Behind the Book

Adventures with my writing and research

The Wild and Dark Side of Oregon's Iconic Deschutes River: In Reality and In Two Thriller Novels

Oregon’s Deschutes River is known for its breathtaking beauty and world-class whitewater, but beneath the rapids lies a darker history.

Kelly Romo

Feb 274 min read

Oregon Whitewater Thriller: How Maupin, Prineville, and Bend Became the Backbone of My Thrillers

"Discover the captivating charm of Maupin, Prineville, and Bend as we unveil their influence on thrilling whitewater novels.

Kelly Romo

Apr 29, 20243 min read

It's Fair, Festival, and Rodeo Season!

Summer is here, and that means it's time for fairs, festivals, and rodeos in Oregon! I will be signing books at 4 different fairs this year.

Kelly Romo

Jul 11, 20232 min read

Behind my WHITEWATER THRILLER SERIES: Research and Murder in the Cascades.

The research for book two of my Whitewater Thriller Series took me into the Cascade Mountain Range and to the headwaters of the Deschutes...

Kelly Romo

Jan 29, 20232 min read

Behind DEAD DRIFT: My Audiobook is Now Available! Let Me Introduce the Narrators.

Meet the amazing and talented Talon David and Ryan Hougen who narrated my thriller, DEAD DRIFT. I had over 80 auditions for the audiobook...

Kelly Romo

Jun 30, 20223 min read

Behind DEAD DRIFT: The Art of the Fly

How I transitioned from me to HIM...in a fictional sense. Fly Fishing For me, as I'm sure with most people who tie flies, it all started...

Kelly Romo

May 23, 20222 min read

Behind DEAD DRIFT: How Many Editors Does it Take to Write a Thriller?

The world may never know...For me, writing is not done in isolation. These amazing people helped me create an accurate and polished...

Kelly Romo

May 15, 20223 min read

Behind DEAD DRIFT: Maupin's Real Serial Killer.

Little did I know that Maupin had a serial killer who got his start on the Deschutes River... ISRAEL KEYES Israel Keyes is considered one...

Kelly Romo

Apr 30, 20223 min read

Behind DEAD DRIFT: Cover Reveal

I am excited to share the cover of my new thriller, DEAD DRIFT. Now it feels real! Another exciting aspect is that my daughter, Brittany,...

Kelly Romo

Apr 9, 20221 min read

Behind DEAD DRIFT: Writing on the Fly

Which came first? The fly fishing or the thriller? And how I came up with the title. THE FIRST SPARK I came up with the idea for DEAD...

Kelly Romo

Apr 2, 20222 min read

Behind DEAD DRIFT: Taking the Rapids in a Life Jacket

While writing and researching DEAD DRIFT, I took my kids whitewater rafting. Two of us ended up taking the rapids in our life jackets.

Kelly Romo

Mar 13, 20221 min read

Kelly Romo

Join me on a literary journey unlike any other in BEHIND the BOOK – where the art of storytelling meets the thrill of exploration, weaving together the threads of writing, research, and travel.

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