What are your top 10 favorite books/authors?
Watchers by Dean Koontz, The Jewel in the Skull by Michael Moorcock. Daybreak-2250 A.D. by Andre Norton. There will be Time by Poul Anderson. The Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle. The Works of Edgar Allan Poe Complete and Unabridged. The Complete Works of O. Henry: The Definitive Collection of America's Master of the Short Story. Cabal by Clive Barker. The entire Frankenstein series by Dean Koontz, and Mister B. Gone by Clive Barker
What book do you think everyone should read?
Watchers by Dean Koontz
How long have you been writing?
Since I was in elementary school, but not consistently until 2001.
Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write?
Basic characters all come out at once. Then the other characters come out as needed.
What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book?
Places and military references are heavily researched.
Do you see writing as a career?
Still working on it.
What do you think about the current publishing market?
I would probably not do another indie publisher, unless it was a lucrative deal with marketing behind it. My first publishing deal was a disaster, not only for myself but for many of the other others who were signed to the publishing house.
Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite genre?
I do, when time permits. I enjoy horror/suspense.
Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?
Silence. I find the story flows better when I can concentrate on it. As much as I love music, it can be a distraction to my writing.
Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?
One story at a time, though I do plot out other stories along the way.
If you could have been the author of any book ever written, which book would you choose?
The Princess Bride by William Goldman.
Pen or type writer or computer?
Pen and paper by the side of my bed for when I wake up during the night with an idea I don’t wish to lose. But story creation is done on my computer.
Tell us about a favorite character from a book.
The character that was the most pivotal in the entire creation of World War Dead – Marine Corps Lt. Keith Saunders. In life as in half-life, he is driven by doing what is right, the moral thing, even if it means sacrificing his life for the greater good. He is certainly not a perfect man or Marine, but tries to be the best person and warfighter he can be.
What made you want to become an author and do you feel it was the right decision?
My imagination dictated I write. Yes, it was the right decision because I can’t afford therapy.
A day in the life of the author?
If you asked me this question pre-pandemic I would have said most days I would be going to my regular paycheck job. If there was down time, I would write at work. Luckily the boss allows me, especially since I put him in World War Dead. This would be a rinse and repeat. It wasn’t unusual for me to work three weeks straight without a day off. On my days off I would write as much as I could. However, my job is gone, most likely until a vaccine is realized. So, I rise around 10 A.M., go for a walk, come back and watch the news as I have my first coffee. Then onto writing. I write until I can’t write anymore that day. Average is 1 P.M. to 7 P.M. But some day’s it isn’t unusual for me to write until 11 P.M. if I got a good flow going.
Advice they would give new authors?
First, find a good editor. Not just one who will just edit the product, but one who will give you advise and thoughts on the story. One who will bounce his/her ideas off you. Most importantly: You’re never an aspiring writer. If you write, you’re a writer. Don’t get discourage by rejection e-mails. Everyone gets rejections. I’ve gotten plenty on stories I’ve later sold.
Describe your writing style.
It is heavy in description and my plots move forward minute by minute.
What makes a good story?
A story that draws the reader in, and makes them love or hate your characters. Remember, stories don’t always have to be thought provoking or filled with social commentary. However, they do need to be entertaining.
What are you currently reading?
Nothing at the moment since I am working on my next story entitled, Five for the Apocalypse. But when completed, next on my reading list is High Bloods by John Farris. It was given to me by a dear friend.
What is your writing process? For instance, do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first?
I don’t do an outline per say. More like bullet points for the plot movement and names of characters.
What are common traps for aspiring writers?
I don’t believe in the term “aspiring writer,” unless the person is just thinking about becoming a writer. If you write, you’re a writer. But a trap to any writer if self-doubt. You only fail as a writer if you don’t try. Even if no one likes your story, you’ve still written it. So, you are a writer and you’ve succeeded because you wrote something. The only failure is not writing. So, your story sucks. So what? Put it away, write something else. Don’t start doubting your ability. Just write another story, then another. You’ll eventually get published and maybe even get paid. Keep writing and writing. That’s what a writer does. Now go back and look at your first story. Was it as brilliant and well-written as you thought back when you first wrote it? Probably not. I can attest to this. In my early writing days, I had some good concepts but poorly executed stories. But I was a young writer and still learning the craft. If it a good concept then rewrite that story. Stay true and believe in yourself. You will get published, it just takes time.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
Lack of sleep. That kills my creativity every time.
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
I write what I imagine. I have never been one to write for a certain genre of reader, like Harlequin publishing. I don’t do cookie cutter, though writer make a good living doing Harlequin novels, I have read.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Don’t take a break in you’re writing. Keep going and you’ll find success a lot sooner.
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
I’m not a woman. I don’t think or act like a woman. I can only go by my experiences with women. And then I have a woman read my story and see if I got it right, usually not. So, I listen to my female friends and then adapt.
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
8 -12 months.
Do you believe in writer’s block?
Yes. It happens to me. Just days you can’t seem to get what’s in your brain onto the page. And it sucks. But there’s always tomorrow.
Thank you for posting this to your blog. Great appreciation.
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