“Tell us a bit about yourself.”
“I guess you could say I like the simple life. I enjoy spending time with friends and family. I’m also a morning person, and coffee is my drink of choice. A caramel-cinnamon blend is my current favorite.”
“I know you’re a fan of the Alien franchise. To provide readers with a bit of insight into your personality, which character from Aliens is most like you?”
“I’d have to go with Hicks.”
“Not Hudson?”
“Hudson is great, but I have to say my personality aligns more with Hicks.”
“What about Vasquez?”
“Everybody wants to be Vazquez. Everybody. But if I had to be truthful, I’d have to stay with Hicks.”
“Ripley?”
“Ripley is amazing, but in the end, I’m more like Hicks.”
“Let’s try a modern story. Which Stranger Things character is the closest match to your personality?”
“Jim Hopper. Definitely Hopper.”
“Interesting. Tell us what you write about?”
“Gritty action-adventure novels. Stories about characters facing extreme challenges and fighting to overcome impossible odds. Those kinds of stories always resonated with me, and they shaped what I like to write. As a result, my characters tend to defy expectations and turn no-win scenarios to their advantage.”
“What got you interested in writing?”
“When I was young, reading gave me an exit, a way to escape my life. I explored tons of crazy worlds by reading books by Jules Verne, Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, Robert Jordan, and Andre Norton.”
“Tell us a bit about where you write?”
I have an office in our spare bedroom, but lately, I’ve only used that space for editing. For drafting, I use dictation. Speaking my story out loud enables me to be more creative. When the weather is nice, I like to dictate on long walks. Perhaps I’m channeling Kevin J. Anderson in that regard. I tried sitting at the computer and forcing the words to appear, but I usually ended up staring at the screen for hours. Handwriting chapters is my favorite way to write, maybe because I like the tactile feel of the pen on paper. I’ll also draft whenever I have a few moments. If I’m waiting for something, I’ll jot down a few sentences on my phone or dictate a paragraph.”
“Out of all the years you’ve been writing, have you ever had a perfect writing day?”
“Let me think. If I had to put my finger on it, I’d say it was sometime in February about three years ago. My wife and I had rented a cabin in the woods, and while she worked on a puzzle, I drafted a few chapters. If I remember correctly, it was a pair of chapters for book three in the Shadows of a Raging Sun Series. At the end of the day, I had over 3000 new words that needed minimal editing. Amazing. Such a great day. Now I know many people can write more than 3000 words a day. I am not one of them. If I can get 1500 to 2000 decent words per day, I’ll call that a win.”
“What are you working on at the moment?”
“I guess you could call it The Hunger Games meets Mad Max. It’s an action-adventure story about survival and fighting against impossible odds.”
“How long have you been working on it?”
“About five years. I’ve been working on the series since COVID. The initial drafts of four books are finished, and I’m currently addressing the editorial comments for book one.”
“Time for a craft question. Do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser?”
“Great question. I’m definitely a plotter. I tend to plan everything out during a brainstorming phase, creating lists and ridiculous scenarios of what could happen. I tried pantsing, but I struggled to get words on the page. Plotting gives me structure and direction.”
“Do you find a detailed outline to be restrictive?”
“Not at all. The outline is just a guide, and I end up going off the outline as much as I stay on it. As I draft each chapter, I often think of new ways to increase the stakes or heighten the conflict. I don’t hesitate to add the new elements.”
“How many drafts do you go through?”
“Lots. At least ten, maybe fifteen.”
“Do you cut anything from each draft, or do they keep getting bigger?”
“I tend to be an underwriter, so I often draft a dialogue-only version as a starting point. Focusing on the dialogue helps me create more natural conversations. After I’ve got the voices down, I add the rest.”
“Do you have any advice for new writers?”
“Don’t fall into the trap of always following the latest trend. I’m not saying new writers shouldn’t try new things, but if something isn’t working, move on. Once, I tried to draft three chapters at the same time. I’d draft a paragraph, jump to a different chapter, draft a paragraph there, then switch back to the previous chapter. That approach might work for some writers, but I struggled with it. I should have asked my coach about it first.”
“You have a coach?”
“Best thing I’ve done. Jeff Elkins is my coach. Jeff helped me find my voice, stay on track, and take my writing to the next level.”
“What do you do when you’re not writing?”
“I like hiking, biking, and running. I enjoy sitting by the campfire, watching the embers glow as I work through a difficult plot point.”