Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, how has your upbringing influenced your writing style and the stories you choose to tell?
When I was younger, it was very commonplace for bullying to happen in schools. It was bad, but in a way it taught us how to have thick skins and deal with adversity. It is still a big problem today, especially with the anonymity of social media bullying, but kids do need to develop that superpower to realize that it's just words. The world is becoming a place where people get offended too easily now, we have to develop thicker skins to survive. Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me".
What inspired you to transition from the Windy City to sunny California, and how has this move impacted your writing?
I moved way before I started writing as there was a need for my IT skills in California. My goal was to leave the 5-6 month bone-chilling winters of Chicago, even though the midwest people are some of the nicest people you will meet. I believe California has so much natural beauty that it helps strengthen my creativity when writing.
Your characters often embark on inspiring adventures. What draws you to create adventure-themed stories?
My goal in writing is to take the reader on an adventure that they may never have the ability to go on in real life. Afterall, that is the goal of reading to take your mind somewhere it hasn't been. I think adventure-themed stories keep readers' interests and help them page-turn faster so they can get to the next fictional adventure faster.
Can you share a bit about your writing process? Do you have any particular routines or rituals that help you stay creative and productive?
Writing every day is key even if your goal was 1000 words but you only did 300. It's an iterative process and if you try to rush it, your story suffers. One of my favorite routines is to have a video of a fireplace running on a laptop next to my monitors so it seems cozier while in my creative mood.
Who are some of your favorite authors, and how have they influenced your work?
There are so many but to elaborate on one, I enjoy James Patterson books because of their fast-paced stories. I've even adapted to his chapter process where the chapters are not super long. It gives the reader a sense of accomplishment and helps make sure the theme of the chapter is not drawn out in boring text that is unnecessary to get the point across to the reader.
When you’re not writing, you enjoy reading, golfing, traveling, and sipping hot vanilla lattes. How do these activities contribute to your creative process?
The mind needs time to just absorb external pleasures so that new ideas can fill it up. I use these mediums as ways to unwind and free my mind for new ideas to percolate. Traveling is key because you get unique perspectives on how other cultures live that can be leveraged in a fictional story in perhaps a nonconforming way.
What has been the most challenging aspect of your writing career so far, and how did you overcome it?
Marketing books is a lot harder than I expected. There are so many book options for readers, how do you find the readers for your books? It's a continual process whether you are a new writer or a seasoned writer, but the great news is if you have a good story, it's never too late to market it to more interested readers. Print stands the test of time.
How do you come up with the ideas for your characters and plots? Are there any real-life inspirations behind them?
I like my characters to have both external and internal challenges to make them more relatable. That's what the real world is like, so why shouldn't the fictional world be like that. Just as movie fans like to place themselves in the shoes of characters on film, readers want to be able to empathize or relate to book characters. The way where books win is you can explain more about how the character is feeling in that moment with much greater detail. When I develop a plot or character, I think about things I have seen, heard or experienced in my life and either write something similar or present a "what if" scenario which completely changes the trajectory of my past experiences.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers who are looking to create inspiring and adventurous characters?
Empathize with others around you and even if you are just watching a fictional tv series, think about how that character might be feeling or how they could have made the story stronger. This will allow you to learn from other character building mistakes and thus develop stronger characters.
Your website, offers a glimpse into your world. How important is it for authors to connect with their readers online?
The internet is magical because it allows us to reach readers that would have been much harder to reach before it. It's important for me to make friends out of my fans because I care about what interests them and how I can write better stories for them. My goal with my website and social media is to stay virtually connected since the physical connection is limited or non-existent.
Can you share a memorable experience or piece of feedback from a reader for your book, “The Phantom Firefighter” that deeply impacted you?
I love reading the reviews and I do take any suggestions very seriously so I can intertwine them into my next story. One review where a person said they were a very fussy reader but then how they were pleasantly surprised by "The Phantom Firefighter" touched me because that is my goal with writing to make the story and characters better than you expected going into the book.
What is your favorite part of the writing process, and why?
Writing the manuscript is my favorite part because it's extremely satisfying to see ideas go down into words that open a world that doesn't exist, but maybe could under the right conditions. I sometimes live vicariously through my characters as if I am going on my own adventure in real life.
How did you balance the elements of adventure with character development in your book, “The Phantom Enforcer”?
I wanted to show how Dani and Noah's friendship matured which meant testing their abilities to support each other during stressful situations. Given this book was a testament to all the brave police officers in the world, I also wanted to show how the two youngsters could change the life of a Chicago female officer by revisiting her past. The challenge for Dani and Noah was to not make her past negatively affect her future. You have to read the book to find out if they were successful.
Looking ahead, what can readers expect from you in the near future? Are there any new projects or genres you’re excited to explore?
I just finished an adult technothriller, called "Artificial Agent". "Captured, tortured, and left for dead. Pieced back together with experimental tech, can this courageous soldier prevent a cataclysmic war?" It is currently being sent to my ARC team and influencers and will officially release in Jan. 2025. I am also writing "The Phantom Healer", the 3rd and final book in the "The First Responder" trilogy. Many questions will be answered from Book 1 and Book 2, so look for that to release as well in January.
What has your AllAuthor experience been like so far? What are some highlights?
AllAuthor has been very supportive with their weekly featured books and mockups. It helps me keep my books looking fresh on the market. I also enjoy their book cover contests. The platform helps authors connect with other authors and readers in a way that is dedicated to exposing all genres, deals, and platforms. Much easier than joining hundreds of social media groups. AllAuthor is a must for indie writers like myself.
