In the new coming-of-age novel, Jersey in the Rear View, Rocky Steele draws heavily from his own life experiences to create a realistic setting, genuine characters and a believable story.
"I don’t know why we moved back to Jersey, but I suspect staying one jump ahead of the bill collectors had a lot to do with it. I didn’t realize it at the time but Mom was sacrificing her health rather than to meet the problem of Pop’s alcoholism head on, and insist that he quit or go through the rest of his life without her. In the meantime, we as a family had to do without those things that other families took for granted." -Scott
Scott, the main character in Jersey in the Rear View, makes a bold move and leaves home as a young teenager. He is determined to avoid the powerful grip of the Jersey streets which claim the lives of so many young men.
The story follows Scott’s unorthodox journey through life, eventually finding happiness as a family man and a successful career in law enforcement. Jersey in the Rear View is an expansive novel, following Scott through most of his life.
Rocky Steele grew up on the mean streets of Jersey City at a time when corruption was the accepted norm. Determined not to be lured down a destructive path into a life of violent criminal activity, he strived for and attained academic excellence. At the age of 17 he was considered eligible for, and was accepted into the international high IQ society, Mensa. Several academic scholarships allowed Steele to earn master’s degrees in philosophy and criminal justice. Later, he became a sought-after motivational speaker and was considered an expert in law enforcement conflict resolution. Steele has devoted himself to a long standing ambition to write fiction based on his experiences, including his involvement in politics and law enforcement.
