Where are you from? How has our childhood influenced you as an author?
I was born in Switzerland and moved to Canada when I was two years old. I was a shy kid, and especially so when I switched schools and became the “new kid”. I was often alone, reading, listening to music, dreaming. I started writing angsty poetry in my teenage years. When I was awarded an A + for my short story in high school English Class, that was it. I caught the writing bug and knew that one day I would write a novel.
Were you a big reader as a kid too? If so, what were some of your favourite books then?
Yes, I loved escaping into new worlds. Reading remains one of my greatest pleasures. In my adolescent years, I read the Little House in the Prairie series, a book called "The Root Cellar" which sparked my interest in Time Travel and as a teenager, "The Outsiders" was my favourite book.
What did you want to become when you were a kid? What attracted you to begin a career as an author?
At one point, I wanted to be a singer, but I wasn't talented in that way. I've always loved art in all its forms, and I've always had a penchant for writing. Creating new characters, and new worlds is akin to creating magic. Being an Independent author, I'm essentially a small business, and with that, a career was born.
Which fictional character would be the most exciting to meet in real life?
There are infinite possibilities, but it would be fascinating to meet with Louis (Anne Rice's character from "Interview With the Vampire") or Simon Morley from the time travel novel "Time and Again". As far as my own characters, I've always said that it would be amazing to have a dinner party and invite all of my fictional friends.
What is the most surprising thing you discovered while writing your book, "Owl Eyes Motel"?
"Owl Eyes Motel" was a fun book to write! I don't think I discovered anything except someone pointed out that it reminds them of the famous Eagles' song "Hotel California ''.
What sparked the idea for "Sultry, Is the Night"? What is the significance of the title?
"Sultry, Is the Night" is what I consider my greatest work to date. It epitomizes who I am. The story encapsulates love. The dark themes make it a multi-layered read. The protagonist is poor, living on the "wrong side of the tracks" and like me, he's Italian. He's an aspiring chef, so I incorporated recipes into the novel. The love interest, Tess, is the "rich girl" with a dark secret. The book is reminiscent of all the best 80's movies, like Flashdance and Fame. I wanted the title to reflect the sensual nature of the story and also have it allude to the dark themes.
Have you ever considered writing under a pen name? If so, what would your pen name be?
No, I have never considered it. I started this journey later in life - I published my first book at 42 years of age. I'm proud of that fact and I want my real name associated with all my books.
What is the story behind the idea of ‘Sacrilege'?
Cris Corelli is a wayward priest who leaves town to escape his personal demons. He finds himself at a boarding house run by the beautiful, yet troubled Jules. After witnessing a senseless act of violence, they fall deeper into the abyss, and together, they escape using drugs, and alcohol. The twist at the end is something that I hope shocks the reader. It's a psychological horror - one of my favourite genres to write.
Who was Luke in "Q.W.E.R.T.Y.: A Haunting" modeled after?
Luke came from my imagination. However, he's an author using a haunted Remington typewriter that makes everything he types come true, and as an author, it was a lot of fun to imagine the same. Q.W.E.R.T.Y. and its sequel "A Letter to Claudia" have a strong Twilight Zone feel to them.
How many of your family or friends have been the model for one of your characters?
I don't model my characters after real life people. The one exception is my very first novel, "My Love is Deep". I wrote that book after ending a long-term relationship and I had myself and my Ex in mind when I wrote it. However, the characters became something else. They became unique in their own way. In fact, that book spawned three more in my "Peter Travis Love Stories" series. The only thing true-to-life in the book is the tree in Niagara Falls I make reference to. My characters carve their initials in a tree after they get engaged - something my Ex did after he proposed.
Describe your journey as an author so far in five words. What are some of the most valuable lessons you've learnt along the way?
My journey as an author in five words: Exciting. Exhilarating, Exhausting. Surreal. Monumental. One of the lessons I learned pertains to being an Indie Author. As Indies, we do everything ourselves, just as an Indie Publisher would, or even a Traditional Publisher, and we have to ensure that our books are as professional as they can be. We're in charge of everything from the creative aspect to quality control and that's very important.
As a writer, do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
I write original content, and hopefully, the readers become enthralled. I am multi-genre, so I do have something for everyone: Romance, Horror, Time Travel, Thrillers, Literary Fiction, and I've even published three children's books that allow the child to draw the illustrations.
Is there anything new you are working on right now? What is it about?
My new work in progress is a romance about a starving artist - an author - who meets a man who promises to give her everything she needs: money, a place to live, time. There is one condition, the book she is writing has to be about them falling in love. I plan to publish it this year and its title is "The Neighbour".
How long have you been a member of AllAuthor? How would you describe the experience?
This is my third year with AllAuthor, I believe. The different available marketing tools are invaluable. I'm also thrilled with the new feature that sends email notifications to followers in regards to new releases. I would recommend AllAuthor to all my peers. Thank you very much for inviting me to this interview!
