Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When did you decide to become a writer?
A: I have always been a story teller, but it wasn't until after I married my wonderful wife that I settled down enough to take my abitions as an author seriously.
Q: Where do you come up with your ideas?
A: Let's just say that reality and I have an open relationship which allows my mind to wander to all sorts of strange and interesting places.
Q: Do you have a specific writing style?
A: Not really. I mean, I do have a fallback style that I'm comfortable with most of the time and that would be speculative fiction, in a contemporary setting, with plenty of action, and a little bit of humor. However, I can write darker pieces for the horror market, light and fluffy stories for the youth, and comedy.
Q: Do you work with an outline when you are writing?
A: Absolutely. I am a plotter. Even the majority of my short fiction gets a simple outline before I start the actual writing. That being said, I am not afraid of deviating from my outline. When I'm writing and an event just pours itself out on the page--I keep it. Then I make changes to the rest of the story to allow for the unexpected development.
Q: What is your writing routine?
A: A routine? What's that? Just kidding. I try to fit in as much time writing as I can, once I've shuffled all the children off for schoo, but usually end up fitting my writing into any available slot.
Q: Who is your favorite character that you've created?
A: Dave Watson from Exit Stage Left. He's an ex-surfer who sells used cars in Hollywood and assists his best friend, Sherlock Jones, in solving murders. I love him because he embraces life. He considers himself lucky to be working in the movie capitol of the world and seems to find the best in everyone he meets.
Q: What advice do you have for aspiring authors?
A: Write. Write what you are passionate about. Write every week. Write every day if you
can. And have a rich uncle.
Q: What were your influences as a youth?
A: Edgar Rice Burrows, David Brin, Roger Zelazny, Keith Laumer and Dave Barry are some of
my favorite authors. They opened my mind to the wonders of the
imagination.
Q: What do you read?
A: My first love was John Carter of Mars; a wonderful blend of fantasy and science-fiction. I was also fascinated with post-apocalypse stories. In a way they too are a blend of fantasy and science-fiction. These remain my fall back choices when I go to grab something to read. However, recently I have started to read history, political fiction, and a couple of biographies. Not to mention that I am fascinated by anything that pertains to the craft of writing.
Q: What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
A: Is that a trick question? All the flavors of ice cream are my favorite. Except for strawberry.
Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Q: What is your favorite book?
A: Damnation Alley by Roger Zelazny.
Q: What is your favorite music?
A: Anything by Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO)
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
A: Yes. Family history research.
Q: What are your favorite things?
A: Raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens . . . No, seriously. My wonderful wife and kids.
Q: What is your favorite quote?
A: "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it." Charles Swindoll.
Q: Do you have a second favorite quote?
A: Odd you should ask, but yes. "No matter where you go, there you are." Buckaroo Banzai.
A: I have always been a story teller, but it wasn't until after I married my wonderful wife that I settled down enough to take my abitions as an author seriously.
Q: Where do you come up with your ideas?
A: Let's just say that reality and I have an open relationship which allows my mind to wander to all sorts of strange and interesting places.
Q: Do you have a specific writing style?
A: Not really. I mean, I do have a fallback style that I'm comfortable with most of the time and that would be speculative fiction, in a contemporary setting, with plenty of action, and a little bit of humor. However, I can write darker pieces for the horror market, light and fluffy stories for the youth, and comedy.
Q: Do you work with an outline when you are writing?
A: Absolutely. I am a plotter. Even the majority of my short fiction gets a simple outline before I start the actual writing. That being said, I am not afraid of deviating from my outline. When I'm writing and an event just pours itself out on the page--I keep it. Then I make changes to the rest of the story to allow for the unexpected development.
Q: What is your writing routine?
A: A routine? What's that? Just kidding. I try to fit in as much time writing as I can, once I've shuffled all the children off for schoo, but usually end up fitting my writing into any available slot.
Q: Who is your favorite character that you've created?
A: Dave Watson from Exit Stage Left. He's an ex-surfer who sells used cars in Hollywood and assists his best friend, Sherlock Jones, in solving murders. I love him because he embraces life. He considers himself lucky to be working in the movie capitol of the world and seems to find the best in everyone he meets.
Q: What advice do you have for aspiring authors?
A: Write. Write what you are passionate about. Write every week. Write every day if you
can. And have a rich uncle.
Q: What were your influences as a youth?
A: Edgar Rice Burrows, David Brin, Roger Zelazny, Keith Laumer and Dave Barry are some of
my favorite authors. They opened my mind to the wonders of the
imagination.
Q: What do you read?
A: My first love was John Carter of Mars; a wonderful blend of fantasy and science-fiction. I was also fascinated with post-apocalypse stories. In a way they too are a blend of fantasy and science-fiction. These remain my fall back choices when I go to grab something to read. However, recently I have started to read history, political fiction, and a couple of biographies. Not to mention that I am fascinated by anything that pertains to the craft of writing.
Q: What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
A: Is that a trick question? All the flavors of ice cream are my favorite. Except for strawberry.
Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Q: What is your favorite book?
A: Damnation Alley by Roger Zelazny.
Q: What is your favorite music?
A: Anything by Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO)
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
A: Yes. Family history research.
Q: What are your favorite things?
A: Raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens . . . No, seriously. My wonderful wife and kids.
Q: What is your favorite quote?
A: "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it." Charles Swindoll.
Q: Do you have a second favorite quote?
A: Odd you should ask, but yes. "No matter where you go, there you are." Buckaroo Banzai.
