About E. J. Rand
A business career was expected, though the writer inside fought back. My compromise: to make
the lonely walk from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and my Industrial
Management major, across campus to my Creative Writing minor. I bounced around for two years
after graduation — literally — in the USN, as a destroyer officer on the USS Wadleigh (DD—689).
One day I may turn to the partial murder mystery I drafted while in motion, if my stomach can take
it.
Afterward, in suits as senior VP of a NYSE management consulting company and then senior VP
at a public relations company, where I represented a national top-ten homebuilder, I still found a
way. Color it quarterly earnings statements, corporate annual reports, consulting proposals, and
thousands of newspaper and magazine stories — not in my name, of course. Handling crisis-
consulting work became great fun: the script was mine to create and then to make happen.
Along the way, blessed by children and joined by a dog, cats, cars, and a house in the 'burbs, my
marriage broke up and she died of cancer. You reach an age — more than ten million of us have
lost loved ones — and you can despair of ever finding a soul mate again. That I did was a miracle.
I live with my wife in northern New Jersey.
Early one morning I was out in the snow, bringing in the paper, when a friend drove past on his
way to work. We waved, I asked myself "What if?" and I was hooked. From that emerged SAY
GOODBYE. By some odd chance, Gary Kemmerman is middle-aged, had been a crisis
consultant before retiring, and lost his late wife to cancer: he finds his second chance at love and
becomes an amateur sleuth on the morning we meet him, though initially, he wants neither.
Winning Deadly Ink Press' 2007 David G. Sasher, Sr. Best Unpublished Thriller Novel Award was
a great honor. My genre is the mystery thriller, but I can't write a novel without offering a deep love
story. That's just me.
E.J. Rand is a member of both Mystery Writers of America and Romance Writers of America.
Visit his website at: www.reluctantsleuth.com
A business career was expected, though the writer inside fought back. My compromise: to make
the lonely walk from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and my Industrial
Management major, across campus to my Creative Writing minor. I bounced around for two years
after graduation — literally — in the USN, as a destroyer officer on the USS Wadleigh (DD—689).
One day I may turn to the partial murder mystery I drafted while in motion, if my stomach can take
it.
Afterward, in suits as senior VP of a NYSE management consulting company and then senior VP
at a public relations company, where I represented a national top-ten homebuilder, I still found a
way. Color it quarterly earnings statements, corporate annual reports, consulting proposals, and
thousands of newspaper and magazine stories — not in my name, of course. Handling crisis-
consulting work became great fun: the script was mine to create and then to make happen.
Along the way, blessed by children and joined by a dog, cats, cars, and a house in the 'burbs, my
marriage broke up and she died of cancer. You reach an age — more than ten million of us have
lost loved ones — and you can despair of ever finding a soul mate again. That I did was a miracle.
I live with my wife in northern New Jersey.
Early one morning I was out in the snow, bringing in the paper, when a friend drove past on his
way to work. We waved, I asked myself "What if?" and I was hooked. From that emerged SAY
GOODBYE. By some odd chance, Gary Kemmerman is middle-aged, had been a crisis
consultant before retiring, and lost his late wife to cancer: he finds his second chance at love and
becomes an amateur sleuth on the morning we meet him, though initially, he wants neither.
Winning Deadly Ink Press' 2007 David G. Sasher, Sr. Best Unpublished Thriller Novel Award was
a great honor. My genre is the mystery thriller, but I can't write a novel without offering a deep love
story. That's just me.
E.J. Rand is a member of both Mystery Writers of America and Romance Writers of America.
Visit his website at: www.reluctantsleuth.com
E. J. Rand -- May 16, 2008
Special Activity
Friday, May 16, 2008, 8pm
Borders
2200 Garden State Plaza Way
Paramus, NJ
201-712-1166
Friday, May 16, 2008, 8pm
Borders
2200 Garden State Plaza Way
Paramus, NJ
201-712-1166
Post Activity Recap
The SFSNNJ Special Activity guest E.J. Rand led a delightful discussion Friday, May 18 at
Borders. Mr. Rand, author of the Reluctant Sleuth series of mysteries, was a bright spot on a
dreary, rainy night.
Mr. Rand started his discussion at 8pm by talking about his beginnings in writing, believe it or
not, he's retired and this keeps him busy! Ed actually began his career in business. He attended
University of Pennsylvania' s Wharton School with Industrial Management major. After graduation
he bounced around - in the USN, as a destroyer officer on the USS Wadleigh (DD—689). Yet
writing always beckoned him.
Life then led to a position as senior VP of a NYSE management consulting company and then
senior VP at a public relations company. Marriage, kids, divorce and other assorted "life" kept
him busy but not writing. Then, finding a soul mate later and taking a chance on a writing contest
led to his being published. Winning Deadly Ink Press' 2007 David G. Sasher, Sr. Best
Unpublished Thriller Novel Award paved the way. E.J. Rand is now a member of the International
Thriller Writers, the Mystery Writers of America, and the Romance Writers of America.
His series, the Reluctant Sleuth, begins with Say Goodbye and introduces the reader to Gary
and Becca Kemmerman. The series shows how the characters evolve - from meeting, to
marriage and in between a whole bunch of mayhem. Drive-by shootings, deadly cruises, topless
beaches... ...he had us hooked. Say Goodbye is followed by Perfect Cover (coming 12/08) and
Higher Calling (follows Perfect Cover). We also were treated to details about a fourth book.
Mr. Rand also spoke a lot about the editing process, publishing and provided many useful and
helpful tips for aspiring writers. He happily shared tips and offered names of editors and writing
workshops. Very classy and helpful. Remi, of course, was the first one to grab a book and hog
the autographs, closely followed by Todd (Remi's good though, she even beat Todd).
Mr. Rand wrapped up by telling us not to give up on a dream of writing, but to be aware that it is a
difficult field. He also told us he would be happy to come back in the fall/early 2009 to Suspense
Central to discuss his books with us! Very cool!
The SFSNNJ Special Activity guest E.J. Rand led a delightful discussion Friday, May 18 at
Borders. Mr. Rand, author of the Reluctant Sleuth series of mysteries, was a bright spot on a
dreary, rainy night.
Mr. Rand started his discussion at 8pm by talking about his beginnings in writing, believe it or
not, he's retired and this keeps him busy! Ed actually began his career in business. He attended
University of Pennsylvania' s Wharton School with Industrial Management major. After graduation
he bounced around - in the USN, as a destroyer officer on the USS Wadleigh (DD—689). Yet
writing always beckoned him.
Life then led to a position as senior VP of a NYSE management consulting company and then
senior VP at a public relations company. Marriage, kids, divorce and other assorted "life" kept
him busy but not writing. Then, finding a soul mate later and taking a chance on a writing contest
led to his being published. Winning Deadly Ink Press' 2007 David G. Sasher, Sr. Best
Unpublished Thriller Novel Award paved the way. E.J. Rand is now a member of the International
Thriller Writers, the Mystery Writers of America, and the Romance Writers of America.
His series, the Reluctant Sleuth, begins with Say Goodbye and introduces the reader to Gary
and Becca Kemmerman. The series shows how the characters evolve - from meeting, to
marriage and in between a whole bunch of mayhem. Drive-by shootings, deadly cruises, topless
beaches... ...he had us hooked. Say Goodbye is followed by Perfect Cover (coming 12/08) and
Higher Calling (follows Perfect Cover). We also were treated to details about a fourth book.
Mr. Rand also spoke a lot about the editing process, publishing and provided many useful and
helpful tips for aspiring writers. He happily shared tips and offered names of editors and writing
workshops. Very classy and helpful. Remi, of course, was the first one to grab a book and hog
the autographs, closely followed by Todd (Remi's good though, she even beat Todd).
Mr. Rand wrapped up by telling us not to give up on a dream of writing, but to be aware that it is a
difficult field. He also told us he would be happy to come back in the fall/early 2009 to Suspense
Central to discuss his books with us! Very cool!