Where were you born?
I was born in Milwaukee, WI.
What were your childhood dreams? Did you ever dream of being a writer?
I spent my younger before-sleeping time dreaming of action stories such as Robin Hood, the Lone Ranger, and Zorro, putting myself into the action. I never dreamed of being a writer because I thought my future job would be teaching, but I enjoyed writing stories ever since I was nine.
Where did you meet your partner? Does he inspire any of your male characters?
I met my spouse at work, noticing the last name on his mail slot was German (Sontag). The secretary for his department was my friend, so she introduced us to each other. He inspires my male characters in that he’s always been a great friend. Most of my male characters tend to have that characteristic.
Why did you choose to write in the Historical Fiction genre?
I chose to write historical fiction because when I discovered history was about people and the decisions they made, I fell in love with history. It’s my passion to bring the past alive for today’s readers by writing adventurous historical fiction.
At what age did you begin writing stories?
I began writing stories at about age nine. I wrote more once my mother gave me an old typewriter and I learned to type at age twelve.
Who inspired the character of Uncle Zim in "The Silver Coin"?
There was no one person that inspired Uncle Zim in The Silver Coin, but rather a combination of people, including some of my uncles who were part of my life when I was young.
What would you like to know about if you had the ability to see the past?
If I had the ability to see the past, I’d love to know about what really happened in Dallas during the assassination of President Kennedy.
What is the biggest challenge of writing a series?
The biggest challenge in writing a series is not repeating information from previous books that might seem important to a new reader, but rather sharing what is new readers need to know as a natural part of the scene.
In what ways do you try to better understand the craft of writing?
I continually work to better understand the writing craft, especially in the area of “showing and not telling.” For example, I work to show a character’s emotional state through the character’s actions rather than telling the reader the character is afraid, angry, or excited.
What is one of the most important lessons you've ever learned in life?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in life is to recognize when I’m afraid of something and challenging myself to overcome that fear. When fear holds me back from a new experience, I limit learning new things about others, the world, and myself.
If you could choose any other genre than historical fiction, which one would it be?
If I could choose any other genre besides historical fiction, I’d like to try my hand at writing mysteries.
What is one thing you will never write about in your books?
Something I’ll never write about in my books is science fiction and fantasy. Those are definitely not my genres.
What is the best advice you have ever received related to writing?
One of the best bits of advice I’ve ever received related to writing historical fiction is to “research the iceberg, but write the tip, and make it entertaining.”
When will your next book be release? What is it about?
My next book’s release will be the fall of 2022, titled Underground Scouts. It’s about six teen Boy Scouts and Girl Guides in Poland during WWII who join with the Underground Army to help oust the Germans from Warsaw.
How would you rate your experience of working with AllAuthor?
I’d rate my experience working with AllAuthor as an 8 out of 10. They interact with their authors, and offer experiences such as this interview, and book cover mock-ups to help writers make their books known.
