Kerry Peresta Interview for Hampstead Magazine
An Author’s First Great Novel
Local author Kerry Peresta makes a big first splash with her first novel “The Hunting,” which appeals to women of all ages.
When we think of authors of great books, we very likely consider famous individuals such as J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, or John Grisham. We spot their latest best seller at Barnes and Noble or the library and flock to the theater when their story hits the silver screen.
Some people may be surprised to discover that a great writer might live just down the street. In fact, the Baltimore area is home to a surfeit of outstanding writing talent. Ask Kerry Peresta from where she hails and she will laugh and say, “everywhere.” And while she has southern roots, and for a few winters braved the plains of South Dakota, it is the northwest corridor of Baltimore, comprised of a picturesque slice of Baltimore and Carroll Counties, that she calls home.
I draw inspiration from prayer, relationships and watching other women climb out of the ditch, whether they have been pushed or have fallen in all by themselves. —Kerry Peresta
Her first novel, “The Hunting,” was released in December 2013. Jack Downs, president of the Maryland Writer’s Association of Carroll County, calls Mrs. Peresta’s book, “a worthy read, fast-paced and uplifting… a superlative freshman novel.” “The Hunting” is the story of Izzy Lewis, a top advertising sales woman for a city newspaper. According to the book’s Amazon page, the lead character:
…has a habit of falling in and out of marriage. After her last divorce, she shoved the emotional pain into a com partment in her brain to deal with later. With three teenagers to raise, bills to pay and sales quotas to meet, introspection was a luxury she could not afford. Her mind needed a happy place. When she discovered online dating, it immediately became her favorite stress reliever and best friend. Often, she would steal into the night after her kids were asleep to meet someone new. One fateful evening, the hunt for the perfect guy took a sinister turn when the mystery man she met turned out to be her worst nightmare! Reluctantly pulled into a web of lies, Izzy is forced to confront her demons.
The genre is unabashedly chick-lit. The style is suspenseful and snarky. Customer reviews have lauded the book as “gripping, sassy, smart, and endearing.” The book is intended for women age 30 to 60, but over and over the reviewers strongly recommend “The Hunting” specifically for single moms, and here is where the author reveals her deepest motivations for writing.
Peresta is a woman with strong spiritual roots who describes her approach to life as “realism filtered through optimism.” She explains, “I draw inspiration from prayer, relationships and watching other women climb out of the ditch, whether they have been pushed or have fallen in all by themselves.” “The Hunting” reflects her strong desire to lend a hand. “I hope my characters, especially Izzy, can stir other women to have that ‘aha’ moment that leads to positive change in their lives. It’s one of the ways I hope I can help women climb out of that trough of despair,” Peresta said.
Do not be surprised to see Peresta in a local coffee shop or library – after all, she’s from the neighborhood. “The Hunting,” by Kerry Peresta, is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and kerryperesta.com.
George Reagan lives in Hampstead. His website is reaganwriting.com. He is a community contributor to Hampstead Magazine in Maryland.
