Daily Inspiration: Meet Jerry Roth

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jerry Roth.

Hi Jerry, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
The earliest memories of wanting to be a writer came when I was in elementary school. During the era of school busing, my trips to and from school almost doubled in time. To battle boredom, I created stories to entertain my fellow bus riders

In the beginning, I constructed exciting tales from movie trailers I saw on the television. Without ever seeing these movies myself, I imagined the plot twists and action scenes to build my narrative. Over the next weeks and months, I began creating my own stories from pure imagination.

This seed began my career as a storyteller and my inspiration to pull full stories seemingly from the air. As my love for stories led me to write screenplays and finally novels, I never forgot the faces of the children on the bus who were enthralled by my imagination.

The idea that words had the power to capture someone so completely was the proof of magic in the world.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Giving yourself the title of “writer” is the most difficult thing for any author. The road to becoming a professional writer is filled with self-doubt and denial. No matter how many readers tell you they loved something you wrote, the artist may never be convinced.

Often, a writer’s confidence is only as good as their last work and how well it was received. My writing path followed the same trajectory. I wrote for myself and hid all my stories from the world until one day I dared to enter a screenwriting competition. I sent my manuscript with my heart threatening to shut down. Over the next few weeks, I refused to write anything else.

Filled with self-doubt, I was sure the screenplay would get rejected but instead of a rejection, my first ever attempt at a movie script won. I was stunned to discover I was awarded one thousand dollars and first place.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
In 2020, I was signed by the publisher, Sunbury Press, for my novel titled Bottom Feeders.

The novel follows Robert Deville, the youngest prison warden in the state’s history, After discovering a diary, Robert learns a prisoner, rumored to be the Devil, was hidden away under his feet.

Since my debut novel, I am becoming well known for tales of horror and mystery. What set me apart from other authors is the settings I choose are based in my home state of Ohio.

Plucking characters and backgrounds from the region have given my books authenticity, which I could not have achieved otherwise.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Over the last few years, there has been a push to write about the trend.

What that means for the author is to push aside their creative urges and construct stories that are popular at the very moment. Although this strategy can be lucrative because it gives the public something they currently want, it also doesn’t reveal the genuine passions of the writer.

I’m happy to say that this trend is slowly ending. Authors are finding their authentic voice and writing books that are more daring, going against convention, and filling a space in the world that has a chance to last a lifetime. I’m also excited to announce that I signed a deal to publish my collection of horror stories titled “Throwing Shadows” with Brigids Gate Press – to be released in late 2022. For more news on this, visit: https://bit.ly/3Mhb07p

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jerryrothauthor.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_jerryroth_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jerryrothauthor
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/_JerryRoth_
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDuW-L6Ql8rVA6chjC5TZ5Q