Yvonne Ventresca’s New Thriller ‘If I’m Gone’ Inspired by a Real-Life Incident

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Author Yvonne Ventresca is set to debut her adult thriller, If I’m Gone, next year with Poisoned Pen Press. The story, inspired by a childhood encounter, revolves around a missing writer whose last manuscript could unveil dark family secrets.

The Real-Life Inspiration

Ventresca recalls a childhood incident that influenced her writing. She was alone in a pediatrician’s waiting room when a stranger approached her, offering to take her for a walk. She declined, engrossed in toys around her. Although unaware of the danger, once she informed her mother, the potential threat became evident, forever altering her family’s perspective on safety.

Attempting to write about the incident for years, Ventresca finally crafted a narrative centered on a missing persons case, which she realized as an adult author.

The Novel’s Plot

The protagonist of If I’m Gone, Viv, faces turmoil when her mother, Stevie, disappears without a trace. Stevie left behind an unfinished novel titled If You’re Reading This, I’m Gone. This manuscript eerily resembles the family’s own life dramas, including details of Viv’s father’s mysterious death. Viv seeks hidden truths within these pages.

Author’s Reflection

Ventresca describes how the concept evolved, imagining a character who, like herself, was a writer. If this character disappeared, her manuscript would speak for her in her absence.

Although Ventresca’s life doesn’t mirror Stevie’s, she continues to contemplate unsolved mysteries and protective family dynamics from her workspace.

Exclusive Excerpt from If I’m Gone

Stevie
Thursday, May 23, 2024

At the post office, I stood in line with my package. It seemed like an ordinary errand, but inside, I was nervous. Twice I almost left when Georgie, a long-time employee, called me to the counter. I handed over my last manuscript.

“You’re mailing this to yourself?” Georgie asked.

“Legal reasons,” I said, referencing the debated idea of protecting work via mail. “Promise you’ll let me know when this is out?”

“Of course!” Although I doubted the possibility.

At home, I revisited memories in each room, from Viv’s first steps to celebratory events shared with my late husband Mason. Our daughter, Viv, had a fall as a child, a memory stirring guilt within me. My resolve to protect her had only strengthened.

I refrained from contacting Viv directly, sending a simple text instead. She didn’t respond, an expected outcome as our relationship strained after Mason’s death.

My focus returned to my tasks, straightening up, feeding the cat, and facing my next difficult step. I sat with my phone, typing, and sent a decisive message: I know what you did. Come here at noon.

An anxious wait ensued until a single word reply arrived: Okay. This lack of questions from the recipient only confirmed my suspicion of guilt in a murder.

The house remained quiet, my preparation complete. All that remained was the slow tick of time.