John Brandon Keever

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Can an Iraq War Widow and a Breast Cancer Widower Fall in Love without Falling Apart? Sara lost her husband 4 years ago in the Iraq War. Jack lost his wife to breast cancer soon after they were married. Falling in Love again is the last thing on their minds. A chance meeting while volunteering at a local mission opens possibilities either before felt possible. Their lives are further intertwined when through their work at the mission; they meet a young teenage couple expecting a baby. How do you fall in love after you’ve lost the love of your life? There is Grace in Grief. Love Abounds in He is Here. Fall in Love again in He is Here.

Q & A with Author John Brandon Keever

Q He is Here almost become a movie before the novel was ever written, isn't that true?
A That’s correct. I had written several scripts, but He is Here resonated with those in my film circle. So I formed my production company in 2013 and began pitching to investors and producers. We had a strong team of actors and producers behind the film. I wanted to Direct. I spent over a year pitching, but it never came together. I was trying to raise nearly a million dollars for my first feature film. We raised nearly a third of our budget, but in the end, I was trying to climb Mt. Everest on my first big excursion. When I failed to raise enough money to produce the film, I took it personally. I didn’t really write or create anything original for nearly 6 months.

Q He is Here is full of powerful scenes from the very beginning like Sara grieving her husband years after he died in the Iraqi War and when a young pregnant teen is kicked out of her home by her wealthy mother, etc. Why are you willing to be so bold with these kinds of stories?
A I believe truth is best experienced. I am passionate about creating stories for the untold souls. I like revealing truths that are not a part of mainstream storylines, especially mainstream Romance or Dramatic stores. How many novels, films, or tv shows follow the story of military widows or homeless teens? Respect is critical to honorably revealing the truth in these stories. I did not want to draw an audience because of daring subject matter. I first wanted to tell the untold stories for the military widow, the homeless teen, the victim of child abuse; the unheard. I try to detail enough to be in context of the story and vague enough so that the reader can feel their way through the story based on their own past experiences or emotions.

Q Sara is a respected nurse, a loving mom, and a great sister, but she is lonely since her husband passed. Jack is a very successful Realtor and a respected businessman, yet he is a bit of a workaholic because he is still hurting since his wife died of cancer. How do you relate to Sara or Jack?
A I lost a very close friend to cancer when I was in my 20s. I was actually her Senior prom date. We dated some after high school, but we knew we were better off friends. She had several bouts of cancer and lost her fight too young. I still think about her. Losing her gave me an appreciation for love at a young age. Loneliness is not always the loss of an emotion but often the absence of a person. In He is Here, Sara misses Tyler as a husband, father, and friend. But she knows he’s gone. Jack misses Lindsay deeply. He misses what they shared and regrets what could have been. Sara and Jack deal with grief in their own way. Their loneliness is in no way disrespectful of their loved ones. They experience real love. Enough time has passed that both Sara and Jack feel their hearts are missing something. Neither are really open to love until they meet one another. I do not believe love is something you prepare for, I think it’s something you find and if you have any sense; you make the most out it.