Which was the first book you ever read and was it the one which made you an avid reader you are today?
That’s a good question, and a long, long time ago. I don’t remember a specific first book, but I do remember reading my mom’s collection of Readers Digest bound condensed classics like The Man in the Iron Mask & The Count of Monti Christo. I also have fond memories of old paperback Nancy Drew Mysteries.
What is a relaxing place to visit in Southern California?
Any place by the Ocean. I loved sitting on a boat in Marina del Rey at night with the lights dancing on the water.
What do people do in rural Maine? Where do they work? What do they do for entertainment?
Mainers are a hardy bunch and embrace the four seasons. Hiking, Skiing, Boating, Fishing, Hunting. For work in the more rural regions we have a lot of tourism, farming, logging, and of course Lobster fishing.
What are the most unexplainable things you have seen as an avid sailor?
I’m a student of human behavior. And from my experience, people tend to do the most unexplainable thing. Just hang around the boat launch ramp or dock someday. Especially around cocktail hour.
How old were you when you started playing guitar and what prompted you to start?
I started playing Guitar almost before I could read. I was born without thumb which was partially corrected through multiple surgeries. The Doctors recommended the guitar as a way to improve finger strength and dexterity. At 58 years old I’m still playing today.
How did you come up with your best book design for Dark Harbor Publishing?
I have a Marketing and Graphic Design background and believe a cover should tell a story. This can be a challenge and know I have missed the mark on occasion. And I’m not above redoing a cover if it really isn’t working. My favorite cover is, Vanished Tales. I think it comes the closest to telling a story in a picture.
Where and when did you first meet your wife and editor Jes?
I met Jes by accident at a party in my own backyard. We where married 4 months later. Without a doubt the best decision of my life.
What is the significance of the title of your book, Walter's Folly?
Walter’s Folly tells the tale of a man trying to live a double or fake life. No matter how good the lie, everything catches up with you eventually.
Who inspired the character of Antonio Rivas in "Obsession Tales"?
Tony’s character came from decades of reading mystery novels. Although I’ve certainly met my share of smarmy characters while living in Los Angeles.
How did you come up with the idea of Stormy McGuire being assisted by his cat, Salty in his duties as a sailing instructor?
This is the question I get asked most. And the truth is, Salty simply entered my life one day and refused to leave.
I had started off writing a book of short sailing stories when my writing instructor recommended, I turn it into a novel. We had just finished an exercise on writing through different characters and I had played around with different animals. A sarcastic cat was my favorite. Salty was a happy product of that exercise and the rest is history as they say. And the fact that I live with 3 cats doesn’t hurt.
What goes into writing a successful children's book?
I wish I knew. Branden and the Red Backpack was a story I had been thinking about for a while. I had never written for children and really wanted to tell this story so I just sort of went for it. I’ve also helped a couple of other authors publish theirs.
What does the future of "writing" look like to you?
That’s a loaded question. I am a fulltime writer specializing in business content, marketing, and career guidance, mostly for websites and digital. So, I don’t think I’ll ever run out of writing work. But writing & publishing for fiction is a whole different story. And isn’t publishing the ultimate goal when we write?
Whether we like it or not, much like the music industry, book publishing has changed forever. While we certainly have way more control over our work, we have way more competition as well. Those that are going to be successful today are those that treat book publishing like a business. To stand out from the crowd, authors need produce a quality product, edit, and market their work as professionally as possible.
When you're running low on ideas, what do you do, or who do you talk to for inspiration?
Get outside and go for a walk, or a sail if you can.
What are you currently working on? May we know when we can expect a new book?
Another very popular question. I have 2 books in progress. The first is a young adult tale about horses, and not told through an animal voice this time. Like my love for sailing, I’ve always loved anything to do with the old west and this give me a chance to play cowboy.
I’m also knee deep into the fourth Salty Tails Mystery, Lobster Tales. My goal is to finish them both this winter.
How has been your experience to work with AllAuthor? What are some of the things you like about the site?
AllAuthor has been a pleasure to work with. They understand what todays indie author needs to succeed. As graphic designer, I love playing with the magic tool.
