: A Steampunk Happening, Bloomington, Illinois (2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024)

Spirits of the Past: A Haunted History Tour – Duncan Manor, Towanda, Illinois (2018, 2019)

Local Author Book Signing – The Book Nook, Peoria, Illinois (2018)

Barrington Area Public Library – Author Fair – Barrington, Illinois (2019)

J. Jill Author Weekend – The Shoppes at College Hills – Normal, Illinois (2019)

Duncan Manor Derby Days, Towanda, Illinois (2019)

Wheaton Haunted Flea Market, Wheaton, Illinois (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025)

Peoria Book Fest, Peoria, Illinois (2019)

Sugar 4 Spice Author Event For MarcFirst, Bloomington, Illinois (2020)

Bishop Hill Book/Author Event, Bishop Hill, Illinois (2021)

Duncan Manor Watch Party, Towanda, Illinois (2021)

Dark History & Horror Con, Champaign, Illinois (2021, 2022)

Holiday Expo at the Park Regency Hotel, Bloomington, Illinois (2021)

Destihl Brewery Maker’s Market (December), Normal, Illinois (2021)

Mackinaw Valley Vineyard Spring Market (April), Mackinaw, Illinois (2022)

Bobzbay Indie Book Store – Local Author Signing, Bloomington, Illinois (2022)

Horror & Suspense Author Book Signing, Bloomington, Illinois (2022)

Art Expo at ARC (Activities & Recreation Center), Normal, Illinois (2022)

Peoria Local Author & Art Fair, Peoria, Illinois (2022)

Holiday Market at The Old Rugged Barn, Towanda, Illinois (2022, 2024)

Spring Maker’s Market at Mackinaw Vineyard, Mackinaw, Illinois (2023)

First Sunday Market Bazaar, Springfield, Illinois (2023)

Indie Author Book Expo @ Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, Illinois (2023)

Elmhurst Public Library Author Fair, Elmhurst, Illinois (2023)

Destihl Maker’s Market – Authors & Artists (August), Normal, Illinois (2023)

Diet Dark History & Horror Convention, Champaign, Illinois (2023)

Heyworth Market on Main Street, Heyworth, Illinois (2023, 2024)

Tomes of Terror – Bobzbay/Red Raccoon Games Horror Author Event, Bloomington, Illinois (2023, 2024)

Wordsmith Bookshoppe – Author Book Signing, Galesburg, Illinois (2023)

Beadedpinktopia Autumn Craft Fair, Romeoville, Illinois (2023)

Normal West High School Band Craft Show, Normal, Illinois (2023, 2024, 2025)

Parks & Crafts @ Grand Bear Lodge, Utica, Illinois (2023)

Kankakee St. Pat’s Craft Market, Kankakee, Illinois (2024)

Route 66 – Red Carpet Corridor, Braidwood, Ilinois (2024)

Flossmoor Public Library Author Fair, Flossmoor, Illinois (2024)

Tails of a Bookworm Author Fair – 5 year anniversary/ 6 year anniversary, Pekin (2024, 2025)

Bartlett Harvest Craft Show, Bartlett, Illinois (2024, 2025)

Mackinaw Fall/Winter Craft Market, Mackinaw Valley Winery, Illinois (2024)

First Sunday Market Bazaar (December), Springfield, Illinois (2024)

College of Dupage: Shower of Crafts (March), Glen Ellyn, Illinois (2025)

Orland Park: Craft Show at the Civic Center (March), Orland Park, Illinois (2025)

5th Annual Spring Craft/Vendor Show (April), Effingham, Illinois (2025)

Chicago Steampunk Expo (May/June), Schaumburg, Illinois (2025)

Grayslake Author Fest (June) Grayslake, Illinois (2025)

Bobzbay Book Signing/Book Launch of In a Corner, Darkly: Volume 3 (July), Bloomington, Illinois (2025)

Painted Wraith Street Fest ’25 (August), Bloomington, Illinois (2025)

Morton Pumpkin Festival (September), Morton, Illinois (2025)

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Writer

Machinations Into Madness E-Zine (2014)

The Grim Seer Society (2016)

Flash Fiction Story, Harvest Time, published by Unscooped Bagel (2016)

Film Adaptation of “Coming Over” (Southern Illinois University Cinema Dept.)

Article for ALLi – Book Promotion & Marketing – “Planning for a Successful Book Fair” (May, 2019)

Contributing Author to Golden Linings II: More Tiny Tales about Pets, for Pets – edited by Carol M. Ford (https://www.goldenlinings.carolmford.com/) (2019).

Contributing Author to Creation of Chaos: Volume 2 (12 ways to make you die) – by Pete Altieri. Blunt Force Press (2019).

2nd Place Winner – Short Story Contest (2021)– “When the Earth Bled” – by Support Indie Authors https://www.supportindieauthors.org/short-story-contest

YouTube Broadcast – HORRORific Tales – Skin (2022) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzlGkGJuYwI

Article for ALLi – Self-Publishing Advice – “We Need to Talk About…Trigger Warnings” (March 2024)