What hobby do you miss most from your childhood? Why?
I wouldn't say I really miss a hobby, but more so the awe of gaming. I remember playing Mario, the lion king and such as a kid and just having the best time ever. Now I have more on my mind and that can take away from the joy of just being.
If given a chance, what is that one thing that you would like to do differently in your childhood?
I'm not sure I would do anything different. Maybe saving more money would be the smartest.
What memory do you have of SUNY Oswego that you will cherish forever?
My most fond memories are working on Vote Oswego, and in a theatre production. Being able to help people in both instances and doing something as a team was an enjoyable experience to see concluded!
What's the best and scariest horror novel you've ever read? What made it so scary for you?
If I were to answer this, then I suppose I should say it wasn't a novel but something on the no sleep subreddit. The reason it was scary is that it was super late when I was reading. My eyes were trying to close but I couldn't stop reading. No sleep, indeed.
How did receiving an associate’s degree in information network technology help you in your career?
Well, this is the one that I would say has helped little as a writer. I was always on a computer growing up, so that's why I was initially drawn to it, but the experience itself was good. All your experiences in life lead you to where you are now, so it definitely had some impact on me.
What fears did you have while publishing your first book, Afterworld?
I didn't really have any fears. Some people are afraid to share their work and stories, and I just don't understand that mindset. Perhaps when I was younger I was more timid, but not so much now. The only "fear" I had was that no one would enjoy it. That doesn't seem to be the case though, and hopefully I can continue to expand my readership.
Who inspired the character of Jack the Ripper in "The Ripper"?
Jack the Ripper inspired The Ripper, but only on a surface level. He goes his own way than that of just an ordinary serial killer. I wanted to create an antihero and so I think that may have been why he came up as an idea. Making him into something with a unique personality is something I had fun with. If you enjoy rhyming, I think you'll enjoy Jack (as long as you can handle a bit of blood and death).
Writing and finishing a book can take an immense amount of discipline. How do you keep yourself motivated and keep the dreaded writer's block from attacking?
I have a vivid imagination. I always have. One of my good friends tells of how he would struggle with creative writing. I would never have a problem with that. I think I was wired to write fantasy and let my imagination take me out of this world of ours and explore different ideas. I recently got a 7.5/10 on Afterworld's critic score on Booklife. In creativity and originality, they gave me a 10. So this is one issue I rarely have a problem with. One tactic I deploy when writing is trying to set the mood, so to speak, and so I will search up soundtracks that fit the scene. Though it has to be without words, or it will bring me out of my own personal immersion.
What research would you recommend for someone wanting to write horror novels?
This is subjective and really depends on what the person is trying to accomplish. If it's just pure horror, there isn't much you need to research, really. But if it's historical, and you're trying to draw your reader into a certain time period or culture, that will take a little research. I think the setting is the most important for that type of writing.
What is the most clichéd way to start a horror novel?
I'm not really sure how to answer this. Is there a horror novel cliche? I can understand the whole shower scene in a slasher film, but for a horror movie it's really too broad to say.
Is it okay to write a specific chapter longer than the other in a horror novel?
I think this is more of a personal choice for all novelist/authors. I find you should say what you need to say and then get out. That could be a few pages, or 50. Others might believe differently, but that's my philosophy.
What are the challenges of being an award-winning author?
Challenges? Well, even as an award-winning author, I'm finding it hard to reach an audience. It's not something easily done, even with fantastic covers. I've heard someone else say it's the chicken and egg situation. How do you get readers without reviews? How do you get reviews without readers? I think that's a struggle for all newer authors, award-winning or otherwise. The one direct challenge I can say is I don't want any of my newer books to do worse than my first one. I have to keep improving as a writer to stay true to my own standards.
What scares you more: horror books or horror movies?
I would say books. My imagination is more frightening than anything that can be done on film. You might be surprised by the occasional jump-scare, but your mind can create much more than that if you allow it to
Which is the next book you are working on? Is it a series or a stand-alone book?
I'm currently working on The Ripper's audiobook, and then I'm going back and doing Afterworld's. It's a lot of work and although I've done the narration on this one, I don't plan to be doing that in the future. It takes up too much time when I also have to edit all the voice actors' clips together and add in sound effects/background noises etc,. As for the third book, I've been slowly working on it and it's called The Desperado's Tale which explores the origin story of a man named Jonan Steelheat, the man who shot god. It's going to be longer than my previous two and so it won't be out until late next year or perhaps even into 2023 until it's released. It's the 3rd book in the Next Life Series, the second of the Next Life prequels.
How has your experience of being associated with AllAuthor been?
I would say it's been a pleasant experience overall. I've been quite happy with the service they provide. I've had a couple of minor issues with the tweet scheduler, but they've gotten those taken care of in an acceptable amount of time from contacting them.
