Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
A lifelong resident of Virginia, I grew up in the rural southeastern part of the state with a large extended family. I majored in Religious Studies and minored in Creative Writing-fiction at Virginia Commonwealth University. I now live in a rural area near Richmond where five year old beagle, Leah, and her new companion beagle, Sage, have room to run. I spend my free time with my favorite activity, gardening, participate in Midlothian Wordsmith’s Workshop, and read and write as often as possible. At university, I was fortunate to have many incredible writing teachers, the most recent being authors Clint McGown, and Sheri Reynolds, bestselling author of “Rapture of Canaan”, among others. I learned from Clint McGown that prose can be as beautiful as poetry and I gained a love of southern fiction from Sheri Reynolds.
In 2012 I began writing stories about a boy growing up in the south in the 1960’s. Those stories became the collection “The Adventures of Roland McCray”. All three volumes are also in print and audiobook. Some of my books are available in or can be requested at many Public libraries and paperback versions can be ordered from several major offline book retailers.
I also have a new book that is a radical change from the “Roland McCray” series- “Falling Water: Stories & Poetry” a well-received collection of unusual short stories & poetry that is also available in print and audiobook (narrated by Charles Kahlenberg). Among other projects, I’m currently working on a science fiction novel that I hope to complete in 2016.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Falling Water: Stories & Poetry
I had a lot of journals I’d kept for years and never before published, highly emotional and inspirational short stories and poems that I wanted to share with my readers.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I actually write better in the evening and also record short vocal notes for my stories on my phone’s voice recorder. After doing that, I rarely need to listen to them because I tend to remember what I recorded. I think speaking aloud the story notes and plot outlines helps tremendously when I sit don to actually write.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, the Bible, and The Book of Tao, (of course- I majored in Religious Studies) are old favorites. I also have a fondness southern writing, especially the boos by Sheri Reynolds.
What are you working on now?
A science fiction novel set in a dystopian future America.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
As Stephen King, and many others have said: Read, read and read! I read often and study what I read closely. It helps me learn how other authors create great characters, plot lines, etc. So, read just as much as possible- your writing will improve dramatically.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Read everything you can. It’s the best way to improve your own skills.
What are you reading now?
No single book that I can name- I read an average of one novel a week, but right now I’m taking a break and reading short story collections of science fiction- and gaining ideas for my novel-in-progress from nearly every story.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Complete my novel in progress and, hopefully, begin a sequel to it.
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?
That’s a tough one: probably my Scholar’s Bible, The Book of Tao (I learn new things from those two with every reading. And probably a science fiction novel and T.S. Eliot’s work.
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