In 1929, at the height of the tuberculosis epidemic, a patient dies every hour at the Waverly Hills Tuberculosis Sanatorium. Wolfgang Pike is both priest and doctor at the sanatorium, but his medicine can't cure the sick and his religion can't bring peace to them--nor to himself. He was a doctor before he was a priest, and in between he met and married the love of his life, Rose, who died tragically on a downtown street. His new life revolves around writing the perfect requiem for his late wife. But nothing is perfect enough for Rose's memory.

This is the story of THE REQUIEM ROSE, a historical novel that immerses the reader in Louisville, Kentucky between the great World Wars. Against the backdrop of political turmoil and the sweeping tuberculosis epidemic, James Markert spins a tale that's equal parts mystery, romance, and drama. The Requiem Rose was published by Butler Books and released in August 2010, and has enjoyed a warm reception since then. As Jeffrey Reed, music director of Orchestra Kentucky, said, "The movie Amadeus showed us how a requiem possibly brought about the demise of its composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Conversely, in The Requiem Rose, James Markert shows us how music can be a life-saving force; a reason for living." We've invited James Markert to share more about his creation here.

TED: Tell us a little bit about the genesis of the book idea.

JM: Waverly Hills is an abandoned tuberculosis hospital near where I grew up as a child and it is known to be possibly the most haunted building in the world. I toured it a few years ago fully intending to write something scary, but then fell in love with the architecture of the massive building and became more intrigued by the flesh and blood inhabitants that stayed there. So I thought, okay, what if it is haunted? And I'm surrounded by ghosts...what's their story? So as I stood out on the fourth floor solarium porch overlooking the woods, I watched the leaves blow in the breeze and imagined the sound of a violin playing, and then a piano, and the story was born.

TED: How long did it take you to write? How many drafts?

JM: I wrote the screenplay first after researching for about a month, and then used the screenplay as an outline for the book, which is unusual for me because I never really use an outline. And for a few years I ping-ponged back and forth rewriting the screenplay and novel. Probably did about ten drafts of the novel.

TED: Tell us a little about your target audience.

JM: Anyone who loves reading something set in history, but there are a lot of universal themes in the story such as hope, forgiveness, fear, death, love, terminal illness, faith, racism, and of course the power of music. Any music lover will really enjoy the book, especially classical music lovers. I've found that women are really loving it.

TED: What did you enjoy most in the process of writing the book or find most satisfying about the experience of publishing it?

JM: The actual creation of the story and getting to know the characters was fun as always. It's always satisfying having your book published. As a writer I always hope to bring about some kind of emotion in the reader, and I've gotten feedback from many who have cried and laughed out loud while reading it, so I consider it a job well done. Also, I've heard from a few surviving patients from Waverly Hills in the 1940s, and they've told me I captured the essence of being there perfectly. One said she felt like she was there again when she read it. That made me feel really proud as a writer.

TED: What did you enjoy least about the process, or find frustrating along the way?

JM: Easy answer. Trying to find an agent. And the time it takes to hear back from an agent. And the form rejections that come from agents. And the waiting some more...

TED: What are you happiest with about the book now that's it's finished?

JM: That it looks great, cover and everything, and that it is selling really well locally. Eight weeks and counting on the Louisville Courier Journal's Best Seller List. One week I was #1 on the list, above Jonathan Franzen's Freedom the same week Oprah picked that as her new book. Now we're trying to get it out to more regional and national outlets.

TED: Please share some insights into TED's role in the editing and development of your book.

JM: It was worth every penny and TED runs like a well-oiled machine. Prompt, honest, loyal. Peter Gelfan is amazingly talented and The Requiem Rose would not have been what it is without him.

TED: What's next for you as a writer?

JM: I've finished another novel called The Book of Jonah, which is the first of a series written by a ghost named Jonah. Jonah has been dead for 70 years. He resides at Waverly Hills as a ghost, but unlike most ghosts, Jonah has relearned how to hold a pen and write despite the tingle. He's spent the past 70 years traveling the world and penning the stories of ghosts from past generations, from Ancient Rome to current day, from Jack the Ripper to Mozart, from the Salem Witch Trials to the Lost Colony of Roanoke, and he keeps all the manuscripts in a vault in the basement of Waverly Hills. Finally Jonah is ready to tell the story of his life (1910-1939) in The Book of Jonah. But he promises to leave one manuscript from his vault to be found per year and published. The Book of Isaac next, and then The Book of Julia.

TED: Any advice for other writers who are making their way toward publication?

JM: Don't give up. Rewrite and rewrite some more. And if you're not sure you have the skills it takes, keep writing until you do. And yeah, call TED.