Tony Ross is an author who's not afraid of the dark.
In his first book, "The Ugly Duckling's Revenge," he opens the door to his own past struggles with alcoholism and depression. He shares what God did to pull him out and offers a message of hope to readers: "If God can do it for me, He can do it for you!" "The Ugly Duckling's Revenge" is currently out of print, but Tony is considering updating and reprinting it to share his message with new readers.
Tony's next books, "Victor" and "Orion," are what he defines as "thrillers for thinkers," stories filled with action, adrenalin and deep spiritual meaning, offering tension and drama as well as light and hope. "Victor" won a silver medal for Christian Fiction in the Readers Favorite 2013 International Award Contest. More thrillers follow in "Brimstone" and "Defender," completing the four-book series "Shadows of Sunlight City," which looks at humanity's search for eternal life through the eyes of a variety of flawed and compelling characters.
"Ghosts of Killdeer" is a lengthy supernatural thriller, and a novel Tony never expected to write; it came about following the death of his father in 2019. While not officially part of "Shadows of Sunlight City," many of the same characters return for one final story, which deals with grieving and spiritual warfare, among other things. It's a deeply personal novel for Tony, a project that he poured his heart into, and he personally considers it his best work.
"Melody's Memory" is a departure from thrillers; it's a novella focusing less on suspense and action and more on the condition of the heart. Tony invites readers to open the long-locked doors of their own hearts, shine the light on what may be hidden there, and allow healing to come.
Tony is now revisiting the world he created in "Victor" and "Orion" in The Black Cat Chronicles, a series of short novellas set before "Victor." Four books in the series have been released: "Omega: The Bitter Pill," "Ares: The Gates of Hell," "Grendel: Fear of the Dark" and "Orion: The Hidden Man." A fifth book is scheduled to follow, tentatively titled "Victor: Redeemer." This book will bring the Black Cat Chronicles to a close and circle back to the beginning of Shadows of Sunlight City.
When he's not writing, Tony enjoys backyard campfires, recreational reading and outdoor sports. He has been a member of the ministry team at Calvary Apostolic Church in Clintonville, WI since 2004. Tony is happily married and has five children.
