The Lakewood Observer recently caught up with local author, Ron Ciancutti, about the release of his new book, “A Step Ahead; Collected Essays.” Ron has published several articles in our paper in the last several years and each time, his direct, heartfelt message generated substantial response from our readership.

"Ron, how did this book come about?"

"I've been writing a monthly column called “Steps Ahead” for a magazine called Parks and Rec Business for about 5 years. The magazine has national reach and my articles are simply common sense discussions about business, morals, working relationships, life, family and the blending of all of them. By the end of my second year with the magazine my essays were being requested for reprint in various company newsletters throughout the United States. CEO's and CFO's evidently liked my common sense approach to problems and challenges and often wrote to the editor about their success putting these same common sense theories into work at their jobsites.

"When the requests to reprint began to come from companies outside the parks and recreation field, the editor of the magazine felt we had a product that could be sold on a greater scale. [The editor] suggested a book that essentially reprinted forty plus of my 'fan favorite' essays and asked if I would add an introduction, conclusion, chapter segues and some unpublished new work to make it into a 'Collection of Essays.'

"In March of 2007, I began that journey and now, a little over a year later, we are ready to release the book. Initially, the book will be sold through the magazine by order form (shown below) or off the website at www.parksandrecbusiness.com. After that initial distribution run, the local bookstores, as well as the well-known book buying websites, will also have it available."

"Who is the book aimed towards?"

"Well, really there is something in it for everyone. There are several sections in the book, some with more business theory, and some, merely heartfelt suggestions of how I look at something with an always-keep-it-simple interpretation. If you ever watched the old CBS program 'Sunday Morning', you’ll recall Charles Kuralt and his whimsical way of turning something like milking a cow into an adventure in honor of the country’s oldest trades and traditions.

"My writing is a lot like that. I grew up in a small town (Berea [Ohio]) and knew my grandparents and neighbors as well as my own parents. I learned something from everyone I ever encountered. My favorite quote of all time came from Dwight Eisenhower who said, 'For any American who had the great and priceless privilege of being raised in a small town, there always remains with him nostalgic memories… And the older he grows, the more he senses what he owed to the simple honesty and neighborliness, the integrity that he saw all around him in those days.' If I were to ever have a 'creed' to live by, I guess that would be it."

"What made you want to write?"

"My whole life I have always been blessed/plagued by a notion that people complicate their lives with things that don’t even resonate with them. I think most things are simple or can be made simple by just breaking them into smaller, workable components. I believe all people have the ability to do this but forget how to because the world and the media keeps whispering to them that things are more complicated than they realize. They’re really not. There’s already so much to worry about and stress over in life. Why would we want to find more reasons to complicate things and add to our own burdens?

"If I go to work consistently, pay my bills, provide for my family, treat my wife like we’re still dating, respect my parents and in-laws, live to be a good example to my children (and other people's children), work to understand God’s plan and open a door for someone else now and then, I am vastly ahead of many of the other life forms sucking air on this planet.

"I refuse to think I should spend time feeling bad about things. But I found a lot of people still do. I write to remind them to lighten up and enjoy their lives, every chance they get. Tomorrow’s not guaranteed you know. I celebrate a good cup of coffee or a parking spot near the door with the same enthusiasm as I would Christmas morning. It’s just good to be alive!"