RVC Resident Co-Authors Thriller

For Barbara Sheldon, the fulfillment of a lifelong dream began with a countertop. The Rockville Centre resident was having measurements done for kitchen alterations when she struck up a conversation with marble and granite saleswoman Sophia Moreau. 

The conversation quickly moved to Moreau’s personal life and her pending divorce. Moreau believed her life story was compelling enough to be told in print. Sheldon agreed. 

“I just thought I would be helping her (write the story),” Sheldon said. “I never thought it would become a book. (It) just took on a life of its own.”

Moreau’s story was the basis for Married to a Trial Liar (Outskirts Press), released in October and co-authored by the two women. 

The book is a suspenseful, page-turner involving murder, romance and triumph over abuse.   

“It’s the story of an abused women who manages to extricate herself from her relationships,” Sheldon said. “It (has) a little romance and adventure, (all) set on Long Island. It’s a real Long Island kind of a book and a great beach read.”

Rockville Centre is featured in the book as one of the many places frequented by the main character throughout her journey. Sheldon has lived in the village for 36 years.

“I’m really proud to live in Rockville Centre,” she said. “It’s a great place.” 

Although this is her first book, Sheldon’s writing career is an accomplished one. She has written for both the Rockville Centre Herald and the New York Times. Sheldon also worked as a senior editor at McGraw-Hill.

“I’ve written all my life,” Sheldon said. “I’ve had jobs where I either wrote speeches, did video scripts, wrote annual reports and presentations.”

However, despite her many other literary credits,  she had never written a book — or rather, had one published. 

“I wrote another book several years ago that’s still under my bed,” Sheldon said. 

But the inspiration to tell Moreau’s story was strong enough to guide her though the Married... project.

“What I like about the book is that I was able to be creative about the story,” Sheldon said. “I was able to fictionalize the truth and was able to take that to the next level and make it fun. (The story) just came to me and I said ‘oh my goodness, this is great.’” 

Sheldon also sees the book as a message of hope for women involved in volatile relationships. 

“(The book) is dedicated to women who have been abused,” she said. “(Moreau) was with two abusive men and she managed to crawl away. She managed to get up and triumph. Her children were who she wanted to protect. She fought and battled for those children. As a mother, that’s so important to see in another woman.”    

Sheldon is currently working on a novel based on her aunt’s life. It is the story of a German woman who flees Nazi Germany and comes to the United States to live with her Italian husband in Brooklyn.  

The two co-authors will be signing copies of the book on April 29 at the Book Revue in Huntington from 4-6 p.m.