John DiGirolamo It’s Not About the Predator A Parent’s Guide to Internet & Social Media Safety by “Best Entertainment Celebrity Magazine in the UK“
I interviewed John DiGirolamo about his life and career and the experiences that inspired him to write his new book It’s Not About the Predator: A Parent’s Guide to the Internet & Security in social networks.
Tell me who you are.
Hello, my name is John DiGirolamo and I live in the mountains of Colorado, USA. In 2020, I retired after 35 years in finance and operations for various technology companies in California and Colorado. After retirement, I pursued my passion for storytelling. 
When did you first want to write a book?
When I was 21 I wanted to write a book hoping to be the next John Grisham or Stephen King. I spent 6 months finding an agent after writing a long novel. Eventually, I got an agent to represent me, but I failed to get publishers interested.
This was before the internet, so self-publishing was out of the question, and I decided I’d better use that accounting degree to get a real job. I never managed to get this amazing book published. Fast forward 35 years and once again I sat at my keyboard writing amazing stories about ordinary people.
When did you decide to start writing?
I’m John DiGirolamo when I started writing shortly after I retired and decided that I didn’t want to write fiction but rather find a topic and write stories about other people and their experiences.
How long did it take you for your first book, from idea to publication?
It took me a year to write and publish my first book (307 pages). It’s not about the badge, stories that show the human side of police, with six provincial officers.
How long did it take you to complete your latest book, from initial idea to publication as an author John DiGirolamo?
My latest book is Not About the Predator: A Parent’s Guide to the Internet & Social Media Safety is 30 pages long and it only took me a month to write it because by the time I finished the second book I had already done a lot of raw data and research.
Focus on the latest version. What prompted you to write This Is Not a Predator?
I presented my second book, It’s Not About the Sex, which tells true stories of human trafficking from four different angles: attorney, law enforcement officer, survivor, and brothel takeover story. I’ve received many questions about how criminals target teenagers online, and I’ve realized that they use similar tactics when they want to exploit someone online or through human trafficking. I wanted to create an easy-to-read, practical guide for parents to keep their children safe
What were your biggest challenges writing It’s Not About the Predator?
There is a lot of data and I had to focus on writing a guide, not a research paper. So I made it simple and concise.
What was your research process like for This Is’t About the Predator?
I reviewed research and spoke to several police officers about the dangers children and young people face online. I’ve also spoken to teenagers.
How did you design the structure of It’s Not About the Predator?
I’ve organized the book by topics I think parents might find useful:
- How predators treat teenagers online
- Real-life examples of predator tactics for child/teen abuse Signals to care
- Parenting tips and ways to protect your Child Is Social Media Safe?
- What an Undercover Cop Wants Parents to Know
- How Teens Bypass Parental Controls on Electronic Devices
- How Porn and Our Culture Sexting, Blackmail & Human Trafficking
Did you get editing assistance and how many edits does “It’s Not About the Predator” need?
Since the book was only 30 pages, it was easy to edit it yourself.
What is the first piece of writing advice you would give someone that inspired you to write a book?
Write a book because you want to. Very few get rich with it.
Can you tell me what other books you want to write?
I’m currently writing on another serious subject and I’m concentrating on the stories of people fighting evil. The first chapter is about an undercover cop who poses as a 13-year-old teenager on the internet and meets people in a motel to arrest them. I haven’t identified the others yet.
And finally: Are you proud of your success? It was worth it?
It feels good when a complete stranger contacts me to say how much they enjoyed my book or to say, “I just couldn’t put it down!”
Place all your books, websites and social media links here for readers to find you as an author John DiGirolamo:
All my books are available in print or a Kindle version. It’s Not About the Sex has a great audio version!
More information can be found about me at www.itisnotabout.com and my email is [email protected]
Connect with John DiGirolamo on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078633528093
Purchase on Amazon John DiGirolamo books: