Frustrated Band Mom Pens Novel Fundraiser

GLENDALE, Ariz. - March 31, 2015 - PRLog -- Local author and band parent Julie McCauslin of Glendale, will debut her novel “The Secret They Kept” Book 1 in the Tacet Septenary Series” written under the name Juliet D. Jones April 10, 2015 and is currently accepting website pre-orders. ISBN 978-0-9961806-0-3

“Upon discovering our kids are performing with badly damaged instruments from 1970, I got frustrated and wanted to do something to help so I wrote a book. Apollo is not just my daughter's high school, it's mine too. 10% of all royalties from "The Secret They Kept" (Juliet D. Jones) will be going to the Apollo High School Marching Band, Guard squad, and drum line for desperately needed instruments, safe podiums for our drum majors, & our Guard squad uses borrowed silks, broken rifles, they have no sabers, nor proper uniforms or costumes. These musicians are incredibly talented and dedicated and these programs are important for life skills. When administration finds their own hands tied by political red tape it’s time for parents to stop complaining and do something - so I did. Band kids wear the "band geek" badge with pride and I love pointing out that marching band produces leaders - US presidents, award winning actors, directors, rock stars, the list is long & distinguished. Marching band is so much more than the instruments they play & the precision marching they do. Year after year I watch these kids put in long hours including before and after school, and even weekends preparing for performances and competitions. There are school districts where funding is a non-issue for such programs, but that is not the case in the Glendale Union High School District. As much as the Superintendant’s office would love to fully fund these programs, they simply cannot and as parents we need to remember we are the proverbial village and these programs truly do make a difference”

Set in Northern Arizona, “The Secret They Kept” is a young adult cross over mystery. “Fiery crash shortly before midnight claims the life of beloved rock star Damon La Rosa...” The world mourned the tragic news when forty-three-year-old Damon La Rosa died when the car he was driving went off the side of a cliff, exploding into flames with him trapped inside. As Arizona’s favorite son, not only did Damon quickly rise to fortune and fame as one of the greatest rock stars the music industry had ever seen, he was also hugely influential when marching band rosters began exploding with students; mostly wanting to play percussion – same as their idol had when he was in high school. When his Last Will and Testament is read it is discovered that he had a camp built on fifteen acres of his property and donated it to the Arizona Marching Band Association for use as a summer band camp. Every camp has its mysterious legend or eerie tales of hauntings and Camp La Rosa is no different. (But are the stories really only fabricated?) July 31, 2014 marked the fifth anniversary of Damon’s death. As people from all over the world made their way to the crash site vigil, the Apollo Marching Hawks were full swing into what should have been a simple, nothing-too-exciting week at Camp La Rosa. What happens one chilling night in the woods changes all of their lives forever, forcing them into keeping a forboding secret.

The author is available for interviews and appearances.  For booking presentations, media appearances, interviews, and/or book-signings please use email or website