Look and Listen

Biography

Sheila is an independent author who enjoys writing for the sake of writing. As a novelist, she enjoys creating new characters and situations which reflect life in the real world. Unlike many of the novels in the crime and mystery genres, the novels in both the Detective Jake and Special Crimes Task Force series incorporates stories about the detectives which show what their lives are like beyond the limited scope of their jobs. These subplots relate the struggles and successes of the detectives and their families. In their entirety, her novels relay the process of solving the crimes as well as the personal lives of the main characters as a way to demonstrate there is more to the life of the detectives other than catching the criminals - that there is a life beyond the badge. She has also has written, and has plans to write, works of non-fiction. Most of the topics will be familiar to a wide range of people. What will be different to some readers is the perspective from which the author draws her final conclusions. As a pastor within the Religious Society of Friends, Sheila discusses the various topics through the filter of Scripture within the context of entirety of Bible. Sheila is a life-long resident of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. While employed in a full-time position with a growing printed plastics company, she does most of her writing in the evenings and on weekends. She also enjoys a variety of other activities including reading, researching her family history, walking in the woods, camping, and bowling. One of her favorite things is the opportunity to watch the wildlife which often moves through the yard of her semi-rural home.

Inspiration

A great professor once told me to write about what I know and what excites me the most. When I decided to try my hand at writing my first novel, I took this advice. The Detective Jake series reflects my deep interest in crime and the crime solving process and combines it with my passion for Christian ministry. One of the things I always thought was lacking in crime fiction was a deep understanding of the main characters; however, that's only my opinion and not meant to bash any other writers. By this, I don't mean just knowing the person wears a badge because they're following in their father's footsteps or have always wanted to be a police officer. I wanted to dig into the life beyond the badge and let people know what drives the characters. This tracks both ways. The character's home life will often effect their job and what happens on the job will often effect what happens at home. The same applies to life as a Christian. The outer world can influence the inner person, while at the same time the inner thoughts and beliefs can influence the way a person interacts with the world around them. I wanted to attempt to provide moral and spiritual guidance by discussing the issues Christians face in today's world. I believe I've accomplished my goals through my novels.