Moon Diamond sounds like quite the character — does he ever inspire any of the characters or plots in your books?
Moon Diamond is an actual cat. We still have him although he is ten now. He is so smart and bad. Not sure how the idea came to me to have another soul inside him. And a vampire at that.
Harlan Ellison was a major influence for you — what was it about his writing that sparked your own passion to write?
I was young when I read him and I thought wow. I wonder if I can do that.
You’ve written more than a dozen screenplays — how has writing for film shaped your approach to storytelling in novels?
Readers noticed it at first, because, I guess, my writing is a little different from most.
You release two to three books a year, which is an impressive pace! How do you maintain that level of productivity while ensuring quality?
Well, more like two books or fewer now. And a few books still have some flaws, but I am fixing. them.
Can you walk us through your typical writing day, especially given that Moon Diamond gets you up at five every morning?
Now I actually stay up all night and go to bed around seven in the morning.
Are there any recurring themes or ideas that you find yourself returning to in your stories?
I find it hard to write unless there is something magical, ghostly, or paranormal. Like Dracula is actually a non-practicing wizard, which is where he gets his powers. However, his daughter Jenny is deeply into the magic stuff.
What’s your favorite genre to write in — and is there a genre you haven’t explored yet but would like to?
Just depends which ways the ideas flow. But I hope there will be more Dracula to come… the baby is also a wizard…. Big trouble.
What is your book, “Young Adorok” about? How long did it take you to finish writing this book?
Adorok is an old sorcerer in the “of Knights and Wizards series. But before he was a sorcerer, he was a talented knight. We do not see that in the series with the boy wizard. Who casts spells while he sleepwalks. People run from him because they don’t want to get transformed into a chicken or something worse? My answer to Harry Potter.
How do you decide which book idea to tackle next when you have so many stories waiting to be written?
Not easy, but after Slaves of Captain John comes The Boy Who Knew Too Much.
Which of your books has been the most personally meaningful to you — and why?
Probably my first. Madman in the Mirror. Some said it was brilliant but it could use some editing.
How do you balance writing screenplays with writing novels — do you find that each medium satisfies a different creative itch?
I have given up on screenplay, at least for now. Cheated out of a lot of money.
How do readers typically respond to your more supernatural or whimsical elements — like the idea of a vampire cat?
They seem to like it. The Dracula series and “of Knights and Wizards are the most popular I think.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers who want to maintain consistency and productivity in their craft?
Get it down and then rewrite the heck out of it.
Finally, what’s next for you — any exciting projects or surprises on the horizon that you can share with us?
The boy who knew too much. He’s Japanese and so smart that the government wants to take him away from his parents. A genius.
Do you feel that All Author has played a role in expanding your reach or growing your fanbase? Could you share any specific examples?
I don’t seem to be getting much out of All Author. I guess you can skip this answer.
