Every one of my stories has a backbone of experience. The flesh and muscles come from my imagination, but I spend a lot of time revisiting my experiences. I also think about the people I meet in my day to day life. Age and experience build empathy and creativity for fiction writers. I appreciate brash innovation, but the highs and lows of relationships add depth to my books.
I appreciate the energy efficiency of using less paper and dusting fewer bookshelves. Yet I miss the camaraderie of a bookstore, cafe culture, and the chance of an unexpected discovery. Ultimately, a good story transcends mediums. I just love to read.
I love reading book reviews. Some are flattering and encouraging, but some make me scratch my head. If I think a reader with a negative review finished the book (or made a good effort to finish it), I consider their feedback and think about what I could do better.
It's really hard to write after a full day of work. Carve out some time on the weekends until you have momentum and the story is keeping you up at night. Two sentences on the page are better than none when you're working on the first draft.
I thought about writing for a long time, but I didn't start my first novel until 2014. PRONE TO WANDER hit Amazon in May 2018. Learning about Kindle Scout (a defunct publishing competition) pushed me to finish it.
