A Haunting Deception centers around a detective investigating a cold case finds himself caught in the middle of a woman’s battle with the paranormal. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

The inspiration for A Haunting Deception came from my experience as a delivery driver. There was one house on my route that always stood out to me. My scanner kept identifying it as a business, even though it was clearly a residential property. I’d adjust the settings to reflect that it wasn’t a business, but every time I returned, the scanner reverted. This only happened with this one house, which sparked my curiosity.

I started wondering—what if my scanner, being an electronic device, was picking up something I couldn’t perceive with my senses? What if it was detecting something hidden beneath the surface? That idea led me to think about unseen forces at play and how people might interact with them without even realizing it.

From there, I began shaping a story about a tragic love affair. I envisioned a cycle of loss and heartbreak repeating itself with paranormal undertones. The detective became central to the narrative because people kept disappearing from a single location. I envision him determined to uncover the truth and solve the mystery. His investigation into a cold case seemed like the perfect way to introduce him to a larger, hidden battle—a woman’s struggle against forces beyond her control.

That spark of curiosity about a mysterious house became the foundation for a story blending love, tragedy, and the pursuit of truth. 

Were you able to achieve everything you wanted with the characters in the novel?

I feel like I was able to achieve a lot of what I wanted with the characters in A Haunting Deception. Jared’s journey was particularly meaningful to me—he starts the story having lost his purpose in life, falling into depression and despair. His path to rediscovering himself and finding a new sense of purpose is one that was personal and feels universal.

Leah’s journey complements Jared’s in many ways. She begins as a naïve high school girl, infatuated with Dan. She’s following a path that seems set and that others expect her to go down. By the end, she’s undergone an awakening, realizing her own power and capabilities. Watching her transform into someone who can do incredible things was one of the most rewarding parts of writing this story.

The priest’s arc was another key element I wanted to explore. His progression—from love and acceptance to hate and separation, and then back to love and acceptance—offers a powerful commentary on forgiveness and growth. His story feels like it comes full circle, showing how someone can be both deeply flawed and capable of change.

Overall, I think the characters’ arcs are fulfilling in their own right, while also setting up the continuation of the story. Each character grows and evolves in a way that feels natural, and I’m excited to see how their journeys resonate with readers.

How did you come up with the idea for the ghostly antagonist in this story, and how did it change as you wrote?

My feeling is that ghosts linger because they have unresolved issues, which is where the idea for the antagonist began. At first, I imagined this character as an old soul—evil to the core and intentionally malicious. But as the story unfolded and the character’s interactions and backstory became clearer, it took on a different shape.

I realized this wasn’t an old or inherently evil spirit, but a young, selfish, and self-absorbed presence. Its actions stem from its own unresolved issues, but they’re deeply harmful to others, which creates a kind of evil in itself. That complexity makes the character intriguing to me—it’s not just a straightforward villain.

By the end of Book One, we start to see the possibility of change, and I’m really excited to explore how that potential plays out by the end of Book Three. Watching the antagonist evolve adds an extra layer of depth to the story and opens the door for unexpected turns.

What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?

I’m excited to share that A Haunting Connection, the sequel to A Haunting Deception, is complete and slated for release within the next year. This installment delves deeper into the intricate relationships and supernatural elements introduced in the first book.

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