Which city or town did you grow up in?
I grew up in Gulfport, Mississippi.
What did you want to become when you were a kid?
As a child I wanted to serve in the military.
What is one moment in your life you thought could only happen in a movie?
One week in my early thirties in the 1980s while my wife and son were away visiting relatives, I decided to pray for everyone I learned about that was going through tough times in the newspaper or on television. I came to understand the Bible messages of not conforming to this world. I had immersed myself in the evils and tragedies of life to the point where I had to go to God and admit that this was an impossible task because of the mental stress it imposed. I came to understand that we are in this world, but we are not to be of this world. I began to focus on what I could do to help others rather than on what had happened to them.
How will you describe your experience of serving in the Air Force?
I am proud of my time in the Air Force. As a B-52D navigator-bombardier I fulfilled my dream of military service. The missions were long and complicated. There is a saying that is appropriate, "Hours and hours of boredom interspersed with brief moments of stark terror."
Name one book that completely swept you off your feet and changed you after you read it.
I was an avid reader from a very young age. By the third grade I had read parts of the book The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peal. From a life-long standpoint the Bible has had the greatest impact on my life. Philosophically, the book that pushed me to my favorite genre of science fiction was Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke. Having a lifelong interest in mathematics and physics, I think this series presents a good possibility for life in the universe.
Which one do you prefer: writing a series or a standalone novel? Why?
My life-long interest in family ancestries has led me to publish a series of books on the early history of Europe. I enjoy learning about the lives of the families and putting them in context of the time. On the other hand, my general interest in all things provides the impetus to research new topics, which I enjoy as a lifelong learner. This leads to me books that are really a collection of essays associated with a specific interest.
Which book took the longest to write in the Early European Monarchies series?
The book that took me the longest to write in Early Medieval European Monarchies: The Familial Relationships Through Marriages. This book required me to do a lot of research from many diverse sources, some not in English.
What inspired you to write the novel, Early Medieval European Monarchies: The Familial Relationships Through Marriages?
I wrote this book because my many years of research showed me that the complexities of the early monarchial relationships had not been documented. Many of those arranged marriages had significant long-term impacts across Europe.
How much did you research while writing your novel, Messages for Graduates: What You Really Need to Know Now!?
The book Messages for Graduates did not require a lot of research. As a high school teacher, I was certified for and taught physics, calculus, and computer science. As an Academic Decathlon coach, I also taught differing fields of studies on a yearly basis in economics, social studies, and the sciences. Because of my own personal interests of topics such as theories of evolution, philosophy, and mathematics, I mostly just had to document the sources of the information.
Why did you choose to be an engineer?
The choice to be an engineer was made for me. My mother did not have the money to pay for college. Through connections of a maternal cousin and the requirement at the time for all males to be in ROTC, I ended up going to college as an aerospace engineer, which led to me to receiving an Air Force scholarship.
What was your reaction when you were named the MIT High School Inspirational Teacher of the Year?
I was completely surprised by my selection as the MIT High School Inspirational Teacher of the Year. Without my knowledge I had been nominated by a former student who was then at MIT. One day while in my classroom I got a call from MIT telling me I had be selected. It was coincidentally the same year I was selected as teacher of the year at the high school where I was teaching.
What are the golden rules of being a high school teacher?
The number one rule for any teacher is that most students do not care what you know until they know that you care about them. Living this rule has given me many very rewarding memories. The second rule is that whenever possible give the students the opportunity to learn from each other. Whenever a student had a question, before I would give an answer I would always give another student the chance to answer the question.
Who was your best friend as a child? Do you two still keep in contact?
Sadly my closest friends from my childhood have passed. I live in Texas and stay in touch with some high school classmates through social media.
How many plot ideas are just waiting to be written? Can you tell us about one?
I am writing a book with the working title Science and God and Humanity. Through the application of physics, archaeology, mathematics, and logic, I make the argument that it is illogical not to believe in God. I also show that the Bible is well-documented historically and logically.
When did you first come across the AllAuthor website and what were your expectations coming in? What are your thoughts now?
The AllAuthor website was mentioned in documents from my publisher, so I had good expectations. I have used several sites named in those documents and have found AllAuthor to be the most beneficial as well as a great value.
