Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I like to be challenged, whether it’s mentally or physically. I race myself in a mile, tutor people in my weakest subjects, and read books philosophy. Writing fiction is maybe my biggest challenge. I was trained as an historian, which is an entirely different way of approaching a subject. Plots, descriptions, characters, and details in general have allowed me to develop a much fuller view of the time periods I write about. I’m enjoying the ride.
I’m just starting out, writing short stories. I’ve published five of those. Three have have been about the “Arthurian Era” and two take place at the end of the last ice age.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The last story I published was “Kediak and the Children of Nelvaa”. I drew from a lot of sources for that. The character itself reminds me of Robert Howard’s immortal Conan character, as does the period. But I drew 10,000 B.C.E. from an historical point of view – cold and miserable. The culture he runs into and the people he meets I found inspiration for in Marijas Gimbutas’ work on prehistoric civilizations. She described small, mainly mobile communities that were cooperative rather than structured. Men and women had equal social power, as opposed to them being focused on men. Of course my “hero” thinks and acts like a patriarchal character. That contrast alone makes for interesting stories.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I get my best ideas when I’m doing something completely different – running, practicing karate, working. I write best when my one-eyed cat is sleeping on my lap.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am all over with influences. George Lucas because of his ties to Joseph Campbell and his melding of martial arts with science fiction. Joseph Campbell because of his understanding of mythology. Arthur C. Clarke with his brilliant ideas always based solidly in science. Stan Lee and his development of interesting characters and their real personalities and relationships. Frank Herbert because of how he saw humans potentially evolving in the Dune books and other works. Herman’s Hesse and his philosophical thoughts. Isaac Asimov’s thoughts on robots and his take on our future. Ayn Rand’s interesting and common sense approach to life. I enjoy the hopeful subtext in Gene Roddenberry’s stuff, the wonder in J.R.R. Tolkien, and the dry sarcasm of Buffy. I guess a lot of people have contributed to how I write my world, each adding pieces to my puzzle.
What are you working on now?
I am going through the final stages of editing an Arthur novel while tinkering with another Kediak short story involving blood witches and a hyena. The former begins in the early stages of his career and takes him through his first big test as a king. I hope people will like that it is gritty and real while at the same time it has interesting characters that like to act like kids.
The story is going to introduce some aspects of ice age cultures that I think people don’t know about. With any luck the reader will catch on faster than Kediak about what he is seeing. I like the stories on their own, but I think when people read how closely the two eras are related in my writings it will be that much more fun.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I honestly don’t know, I’m very new to this. I have my blog, I post articles for Moviepilot.com, and otherwise I’m still trying to branch out.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t get old. Always try to see the world and your subjects as though you were a child.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Drink plenty of water.
What are you reading now?
‘Breaking Strain’ by Paul Preuss based on Arthur C. Clarke. I am enjoying the science, the writing is not as good. Clarke had this brilliant mind that was capable of understanding and keeping up with the advances and the curiosity to see some of the minutiae and problems that would come with them. I love learning from him.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I plan to write a series of short stories about Kediak, of novels about Arthur. I enjoyed the character portrayals I have done in the Arthurian period (as short stories) and I may go to them. After that I hope to write on other eras – 4000, 1500, something modern, but all part of the same universe.
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?
Friedrich Nietzsche, Ayn Rand, Hermann Hesse, and ‘Bhagavad Gita’. It would be entertaining to learn how much each philosophy is opposed to each of the others. I could imagine endless debates and occasional fisticuffs between them.
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