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September 4, 2015

The idea for Kenny Sills' first novel, "Tattoo: A Beautiful Sin," came to him when he was talking with friends who had tattoos, though he has no tattoos of his own. "I wouldn't want someone to cut them out of me," he said. A macabre thought, to be sure, but it's the premise of the whodunit released in 2012...

The cover of "Tattoo: A Beautiful Sin" by Southeast Missouri State University graduate Kenny Sills. (Photo submitted by Kenny Sills)
The cover of "Tattoo: A Beautiful Sin" by Southeast Missouri State University graduate Kenny Sills. (Photo submitted by Kenny Sills)

The idea for Kenny Sills' first novel, "Tattoo: A Beautiful Sin," came to him when he was talking with friends who had tattoos, though he has no tattoos of his own.

Photo submitted by Kenny Sills
The cover of "Tattoo: A Beautiful Sin" by Southeast Missouri State University graduate Kenny Sills.
Photo submitted by Kenny Sills The cover of "Tattoo: A Beautiful Sin" by Southeast Missouri State University graduate Kenny Sills.

"I wouldn't want someone to cut them out of me," he said.

A macabre thought, to be sure, but it's the premise of the whodunit released in 2012.

Sills said the book was 12 years in the making, and he wasn't thinking of publishing it when he first started writing it on a part-time basis.

"I was writing it for myself," he said.

"Tattoo" takes place in the weeks leading up to Halloween, and each murder in the book causes the townspeople in Walkerville, Michigan, to be more suspicious and accusatory toward one another.

All the finger-pointing leads to tension, and sparks fly in the small community as law-enforcement officials Sheriff Kerry and Captain Parker work together to solve the bizarre crimes.

The book is set in the real-life small town of Walkerville, which is at the edge of the Manistee National Forest. Sills said he obtained signed waivers from the businesses he named in the book, as well as from the city of Walkerville, to use the names.

Sills said he chose the location deliberately, deciding upon Walkerville because of its proximity to the national forest.

"The forest itself is like a character," he said.

Kenny Sills will sign copies of his book, "Tattoo: A Beautiful Sin," on Sept. 11 and 12 at Southeast Bookstore, 388 Henderson Ave. (Photo submitted by Kenny Sills)
Kenny Sills will sign copies of his book, "Tattoo: A Beautiful Sin," on Sept. 11 and 12 at Southeast Bookstore, 388 Henderson Ave. (Photo submitted by Kenny Sills)

The book has a five-star rating on Amazon.com, and Sills said sales have been and continue to be brisk; it is listed on the site in several book categories, including crime, thriller, horror and drama.

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"I've always been a big fan of horrors," he said.

Those who enjoy a thrill-filled book will be in for a treat with this read.

"They're in for a wild ride," Sills said.

Sills graduated from Southeast Missouri State University, where he majored in creative writing, philosophy and theology.

Sills said he's always enjoyed creative writing, and what started out as a part-time project has turned into a trilogy.

Completing the book has been a journey Sills believes has turned him into a true novelist.

"Just like that, I can take whatever is in my head and get it out on paper," he said.

He is at work on the second book in the "Tattoo" series.

Sills lives in Maryland Heights, Missouri, near St. Louis, where he owns and operates Ohana Martial Arts studio. He offers special classes for children and young adults with disabilities.

"Tattoo: A Beautiful Sin" is available at amazon.com for $19.99, and readers also can download it from Amazon and Google Play.

Sills will be in Cape Girardeau to sign copies of the book at 11 a.m. Sept. 11 and 12 at Southeast Bookstore, 388 Henderson Ave., on the Southeast campus.

Pertinent address:

388 Henderson Ave., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

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