Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a practicing trial lawyer in Chicago, Ill. I have mentored many other lawyers and taught them to become trial attorneys. I am a hobbyist vintner and started writing books two years ago. Chicago Law, A Trial Lawyer’s Journey is my memoir. I since wrote, Tales From Healdsburg, A Story of Self Awakening, which is a spiritual, transcendental book.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Tales From Healdsburg, A Story of Self Awakening. It was inspired by living in the woods and among the vineyards by my vacation home in Healdsburg, CA. It was there that the plants and animals spoke to me and taught me lessons which I recount in my book similar to Aesop’s Fables. I hope to relate the lessons I learned from nature to help others discover eternal truths and get in touch with deeper values.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I write it is like someone is dictating the words and I can hardly write or type them fast enough. The words come as fits of inspiration. Once I get them down I then review and edit whatever I write at least ten times before I am satisfied with what I have written. Then professional editing helps to smooth out the story.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Joseph Campbell, C. S. Lewis, James Joyce
What are you working on now?
I am waiting for inspiration and in the meantime I’m trying to market the two books I self published within the past year.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I promote my books via the web and emailing my thousands of contacts.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write about whatever inspires you. Don’t worry about writers block. If you have a block don’t bother writing. Wait until you get a good idea and when you do sit down and let the idea and words pour out of you onto the page. It’s more fun that way and writing is all about having fun and discovering your inner hidden self.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Follow your bliss and it will lead you where you need to go, introduce you to the people you need to meet and open the doors you need to be opened that you didn’t even know were there. Have faith that it will happen because when you are following your path you will bring the power of the universe to yourself and you will wind up where you were meant to be. You may not have ever imagined where you would wind up but you’ll be happy when you arrive because you were meant to be there.
What are you reading now?
I am rereading the Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man, by James Joyce.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I have not discovered it yet. I’m still waiting for the idea to come to me.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Plato’s Republic; The Hero With A Thousand Faces; Ulysses; The Divine Comedy.