In addition to writing novels he has also written in a variety of mediums from screenplays to documentary films, TV commercials and magazines. Along the way he has worked as an actor, director, producer, radio DJ and paperboy.
His published books include the first two installments of the Will Hickock Mystery series and a literary fiction novel, The Long Way Home, about a soldier who returns from WWII whole in body but not necessarily in mind. (Amazon)
Do you have a writing routine? Where and when do you write?
I usually use my mornings to work out and take any chores, business or other personal stuff off my plate so I can spend the afternoons writing.
Do you have any patterns or rituals associated with your writing time?
I’m a firm believer in butt-in-the-chair, get words on the paper/computer. I also believe the best way to write a book is to finish the first draft all the way to the end before going back and fixing things. But it doesn’t always work out that way.
What do you do when you hit a wall with your writing?
When I get stuck there’s always another part of the story, or another story entirely, that I can jump to. Sometimes those moments are just your brain telling you to take a break and do something besides writing for a while.
Do you plan your book in advance (plotting and outlining) or are you a “discovery writer” (AKA “writing into the dark”)? Or are you somewhere in between?
I’m somewhere in between. I don’t do a formal outline, but I do write down ideas as they come to me until I have enough of an idea about the story to start writing. Then I use bullet points that come to me as I write the actually narrative to keep moving forward.
What’s the last book you read that made you go “wow!”?
Project Hail Mary by Adam Weir
What book or author do you find yourself recommending and why?
I think Robert Dugoni is a fantastic writer, and I like L.T. Ryan’s style a lot.
What’s on your To Be Read pile?
Mysteries and thrillers. I’m also anxious to start Christine Echeverria Bender’s new book, The Far Reach of Yesterday.
What advice do you have for readers?
Keep reading. There’s always something new to learn.
What author, past or present, would you wish to have a long conversation with? Why?
Mark Twain and William Shakespeare. Both were amazing wordsmiths.
Do you have early memories of reading or writing you’d like to share?
I can still remember reading Huckleberry Finn in middle school. It opened up a whole new world to me, plus I really wanted to float that river with him.
What books and/or authors have most influenced you as an author?
Mark Twain, William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens were all early influences. But I’ve always been fascinated by crime fiction and investigation.
I’ve also been influenced a lot in my current work by television shows like NCIS and other similar programs.
What do you most enjoy about being a writer? What do least enjoy about being a writer?
I’ve always loved playing with words, crafting stories. I never seem to tire of it.
The publishing part, not so much. Obviously, it’s necessary, but it takes so much time away from the creative side.
What would you tell a new writer?
Write, write, write. Then write some more. And don’t forget to read. A lot.
