Where have you spent most of your childhood days?
I grew up in the small town of Woodstock, Illinois, about a 1.5 hr drive northwest of Chicago. I left when I was 17 to join the Coast Guard.
Do you remember the first book you ever read?
That’s a tough one because I was reading from an early age. The first book I remember reading was The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes by A. C. Doyle
When did you write your very first story and what was it about?
Engage at Dawn: First Contact and Vis Major evolved together, starting in September 2019. The latter was a sub-plot of the former, but I decided to separate them.
How has been your experience of being a rescue and law enforcement professional?
It was the best job ever. Exciting, challenging, and very meaningful. But you age out pretty early in the case of commissioned officers – at 20 years in the service, you get too senior (and, frankly, too old) to be taking those flights on dark and stormy nights.
As a college professor, what is the major difference between 1997, 2007, and 2017 college freshmen?
At both times, the students I taught were a mixture of very young (18-21) and very mature (40s – 60s). The matures didn’t change much, but in 2017, I taught the young ones more of the stuff they should have learned in high school. Of course, you need to keep in perspective that I wasn’t teaching at Princeton or Harvard.
What contemporary music band do you like the most and why?
I’m more of a classical music and classic rock kind of guy, but I do have a lot of Maroon 5 in my iTunes collection. I enjoy their compositions and harmony.
What inspired you to write Vis Major, a pure soft sci-fi novelette?
Vis Major was originally a subplot of Engage at Dawn: First Contact. As the novel evolved, I realized that the subplot explained too much of what was going on and took the tension (a critical element) down in the main story. However, I thought it was a nifty short story on its own and decided to publish it as a novelette. It turned out to be pretty popular and has led many readers to the novel.
Who inspired the character of the young Coast Guard officer Ben Wyporek while writing the Engage at Dawn series?
Ben is a little bit of me, a bit of some of the other officers I knew when we were young, and rounded off with a touch of Horatio Hornblower.
What challenges did you face while writing your book, Engage at Dawn: First Contact?
All the first book challenges. Principally, creating a narrative substantial, long, and interesting enough to make it as a novel. I wanted to make it true to life, but my editor managed to beat into me that regular people are turned off by jargon and the military creole you usually hear as a crew member. So, I had to comprise somewhat in the language. Finally, there were many tough decisions to make, like traditional vs. self-publishing, how much to go with Amazon, etc.
What is your writing kryptonite? Inversely, what is something that never fails to inspire you?
Emotion is tough to write about because it’s different for everybody, and you have to create variance in the characters. I’m sure some writers have an easier time of it, but I’m new to fiction and came from a profession that does not readily express emotions. My inspiration comes from the memories of the excellent people I knew in the service and the occasional news story (remember the clip of the Coast Guard guy who jumped on the narco-sub and started beating on the hatch?)
Which is the best compliment or fan-mail you have received for your work?
There was a comment from a reader on Goodreads. She was not a sci-fi fan but was won over by the book. She said she grew close to the characters and, “When the book ended I felt like I was leaving the crew and I didn’t really like it.” That is EXACTLY the way I hoped readers would feel because that is how Coasties feel when they move on to another unit. That reader became a member of Kauai’s crew when she read the book, and I hope every reader feels the same.
Do you plan on exploring other genres and mixing things up a little in the future?
I am about halfway through the second novel in the Engage at Dawn series and have at least one more after that. I am also considering a series of historical novels following a Navy destroyer in World War II from Pearl Harbor onward.
If someone were to write a book about your life, what genre would it most likely be in: historical, romance, fantasy, sci-fi, mystery or horror?
Historical, I’m afraid. Perhaps with a little humor folded in.
How has your writing schedule changed during quarantine?
Well, I certainly had a bit more time not commuting every day, but we carried on with telework, so I still had a day job.
When did you join AllAuthor and what are your opinions about the website so far?
I joined this summer, shortly before I launched the novel. I like AllAuthor—it is an excellent place for us rookies to start.
