Can you tell us about your journey from being an IT manager, programmer, and network administrator to becoming a full-time novelist?
I have wanted to write since elementary school, but I am dyslexic, and my grammar and spelling are terrible. I published my first novel at age 69.
I wanted so long because I have a helper, Google Assistant. I asked Google how to spell a word and what its definitions are.
What inspired you to start writing novels, and how did your background in IT influence your writing process?
I have a good imagination, and I’m able to come up with stories—I even written down a few. As for IT, it helps, but trying to extrapolate into the future can be a challenge. I hope some of what I came up with will come true one day.
How do your experiences in the hills of Ohio and your hobbies, such as camping and hiking, shape the settings and themes of your books?
I grew up around my grandparents’ farms, and I ran through the hill as far back as I can remember. I would play in the woods and build forts. My parents would take my brother and sisters and me camping around Ohio and Michigan. We even went camping in the winter. Throughout my novels, I have sprinkled stories of my life.
The themes of my novels are the love for each other and your family. I was a single father raising my two sons for sixteen years. When I became a single father, my oldest was six, and my youngest was four. At the same time, I was growing my career in the computer industry. And I would do it all again.
Can you share some stories or insights about your rescue dogs, Max and Amber, and how they have influenced your daily life and writing routine?
I found Max, a Great Dane mix, at the pound. He has been with me for nine years. Amber is a Shiba Inu/Australian Shepherd mix and looks like a fox. I named her after Amber in my novels. A friend’s son and his wife’s dog had a litter, and Amber was the one no one wanted. I took her sight unseen.
I take them for a walk every morning, and I can let them off the leash so they can run free.
I watch how they run and act and incorporate that into how the nonhumans act and move.
Your interest in genealogy led to fascinating discoveries about your ancestry. How has uncovering your family history influenced your writing or perspective as an author?
I have been doing genealogy for most of my life, and the stories of my family have played a big part in my stories. I found I am related to James Buchanan, the only single US president.
Both sides of my family arrived in the US in the seventeen hundreds, and if I can make one more link, I can apply for pioneer status in Ohio. My family has been certified as the families of Licking County. And Daniel Boone named the county.
What is it like knowing you’re related to literary figures such as Samuel Clemens and Zane Grey? Has this revelation impacted your approach to writing or your sense of identity as an author?
My jaw hit the floor when I discovered I was related to Samuel Clemens and Zane Grey. I don’t know how much this has influenced my writing. I know I have a long way to go before I come close to the way they write, if ever. But it feels good knowing others in my family have been successful writers.
Can you describe your typical writing day? How do you balance writing with your other interests and family time?
Being retired, I can write with inspiration strikes. My favorite time to write is at night. During the day, I sit at my desktop. But at night, I set in my recliner with my laptop and get down to business. My sons are grown, and my youngest is a tech sergeant in the Air Force. My other lives next door, and my grandkids come over to visit whenever they want.
What can readers expect from your next novel? Are there any particular themes or characters that you’re excited about?
My next novel is nearly completed, and my editor is working on it. I have also started on book 6. The characters are the same, and the themes, love, and families are the same. And I have the best editor in the world. Jefferson Gaskin is a world-class writing editor who has worked on all of my novels. My novels would only be half as good without his gifted insight. Being dyslexic, he knows what I mean to say at times.
How do you develop your characters and plotlines? Do you have a specific process or technique that you follow?
Well, that is a good question. I just sit down and follow the story as it plays out in my mind. I can sit down and write a chapter without stopping and the chapters could be two thousand words. And being dyslexic and a slow reader, I will have the chapter read to me through my Pixel phone.
As I walk my dogs, I will have my phone hooked to the front of my shirt and listen as we walk.
As I am writing, I visualize the characters as I am writing and the plot.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your writing career, and how did you overcome them?
As I said, I am dyslexic and a slow reader. I use Google Docs and Grammarly. I have the chapters read to me. I am sure you can find grammar errors in my answers. Jefferson would have caught them.
How do your two sons and four grandkids inspire or influence your writing? Do you incorporate any of their traits or stories into your characters?
My grandson influences some of my characters’ actions, but for the most part, it is a combination of many people I have known over the years.
Can you discuss a particularly memorable moment or achievement in your writing career so far?
Kirkus Reviews has given all of my novels good reviews. My second novel, Richard: The Dragon’s Curse, won Audiobookreviwers.com’s 2023 award for best Space Opera. They have also given Richard: War Erupts a great review, and I want to see if it wins an award. My novels have won five stars in awards from Readers’ Favorite.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers, especially those transitioning from a different career like you did?
Don’t doubt yourself. It took me 69 years to publish my first novel. If you want to write, just do it. And follow your dreams.
What are your future plans and aspirations as an author? Are there any new genres or projects you’re looking forward to exploring?
I have two other novels in the Richard series before I take a break and switch to Historical fiction. The title of that novel is Edward: More Than a Son. I want to tell many other stories. Everyone can find all my novels and what is coming in the future on my website, michaelhickman@redfoxonhigh.com
When did you first join AllAuthor, and did you join as a free or pro-member first? What are your thoughts on this website?
I have been with AllAuthor for about six months, and I am a Pro Member. The site is very organized.
