by Keri Rozansky | Aug 26, 2026 | Blog
I’ve looked at the stuff others have written and it seems I’m supposed to talk about myself. There’s really not much to say. I’m just a guy. I’m in my 30s, single, and have some baggage – but who doesn’t by that age, right? At least that’s what people tell me.
To me, it’s not baggage, just life. I’m a teacher and the poet-in-residence at JHU. Which, now that I look at the full sentence sounds extremely boring. I guess you could say it is. My daily routine includes teaching, reading, writing, or, like many authors just staring at the computer screen wondering how I thought what I just wrote was any good.
What else? Like I said, I’m just me. There’s no big life-altering secret, just everyday life. I’m single, but I’m also a parent two to very independent children. I can’t even really call them ‘children.’ They’re technically my niece and nephew, and they came into my care after a horrible accident that took both of their parents.
Our relationship goes beyond technicalities. I’ve been there for them since the day they were each born, and often stepped in when their parents had out-of-town business that couldn’t include the kids. I was the Cool Uncle who came to everything but could still leave the tough stuff to their parents. They’d stay with me, or I’d go stay at their house depending on the time of year. Summers and school breaks they’d stay with me, during the school year I’d go to them. It kept them in a good routine.
I’ll tell you something though, there’s no parenting handbook and there’s definitely no ‘instant parent’ handbook.
Scott is in his 20s and knee deep in his studies at JHU. No, not in my department. Scott is very athletic and has been his whole life. He has aspirations of being an athletic trainer and running his own business one day.
Melody, my niece, is going into tenth grade at the local high school. Even though she’s still a minor, I’ve recognized that she and Scott have become so incredibly bonded that, when I asked if Scott would have her around if I needed to disappear for a while, he was more than glad to take on the responsibility.
Obviously at these ages I don’t have to hover over them every second anymore, or so I’m told. I’ve also been told I have veto power over such things, but I’m not sure how.
So, that’s the big bombshell when it comes to me. Just a guy who loves the kids who became his.
by Keri Rozansky | Aug 19, 2026 | Blog
Midnight Splash has reached it’s 1-month anniversary! As of last Friday, Midnight Splash has been available for regular purchase for a whole month. Dozens of readers have already picked up their copy and devoured its content in a week or less.
So far, I’ve only had a handful of reviews. Friends have messaged me directly to let me know their thoughts, while others have left a review on the book’s Amazon page. Accurate, detailed reviews help get me in front of more potential readers, and it’s a great, free way to show your support.
I have enabled reviews on my website – just go to the ‘order exclusive author bundle’ link on my website and leave your thoughts. You can also reach the Amazon and Barnes & Noble links from there, too. I’ve tried to make it easy for you to get your copy in whatever format you choose (that’s worth a positive review in itself, right?).
As you finish reading, please remember to leave a review – and tell your friends about the great new indie book you read.
Thank you for all your support!
by Keri Rozansky | Aug 12, 2026 | Blog
Recently, I traveled to see my parents and take care of some business in Michigan. My family and I stayed with my parents for the duration of the trip, save for a few days we were in another part of the state doing that business.
We were watching TV at my parents’ one evening. A police procedural-type show was on. My retired police officer dad always watches with a mindset of whether the policing on the show is comparable to his real life experience as an officer. Sometimes it is, sometimes it clearly is not.
I realized I was watching the show through somewhat of the same lens. I was never a police officer, but I’ve done a lot of research – reading, speaking to current and former officers of all ranks and varied police departments – and noted the same discrepancies my dad had. “That wouldn’t happen that way,” “why don’t they have guns during this standoff?” and several other holes in the policing side of the story were observed by both me and my dad. Other than those obvious holes, I enjoyed the episode.
My dad read my book, and only had one complaint, and I understand why. My only response was that it made sense before another plot point was cut. I had felt that the character dynamic was preserved, but he mentioned the overall ramifications it may have during a real-life investigation. Noted. That interaction will be handled differently in future books.
At a recent activity for my son’s former Boy Scout troop, I spoke with an alumnus of the troop with a background in law enforcement. When I told him about my book, he was interested. He also lamented about the inaccuracies portrayed in entertainment: “I wish I could solve a crime in 48 minutes!” This reflected similar advice I received from an online support group called Cops & Writers on Facebook. The law enforcement officers in that group remind the writers to portray the passage of time – summer turning to fall and winter and so forth. Some crimes take months or years, and very few take only a few days or weeks – if you’re lucky.
I’m still moving forward with drafting the next book, and there are more outlines waiting to get the attention they deserve. As I said previously, I won’t be making any major announcements until I feel real progress toward a next step has been made.
I continue to watch my favorite shows for the content I loved before, but I can’t help but notice the little things I now know make a difference. Have you ever researched something so much or so thoroughly that you begin evaluating things differently? Let’s talk on Facebook!
by Keri Rozansky | Aug 5, 2026 | Blog
As I continue to market Midnight Splash, I continue to work on other writing projects. The next book is still in drafting phases and isn’t ready to announce yet, but research and writing moves daily on it. This week’s research: car brand emblems, or ‘badges’ as most people call them.
Why? At one point in the next book, such details may become important to leading Detective Ellison in the right direction.
Car badges come in all shapes and sizes. There’s the Chevrolet “bow tie,” the four joined circles of Audi, the galloping horse of Mustang, and many more. These small details are subtly planted in the back of our minds to remind us to associate certain symbols and shapes with particular products. There are even ‘can you name all of the brands?’ graphics that remove the names to test your product knowledge.
That knowledge can be shaken up during the worst of times, and can come back when you least expect it – and help connect a missing piece to a bigger mystery.
Can you identify your favorite things based on their logos alone? Let’s talk more on Facebook!
by Keri Rozansky | Jul 29, 2026 | Blog
You can hear about my official ‘writing journey’ on my website in the “About Keri” tab. Honestly, that’s the story of how I arrived at the place I am today – a published author with many more stories to tell.
I’ve always loved reading. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t. That turned into a love of writing. For my birthday one year, I was gifted a diary. The cliché book with a lock to keep my deepest thoughts to myself. Rather than thinking and writing about my feelings and experiences of the day, I crossed out the dates and used the book to write short stories, poetry, and other creative work that I didn’t want anyone to see. I didn’t write about boys or problems with friends or any of the other things girls typically wrote.
These stories were all for me. If anyone saw them, it wasn’t because I showed them. I never thought of writing as a job or a career I could have. I turned toward ideas like police officer, teacher, and other ‘real’ jobs.
It wasn’t until my senior year of high school I seriously thought about writing as more than a hobby. My English teacher handed back a paper I wrote and point-blank asked me why I hadn’t been in her freshman advanced English class. I’d heard time and again how good my academic writing was, but I still never showed anyone my personal creativity.
Instead of pursuing a creative writing degree or merely a career as an author without a college education, I went to college with the hopes of becoming an English teacher. I met some pitfalls and ultimately turned toward professional writing. I’ve had writing experiences I wouldn’t have had if I had gotten that teaching degree. I’ve written news copy, travel blogs, website content, and now – finally – my first novel.
I still kept my personal creativity private. I currently can’t think of any friends of family who have read anything completely unpolished.
Writing is still deeply personal and private for me, and there are some things that may never see the light of day. But I have learned that when you have something to say, and the right people listen, it opens up doors you could only dream of approaching one day.
I hope you enjoy Midnight Splash and any other work I’m brave enough to show the rest of the world.
