This is where it all began: My journey from content writer to published author started back in 2010 with a short self-help booked based on my experience with domestic abuse. Though the book was well-received, my lack of experience in this type of writing was obvious. As a freelance copywriter, I had previously written hundreds of articles, advertisements, reviews, and other website content. After being hired to ghostwrite a couple of self-help ebooks that were published under another name, I considered for the first time that I should do one of my own. Writing The Jealousy Game was part of a long healing process after escaping a situation that had progressed to a life-or-death level of danger. When a family member confided in me about her boyfriend’s behavior, I recognized the pattern immediately and knew the danger she was in. It’s difficult to communicate to someone the direction their relationship is taking, especially when no physical violence has occurred (yet). I know, because I denied anything was wrong until I was so deep in peril and so exhausted from enduring abuse that escape seemed impossible.

So I wrote this book, in the same over-wordy, adverb-heavy style learned when writing content and being paid by word count. (Insert LOL emoji) And the crazy thing was, it was a hit. Readers liked it and reviews were good. I didn’t earn a fortune from it because I opted to make it as cheap as possible and gave away thousands of free ebooks.

I made the transition into writing fiction, which included some admittedly terrible attempts at storytelling until I learned what I was doing. I never stop learning, and like to think my style improves with each and every story.

I didn’t look at that first book, The Jealousy Game, for many years. I knew it would benefit from some polishing using my improved skills, but the motivation eluded me. It wasn’t until recently, after experiencing mental abuse once again, this time at the hands of a “friend”, that The Jealousy Game became forefront in my mind. I had begun to recognize a familiar pattern; one I had lived again and again with my ex, and even written a book about. I began to learn about the narcissistic abuser, and realized that my ex checked many of the boxes. I realized that I had written about narcissistic abuse before I even knew it had a name. The idea for a new book began to form. But first, the time had come to revisit The Jealousy Game.

The book has seen a fresh edit and a new, contemporary cover in keeping with the theme of red flags, because that’s really what the book is about: Spotting those red flags early in a relationship before too much damage has been done.

The Jealousy Game is available worldwide in paperback, ebook, and now audiobook formats: