Book Recommendation - The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus
The Bonaventure Circus is a refuge for many, but Pippa Ripley was rejected from its inner circle as a baby. When she receives mysterious messages from someone called the "Watchman," she is determined to find him and the connection to her birth. As Pippa's search leads her to a man seeking justice for his murdered sister and evidence that a serial killer has been haunting the circus train, she must decide if uncovering her roots is worth putting herself directly in the path of the killer.
Present Day
The old circus train depot will either be torn down or preserved for historical importance, and its future rests on real estate project manager Chandler Faulk's shoulders. As she dives deep into the depot's history, she's also balancing a newly diagnosed autoimmune disease and the pressures of single motherhood. When she discovers clues to the unsolved murders of the past, Chandler is pulled into a story far darker and more haunting than even an abandoned train depot could portend.
How was the idea of Bonaventure born in your mind?
I grew up in circus city. So the circus has always been a backdrop for my life. It was a natural setting to use and I created Bonaventure so I could have some creative license versus basing it off of the Ringling Bros.
Wow, how fun!
The moment I read “Peter Pan” I knew Peter’s character was inspired by your son who you refer to as Peter Pan on social media. How similar is your son to the character you created? Did he actively help you with that creation?
My son is very similar to Peter in the story. In fact, my son actually created the Nitro Steel and Rustman characters for my book. He was pivotal in making Peter a character.
I bet he really liked being included like that!
Chandler’s character deals with Lyme disease which I know you have yourself. Can you share a little bit of your experience what it was like writing a character with similar struggles to your own? Did you find it easier or more challenging?
Well, honestly, I found it easy to write because I didn’t have to do any research. Chandler’s medical experiences in the story were pulled from my own. So, if you read hers, you’ll pretty much know what it’s like for me on a daily basis.
My heart goes out to you, because that certainly can’t be easy.
It appeared that Chandler was more afraid of people’s reaction to her disease than she was the Lyme itself. Is this something that you relate to or was that more for her character?
Totally something I relate to. A fear is being patronized and losing credibility as a valuable and effective part of society, but also, of not being taken seriously, either. Because, after all, Lyme isn’t a visual disease that people can see its effects. Often it feels like people think I’m pretending.
I’m so sorry that you feel that way! Hopefully the more awareness for Lyme Disease that gets out there the less you will feel like that.
Chandler’s mom-heart… oh how it read like you bled your own heart onto the pages through Chandler’s. Was it challenging to be that vulnerable or did it feel more freeing that you were able to get your feelings out onto the paper?
It wasn’t challenging for me. It was freedom to write my own emotion toward my own son. I have a fierce instinct when it comes to him and Chandler’s reactions during the book are precisely how I would envision myself responding. (good or bad, lol)
I can picture this.
The bond between Pippa and Lily was truly heartwarming. Where did the idea for this come from? What do you hope readers would take away from this relationship?
Well, I’ve always loved elephants. I mean, growing up with them practically in my backyard, helped. I wanted people to see the correlation between human and animal. That both are precious and deserve to be treasured and cared for.
So very true 
Overall what do you hope readers will take away from this novel?
Really that they are seen. First and foremost. This is a world that tends to cancel people out instead of hold them within our grasp and show grace. But that grace—that hope—is there, and our Creator never lost sight of us.
There aren’t even words for how much I love this response
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