As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I’ve always want to be a writer. I enjoyed reading as a child, getting lost in all those words and being transported to different places without ever having to leave the house.
What made you realize that you wanted to be a writer?
I realized I wanted to be a writer when I fell in love with books. I wanted to tell my own story. And I’m doing it.
Being a voracious reader, which genre do you enjoy reading the most?
I always tell readers and writers to read widely. Read anything you can get your hands on. Don’t limit yourself to just one genre.
If you had to choose between the two, whose books would you rather read? Dean Koontz or Stephen king?
If you’re a writer, you should read broadly. So, I’d add both King and Koontz to my TBR list.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
The one book that impacted my writing and propelled me to write better, more richer stories, is Jim Grimsley’s "Comfort & Joy.” It is a heartwarming and heartbreaking story. I cried for days after I finished reading it. I still think about it today.
Who inspired the character of Officer Jack Ballinger in "Past Sins"?
I don’t know where any of my characters come from. Officer Jack Ballinger wasn’t inspired by anyone from real life. I wanted to write a mystery that centered around a cop struggling with his past, and PAST SINS was born.
What sparked the idea for the book, Jay Bird?
As a writer I like to venture into different territories, and at the time that JAY BIRD was created I was experimenting with various ideas for young adult stories. I’ve written and published a sequel, The Unbroken Circle. Both stories are published by JMS Books LLC.
How do you write so much? A typical book goes around 300 pages, how do you manage writing and reviewing such long contents?
The simple answer is I love writing and I like keeping busy. I approach writing with passion, heart, and professionalism. Most days I enjoy sitting in front of the laptop, creating and weaving stories together, one sentence at a time.
What was your reaction on becoming the winner for the Hermon H. Doh Sonnet Competition?
I was thrilled and surprised that my small kernel of an idea for a poem was published and that it won an award.
What are some emerging trends in magazine writing?
A few emerging trends that interest me today are the ever-changing market of mystery and crime graphic novels and podcasts. I like keeping up-to-date on the genres I read and write.
What are the most common clichés in fiction writing?
A lot of mysteries I read incorporate love triangles, which I find can drag on way too long in a series and become filler after a few books. An alcoholic detective has been written too many times. And the first person narrative where the inner monologue overshadows the plot can create a difficult reading experience.
What are the best strategies to solve a Sudoku?
You need an eagle-eye approach: scan each line carefully, and try to find formulas where a single number can fit into said square. I like a good challenge.
What are the chances Dean Koontz predicted the coronavirus in 1981?
It is a false claim and an exaggeration to say Dean Koontz predicted the coronavirus in The Eyes of Darkness.
What's next for you? What are you working on now?
I’ve been writing since lockdown in March 2020 and have produced a handful of stories, two novels, a novella, and a short story, four of the three finding homes with small presses. And recently, I’ve signed a contract with NineStar Press for my new romance novella, Summer Storms. I am also writing a full-length mystery and horror novel as well. But I do not like talking about work-in-progress stories until I finish them, in case they do not materialize.
What marketing strategies do you find most helpful? Would you recommend AllAuthor to other authors or aspiring authors?
I find reaching readers through blogs and interviews like this one helps tremendously. I’d recommend All Authors to any writer looking to expand his or her readership and platform.
