My name is Jonathan A. Cerruto, I am an Author and Lyricist. I was born in Canada and currently live in Rome, Italy. I am 42 years old. I graduated in Fashion Design in Milan and life was kind to me, but something was still missing. I started writing at the age of 19 but I had to put my writing projects aside because I had to focus on other priorities. I grew up in a cult and a very toxic and abusive family. Any artistic inclination was forbidden. I signed a hybrid contract with Austin Macauley Publishers in 2021, whilst I was living in the UK. As the process wasn’t up to my expectations, I discovered Kindle Direct Publishing, and that changed the game for me. I have full control of what happens now in terms of pricing and online distribution, for instance.
What is your book all about?
I started to envision Joshua Bane’s story when I was only 12 years old. My books are based on my true life experience but seen on a fantastic note. Joshua Bane and The Five Watchtowers saga series is the story of Joshua and Ashley, brother and sister who grew up in an orphanage in Russia but separated at the age of 7. Joshua gets adopted by a British family and life seems to be kind to him, until one day at the age of 16, he comes back from school and finds his adopted parents brutally killed by an evil entity. That experience awakens his magical powers and since that day, he does the impossible to find out who killed his adoptive family and also, he uses his powers to find his twin sister, who is nowhere to be found.
What inspired you to write the book?
My life has been a movie, a real rollercoaster of emotions with many ups and downs. I grew up in a cult and a very strict, physically, and mentally abusive family. I wasn’t allowed to have friends out of that community, and for that, I was heavily bullied by the other kids. I was not allowed to listen to certain types of music or follow any artistic inclinations. Being part of the LGBTQ+ community is prohibited and punishable with exclusion from the community, including family members, which is what happened to me.
Art has always been a gateway for me, a portal for me to ‘escape’ the place where I was. Since I was little I used to create stories in my head and put them down on paper, write rhymes, and express how I was feeling at those particular moments. Creating art has always kept me company and lifted my spirit in those dark moments. My happiest moments, as far as I remember, are being in an isolated place, listening to music and reading a book, or writing down my thoughts, hidden from everyone.
Fashion was one of the many passions that I have taught myself to escape from that toxic environment. I remember I used to hide under the living room table and draw gowns, clothing items, and shoes on random pieces of paper. I wasn’t able to suppress those inclinations any longer, and once I turned 17 years old, I ran away and followed my dreams. I moved to Milan and got my degree in Fashion and Design. Three years ago, I had some serious health issues, and I went under surgery. That experience changed me completely. I promised myself from that moment on I would move forward and respond to my real calling. My novels, like all my writing, come from a place of truth and real-life experience, and of course a lot of heart. I want to share Joshua Bane’s story, this fantastic superhero, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, goes through a lot of challenges in his life. I want to make people understand that there is always hope.
What is your target audience for the book?
Fantasy readers from the age of 16 who enjoys adventure and action.
