Tell us a few things about your early life or childhood.
I am the first born and lone son of my litter. Between my mom and two sisters, I was pretty much the only Indian in a house full of chiefs. Despite being a giant, I was a scholar and didn’t get into sports until my senior year of high school. At 6’5”, 275lbs, and decent athleticism obtaining a scholarship wasn’t easy. And so, began my life in Louisiana.
What was the first thing you ever wrote and was it good? Did you share it with anyone?
Over a decade ago, I started on a sc-fi / fantasy story. A gritty tale filled with mechs and magic. Sadly, it never saw the light of day and died with my hard drive before I could finish it. I took that as a sign that it sucked…lol I never wrote another word until four years ago.
Were your family ever skeptical of your dreams of writing? Who has been your greatest supporter?
My family has always been supportive of any journey I have set out on. As for writing, my inspiration and cheerleader is my son. He got me reading again, which rekindled my love for telling a story.
What are the challenges of writing Urban Fantasy?
I think Urban Fantasy has the same challenges as other fantasy genres. You have to develop this whole new world and set do’s and don’ts for how the world works. There is some homework involved in writing about a city you don’t live in. I’ve had to do some digging to setup the Realm Killer series in New York. However, the DoorMan series is set in New Orleans — a two-hour drive from where I am and a frequently visited location.
What inspired your first book? How many times did you have to revise the book before it was finally published?
I was reading Steve McHugh’s Hellequin series and recovering from neck surgery (the first of 3 surgeries from a car accident). I also delved in the tales of Shayne Silvers. Not sure if it was the pain meds, or the rush of their stories, but I figured I would try my hand at being a wordsmith. Realm Killer 1 probably went through for or five revisions before seeing the light of day.
When writing a story, what do you like to give the most importance to: the buildup suspense, the witty dialogue, the action, the interesting characters, etc?
All for elements make the story. I’m getting better at building suspense and tension. Witty dialogue is a must to bring out your characters’ personalities. Action sequences are always fun for me and I often have to reel them in from being too long. So, if I had to pick one, action would be my baby.
How many books do you plan to write in the "Realm Killer" series?
I’ve currently slated 3 more books in the series. It’s not set in stone and the number could go up if Chase decides to keep going.
How did you come up with the character of Chase Ambrose?
Take Tony Starks overly cocky attitude and John Wick’s stubborn determination, mix them well and you get Chase Ambrose. A privileged bachelor who has a propensity for getting into things no matter how high the odds are stacked against him.
I wanted to take a guy like that and rip his world apart, then see how he grows and adjust to his place in the aftermath.
What did you enjoy most about writing the book "Fate-Bound"? What are some ways in which you can relate to the main character of this book?
Fate-Bound was as much of a background piece for me as it was for the reader. Writing helped me understand some of my characters better. I found that their stories hold relevance in all of our lives. We’ve all done things that we regret. Things that have engrained a need to constantly atone for. As a parent, Astrell’s story is near and dear to me. The willingness to sacrifice ourselves to protect those we love.
What are some hard lessons you learned as a new author that nobody could've prepared you for?
I don’t think anyone could have convinced me of the time and effort that goes into becoming an author. It’s a job that requires planning and preparation to get done. I’m going into my fourth year and have just began to find my footing.
What are some of the best experiences you've had as an author?
People, plain and simple. I have met some wonderful people from all over the world and country. The writing community is one of the most supportive communities I have ever been a part of. Everyone is filled with advice and information that they are happy to share. If ever I’m down, there’s dozens of people who respond with encouragement. They have made this journey easier and less stressful.
Have you ever done a book signing? What's the most interesting request you've ever received at a book signing?
I’m just getting rolling, and I’m an introvert…lol So, no signings as of yet. I know this is a road I hope to travel down one day.
How do you keep yourself motivated? Did I mention how great the writing community is?
My fellow wordsmiths and the characters in my stories keep me going. I’m just as eager as readers are to see where the story goes next.
What are you currently working on? May we know when we can expect a new book? May we know when we can expect a new book?
I’m currently in the purgatory we writers call editing. I’m nearly done revising and proofreading book one of the DoorMan. Then I’ll dive right into doing the same with Realm Killer 2. My goal is to get both of these out into the wild by the end of April.
When did you join AllAuthor? How does this site measure up with respect to others that you've come across?
I joined last year with the hopes of creating buzz for Realm Killer 1. AllAuthor is unique in that it provides a means to do that, mingle with authors and readers, as well as create promo material. It’s definitely worth looking into for self-published and traditional published authors.