By Genoa Barrow | OBSERVER SENIOR STAFF WRITER

When Donna Michele Ramos wrote her first book, publishers took an instant interest. That was until they discovered she was only nine years old.

Local writer Donna Ramos will have a book signing on May 7 at Tower Books located on 2538 Watt Ave.[map].

“When they found out I was a baby, they said ‘call back in a couple of years,’” Ramos said.

She didn’t give up writing and at age 49, she’s decided to publish her first novel, “High Rise,” herself.

“Other places print your book and just drop it on your doorstep. I found AuthorHouse and said ‘I can actually do this.' It’s like a dream when you self-publish,” Ramos shared. “You control everything and it’s nice to control your own thing.”

Ramos’ first official book signing is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 7 at the Tower Books located at 2538 Watt Ave. [map].

“High Rise” is the story of three women who live in the same apartment complex but are at different stages of their lives. Ever live next to someone and wonder what goes on inside their home? Ramos allows readers to be the proverbial “fly on the wall” and see what’s going on behind closed doors.

There’s sex, there’s dysfunctional relationships, there’s interracial relationships, and friends who’ve got your back.

Writers are often told to “write what you know.” Ramos has used her personal experiences and composites of interesting people she’s met along the way to shape her stories.

The inspiration for the main locale in “High Rise” - the Tiffany Towers - was fashioned after the actual building she lived in in her native New York. What she learned from working at New York’s Federal Reserve Bank forms one of her next novels “Code Red.”

Whether set in modern day New York or the Civil War as is another of Ramos’ titles “Borrowed Time,” she says love will always be woven into the storyline somehow.

“My goal is Danielle Steele (status). She’s my target. I want to take her spot,” said Ramos who has been reading romance novels since her early 20s.

Steele’s romance novels, filled with drama and intrigue, have made millions. Many have also been made into made for television movies.

Ramos also hopes to see her books, like Steele’s have been, translated into foreign languages and therefore have an even larger reach and readership.

When she’s not putting pen to paper, Ramos is a City of Sacramento employee who works as an administrative assistant in the Development Service Department’s Building Division.

While the local author hasn’t left her day job yet, she does envision a time when she can devote herself to writing full time.

“I would love to in a year from now quit my job,” Ramos shared.

Considering her cadre of unpublished material, she could literally write her own ticket.
She says she has a number of books, both novels and children’s books, waiting to go to print; enough to publish two books per year for the next five years.

She’d also like to start her own publishing company and help others see their works in print. Her roster of creative minds includes her son Kyshaune, who has created a Black Superhero character.

And to think, this new direction in life was one she almost threw away like a crumbled and discarded notebook page.

After receiving a number of rejection letters from publishers, Ramos wanted to give up. She began to internalize the rejections and question her own writing ability.

A friend, who had been published in law enforcement publications gave her some words of encouragement and convinced her not to throw her pen away.

Here in Sacramento, another co-worker also convinced her to keep pursuing her desire to write books.

This from the acknowledgements page in High Rise, “Never let anyone take your thunder, never allow anyone or anything to steal your dream. It is never too late to achieve it.”

“High Rise” can be purchased by at www.authorhouse.com and www.amazon.com.
To learn more about upcoming book signings or to receive advance notice of future book releases, e-mail kamea77@aol.com.