Can you tell us a bit about your journey as a writer and how you got started in the world of writing and publishing?
I started writing in high school. I wrote short stories. Back then, I was into Raymond Carver and Kurt Vonnegut. I liked their styles and their stories. I don't think I had the stamina for writing longer fiction. The ideas kept flowing and I was anxious to get them down onto the page. It wasn't until college, truthfully, after college that I got serious about writing. I started reading more, different authors and styles. My favorites were the magic realism of Borges, Kafka, Bernard Malamud, and T.C. Boyle. But I also enjoyed high fantasy. As a kid I was particularly fond of knights and monsters.
I published a couple of short stories in literary journals. Then I won a Screenplay Competition at the 2003 NY International Independent Film Festival. That felt pretty good, but my screenplay never got picked up. After that, I published my first novel Shades of Luz with All Things That Matter Press in 2009. It took me a while to write it because I was more adept at stories than novels. I'm a much different writer now, and while I have the desire to write multi-genre, my passion is speculative and high fantasy. I've been writing almost exclusively high fantasy since 2018, but I am planning a few new surprises over the next year.
Astoria, NYC, is known for its artistic and creative community. How has living in such a vibrant city influenced your writing and the themes in your stories?
Astoria is a great neighborhood. I think I've come up with a few nifty story ideas just prowling the streets. That said, writing requires cheeks in the seat. You can write anywhere, but you need to be focused.
Could you share your writing process? Do you have any specific rituals or routines that help you stay productive and creative?
I write every day. I find the best time to be early mornings, but I will write in spurts throughout the day. I also love to start out by writing with pen and paper.
Your novels cover a range of genres from fantasy to adventure. How do you approach blending these genres and creating unique stories within them?
I started out writing multi-genre, but now I feel most comfortable with speculative and sword and sorcery. Sometimes the books I'm reading inspire me to write my stories. I don’t try to blend genres, but sometimes it happens organically.
Your series "Orb Of Zorn" has garnered a lot of attention. Could you tell us more about the inspiration behind this series and what readers can expect from it?
With my Orb Of Zorn series, I went full-out sword and sorcery. No humor. Back on 2019, when I published The Acolyte And The Amulet, I had been reading a lot of Terry Pratchett and Piers Anthony. I wanted to try my hand at humorous fantasy. I think it might have been a mistake. While I enjoy a good chuckle, I'm not so sure it translated well on the page. I think my style is more High Fantasy without the jokes.
I started The Heir Apparent as pure Sword and Sorcery because I wanted to prove I could do it. I think my Nebilon Series was a bit of a hedge. I wasn't sure I could pull off an R.A. Salvatore adventure so I tried to impart some humor in the narrative. I think it came out uneven. It wasn't Terry Pratchett satire and it was far from Terry Brooks. I promised myself that I wasn't going to hold back on my Orb Of Zorn series. It was going to be a classic fantasy adventure. As I'm sitting down writing the third installment of the series, I think I'm finally hitting my stride. Always room for improvement, but now I'm honing my style.
You've mentioned that your Nebilon Series is influenced by Terry Pratchett and Ursula K. Le Guin. Can you elaborate on how these authors have inspired your writing?
I'm a big fan of both Terry Pratchett and Ursula K. Le Guin. Such disparate styles. One appeals to my flesh and bone and the other to my funny bone. I think my Nebilon Series was an attempt to pay homage to both writers.
With over 50 journal publications and 6 novels, you have a prolific writing career. How do you balance your creative work with your other commitments and responsibilities?
It's not easy balancing writing with family life, chores, and all the other responsibilities. It's always a work in progress, and it requires careful planning. The good thing about writing is that it is a cumulative craft. You keep building upon it. Even, for whatever reason, if you have to put the manuscript down for while, you can always return to it with a fresh set of eyes.
Many aspiring writers dream of earning an MFA in Creative Writing. How did your experience at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, shape your writing and career?
I earned my MFA in Creative Writing from Pacific University back in 2010. It was a wonderful experience and a great program. I met some amazing people who helped me shape my craft, but I will candidly say this, it's not for everybody. I think people go into MFA Programs for various reasons. There are pros and cons to them. It depends on what you are looking to get out of it. the most important is to keep improving upon your craft.
How do you approach world-building in your fantasy novels, such as in "The Heir Apparent" and "Quest For The Hope Box"?
World-building is tricky business. It requires careful planning. You need a sharp eye and can learn a lot from your favorite fantasy authors, but at some point, you need to shape your own world. I think map making can help you figure out the span of your realms. Also, taking a tally of the characters you have. You need to know about them. Who they are? What are their beliefs and how do they fit into the world they inhabit. I take a lot of notes. Some of this is not for the story, but for me to understand the characters and how they fit into their world.
Are there other authors, books, or life experiences that have significantly impacted your writing style or themes in your works?
There are so many authors who have helped shape my writing style. Too many to name, but some of the authors who have the greatest impact on me are Kafka, Terry Brooks, R.A. Salvatore, Haruki Murakami, Bernard Malamud, Ursula K. Le Guin, and most recently Andrzej Sapkowski.
Which of your novels holds a special place in your heart, and why?
From Here To Burmidia is a quirky YA Sci-Fi story. I wrote it as a short story entitled “Disposable Heroes” and published it in Newtown Literary, but I revised it and made it into a novel. The story captures the zeitgeist of my childhood in the mid 1980's, but I added a dash of mystique. I turned it into speculative fiction with an alien abduction. It's low-key Sci-Fi. Think of it as "Stand By Me" with a UFO set in 1986.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers looking to pursue a career in writing and publishing their works?
Don't be in a rush. Read voraciously and write every day, especially when you are not in the mood. You'll be surprised at what you come up with just sitting and scribbling for a solid hour. Re-write, revise, re-envision.
Family seems to be a recurring theme in your work. How does your personal life influence your writing, and have your family members ever inspired any characters in your stories?
I think family life might influence my short stories more than my longer works, but I don't knowingly write about situations in my life. I think it comes about more organically. I think there was only one time I had a family member ask me if so-so from a story was about them. The funny thing is they had the right story, but the wrong character.
What's next for John? Are there any upcoming projects or future plans you can share with us?
Right now, I am busy writing the third and final installment of the Orb Of Zorn trilogy. It is currently untitled. I usually don't come up with a title until the very end.
How did you first learn about AllAuthor? In what ways has this website helped you as a writer? Is there anything you're not a big fan of?
I can't exactly recall how I stumbled upon All Author, although I noticed that some other writers I followed on social media were on it. I think the first thing I latched onto was the incredible trove of mockups. They are quite amazing! Having access to professional graphics lets me focus on my writing. There are many awesome tools at your disposal on the site. I think I've made some nice connections through All Author and the Cover of the Month contest is really cool. I highly recommend it!
