What inspired you to transition from a career in law enforcement to writing novels?
in the back of my mind, I always felt like I had some stories to tell. So, I figured I would go for it because I wasn't getting any younger.
How did your experiences growing up in the '70s influence your writing?
my parents were both hard working innovative entrepreneurs that inspired my journey through life. I was one of the fortunate ones who got to see and do a lot of things like sports, music, bands, drawing, motorcycles and muscle cars.
Can you tell us about the process of writing your first novel, Capricorn Chucks Cruel World?
I started with a rough outline, a story I wanted to tell. From there a began writing the chapters and creating the characters. My brain was filled with many ideas, so I averaged five or more pages a day.
How does your background in law enforcement inform the characters and plot in your book?
my work experience allowed me to sprinkle some of that stuff people may or may not know about it.
What challenges did you face when writing your debut novel, and how did you overcome them?
It was certainly scary; I knew nothing about the process. I didn't have a publisher or editor at the time, so I wrote the complete story out first, then look for an editor to even see if what I wrote would be worthy of getting published.
What can readers expect from the sequel to Capricorn Chucks Cruel World?
Now that most of the characters are established, and the origin is set, this novel was pure joy to write, expect the formula I have set in the first but more character development, more twists and turns, more fun, more romance, new intriguing characters.
How do you balance writing with your other responsibilities as you approach retirement?
I try to spend at least a half hour to one hour every day on a current novel I'm working on.
Did you find any similarities between working in corrections and writing about fictional crime or conflict?
No and sometimes I would just take that stuff and embellish the stories.
How do you approach developing your characters and their backgrounds?
some characters were based on people I know, and some were just from pure imagination.
What themes or messages do you hope to convey through your novels?
I grew up on late night prime-time drama's so one thing I tried to accomplish with this was to capture that feeling.
Are there any particular authors or books that have influenced your writing style?
I grew up reading the Hardy boy's novels, but later on it was Ian Fleming, Jules Verne, Alexander Dumas, Stephen King, etc.
Can you describe a memorable moment from your time working in law enforcement that has impacted your writing?
there were so many moments and I tried to sprinkle some of them in the first two novels. But sometimes I would just laugh at all the craziness that goes on inside and outside of being a corrections officer and I would tell others that this job would be a phenomenal television show, probably better than Rescue Me.
How has your family reacted to your decision to become an author?
Most of them are very supportive and love what I am trying to do.
Looking ahead, do you have any other genres or story ideas you’re interested in exploring?
If I have the time, I believe I could continue for quite some time about many genera's. I've always loved reading and watching Sci Fi films.
How were you introduced to AllAuthor, and would you say that this website has been helpful?
I love this site, I'm not sure it was so long ago now, maybe came across it on FB or Twitter. It's hard to get people to help promote your books at an affordable price, but this site is one of the best at it.
