About The Author


Robert Downs I aspired to be a writer, before I realized how difficult the writing process was. Fortunately, I’d already fallen in love with the craft, otherwise Casey might never have seen print. During its most satisfying moments, Casey practically jumps off the page and into my lap. While I’d never consider writing an easy process, I’m fortunate that Casey has enough personality to sustain himself for long periods of time, since he initially came to me over five years ago. Even at his most basic level, though, he and I have little, if anything, in common. Yet, he’s a strong enough character that he practically takes over the writing, as well as the whole story, and therefore, I can’t envision ever changing the point of view of his misadventures, of which I hope there will be many more. Before I’d even published the first manuscript, Falling Immortality, I’d already finished drafts of two sequels, as he proved to me that publishing, while certainly important, was not as important as telling his story.

I wish I could tell you the exact point Casey entered my mind and how, but I can’t give you the specific details, except that it was over five years ago, and he appeared with the same speed as a bolt of lightning. The muse is often a fickle creature—I never know when she’ll come and when she’ll go—but I’m always flattered when she graces me with her presence, and I couldn’t have a better one, even when she decides to wake me up in the middle of the night, or makes it rather difficult for me to fall asleep, or she tosses random characters in my direction, with stories that demand to be told. While Falling Immortality is my first piece of published writing, it’s not the first story I ever tried to write, and I certainly hope it won’t be my last, since I have more ideas that deserve further exploration. Even at its darkest of times, I feel extremely fortunate that I’ve been able to hop on the writing train, even though I have no idea what my final destination will be. But I do plan to enjoy the ride, and I will take it all the way to the end. I’ve been fortunate that I can say I’ve lived in multiple places, even though I still have one place—West Virginia—that is truly home to me. While working for the government as a budget analyst—a complete 180 from my mysteries—I’ve lived in the Tidewater or Hampton Roads area of Virginia, in the Boston, MA metro area, and now I currently reside in Albuquerque, NM, where the weather often lives up to my own lofty expectations.

I have no idea where exactly any writing skills I may possess came from, only that Finding Forrester served as an inspiration for me and gave me a new outlook on crafting a story. But what I can tell you is that my writing grew from my love for the written word and for music. Even more important than the beat, though, are the lyrics. Early on, I wrote my own lyrics, or what I would probably refer to as really bad poetry. Even before that, though, I loved to read, or more specifically, listen to my parents read to me. Before age two, I would wake up in the morning, pick out a stack of books that was taller than I was, plop myself in the rocking chair (either my mom or dad’s lap would do), and I’d sit there for hours, until every last book was read. To say I am truly blessed would be a grave understatement.

So even though Falling Immortality is dedicated to Jen, who, by the way, is one heck of an editor, and I couldn’t have done it without her, I never would have started down the writing path, were it not for my parents and some serious help from God, who has, and continues to bless my life, in many more ways than I deserve. And if not for the fine and dedicated folks at Rainbow Books, Casey never would have seen print. I do hope you enjoy Falling Immortality as much as I enjoyed writing it, and I hope we will have many more adventures together.

Robert Downs