Meet Roman St. John | Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Roman St. John and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Roman, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
President Calvin Coolidge once said:

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

Rarely has a quote resonated with me as much as this one does. I live and breathe by it. I believe that persistence and determination are the most important ingredients to success. If you have talent but no ambition or drive, you aren’t going to put in the work necessary to achieve success. Talent combined with a relentless dedication to your craft as a creative is the only way to assure yourself the best chance at using your talents to make a positive difference in the world.

I believe there are so many incredibly creative people in this world who haven’t tapped into their talents. If you can discipline yourself to explore your creative side and focus on your innate gifts, you will be giving yourself the best possible chance of establishing a career or a fulfilling hobby that aligns with your aptitudes. In my worldview, there is nothing more rewarding than that.

My message to others who want to pursue writing, or any other creative process is to actually sit down and do it. Don’t just dream about doing it. A dream without action isn’t going to get you where you want to be. In this world, you must completely dedicate yourself to chasing your dreams if you hope to reach your maximum potential. You also have to create your own opportunities and constantly manifest your goals. I’m a huge believer in manifestation and believe that ultimately one’s thoughts become their reality.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m an author of mystery, suspense, and romance fiction. I have self-published 17 books, which consist of novels, novellas, and short stories. My first novel, Buried Secrets was released under my legal name, Jonathan Ross, and the other books have been released under the pseudonym Roman St. John. I chose this creative career because more than anything else in the world, I love being a storyteller. I want to entertain readers with my stories and to instill a love for reading in as many people as I can. Writing is my passion and I hope this enthusiasm leaps off the page.

I want to provide a form of escapism for my readers and allow them glimpses into exciting and alluring worlds filled with intriguing characters and exotic settings. A lot of my suspense books are set in Hollywood and feature wealthy and glamorous jet-set characters who experience numerous trials and tribulations but almost always wind up on top. A lot of these characters started out poor but gained their riches by working hard and clawing their way to the top of their respective industries. My stories are similar in style to soap operas and there are always a lot of glitzy characters with secret vendettas, unfaithful spouses, sibling rivalries, and relentless desires for revenge. My works of fiction are oftentimes family sagas filled with tales of outrageous Hollywood celebrities, corrupt businessmen, and flashy socialites. In my suspense stories, greed, deception, and ruthless antics are struck down while taking readers on a wild ride with numerous plot twists and turns that will keep them guessing until the final pages. My romance works of fiction are more feel-good tales of innocent and sweet love between two people. I like to set these romance stories in small towns that are filled with warm vibes and characters you quickly grow to love. By writing in different genres, I hope to attract more readers.

I’m most proud of my complete dedication to the craft of writing, which has resulted in me having a prolific output. I have several unreleased works that just need to be edited and notebooks filled with ideas for future stories. I write daily and thankfully never have writer’s block or a shortage of ideas. For me, writing and telling stories is a way of life, and I’m so thankful for the opportunities I’ve had and for the loyal readers I’ve gained.

I always say that the journey is more fun than the destination. This writing journey has been so rewarding in so many ways. Over the years, I’ve met so many amazing people, from editors and booksellers to readers. Most of these people have been extremely positive and encouraging. Many of these connections I am still friends with to this day.

The most difficult part of the journey has been balancing my writing with high school, college, and other life responsibilities. Because I was so dedicated to establishing myself as a novelist, I was able to prioritize my time effectively so that I could get everything done that needed to be done. This juggling act took me a while to figure out, but I was eventually able to master it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I grew up in Alabama and moved to Los Angeles years ago. I find Hollywood to be a great place to people-watch and gain inspiration to create fun and exciting stories. My love for Los Angeles and the wonderfully creative people who live here is endless. The positive energy in this city is contagious and for me, it truly has been the city where dreams come true.

I often have family and friends from out of state come to visit me. They always joke that I should become an official Los Angeles tour guide because I make a detailed list of attractions they must see. I choose these attractions based off their interests.

If a visitor has traveled to the city because they want to see Hollywood and learn about the entertainment industry, I take them to the Hollywood Walk of Fame and then recommend a studio tour at either Warner Brothers or Paramount. I also take them to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. This museum is amazing, and the many exhibits provide a wonderful history of film.

I then drive them around Beverly Hills, stopping at places like Rodeo Drive, the Greystone Mansion, and the Beverly Hills Hotel. Trips to the Santa Monica Pier, the Venice Boardwalk, and Malibu are also high on my list of must-do’s for visitors. There’s nothing better than a fun Southern California beach day.

For art museum lovers, I highly recommend The Getty Museum, the Getty Villa, the Huntington, and LACMA. For shopping lovers, I take visitors to Santee Alley downtown, where they can find all kinds of bargains. While down that way, Olvera Street is another wonderful place to stop by. There are many restaurants, shops, and vendors along this culturally rich pedestrian street.

One of my favorite places in Los Angeles is The Grove and Farmers Market. The Grove is an amazing place to either shop or catch a movie, and then grab a delicious lunch at one of the many eateries at the Farmers Market. If you’re visiting LA and don’t go to The Grove and Farmers Market, you’re really missing out!

I recommend visitors check out fun restaurants such as Porto’s Bakery and Cafe and Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank. I also highly recommend Mel’s Drive-In, Bottega Louie in West Hollywood, Palermo Italian Restaurant in Los Feliz, and Craig’s in West Hollywood. Craig’s is a celebrity hotspot and great place to people-watch. I personally love brunch at Bottega Louie, but they offer all kinds of tasty food for lunch and dinner as well. Both Mel’s Drive-In and Bob’s Big Boy offer delicious desserts as well as meals. They’re both open late.

Los Angeles is known for having an abundance of international food options, so I highly recommend driving to different areas of the city and experiencing as many of these delicious options as possible. There are so many wonderful restaurants scattered all over the city and valley.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my family. They have supported me on this writing journey from the very beginning. Having a group of people who believe in you really does make a difference. I would especially like to thank my parents for recognizing my potential and constantly encouraging me to pursue my dreams.

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Image Credits
Book Cover art Credits: The Housewife Cover – SelfPubBookCovers.com/ Shardel Perfect Match Cover – SelfPubBookCovers.com/ JAMILLER Irreverent Intentions – SelfPubBookCovers.com/ andrewgraphics Christmas in Hazel Willow – SelfPubBookCovers.com/ RCMatthewsArtist Halloween in Hazel Willow – SelfPubBookCovers.com/ RCMatthewsArtist Hotel By the Sea – SelfPubBookCovers.com/ RLSather Candy Shoppe Cover – SelfPubBookCovers.com/ RLSather