Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a retired US Army Master Sergeant who has lived in Las Vegas for more than 30 years after leaving the military. I met my wife Alejandrina in 1989 in Mazatlan, Mexico and we’ve been married ever since. It was because of her that I became fluent in Spanish, to go along with the German I learned while in service.
Since moving to Vegas, I’ve been an Amway distributor [disastrous!}, a security guard at a condo complex, ten years as a professional slot machine player [quit when the casinos took the good ones away], drove a city bus, gave guided tours while driving a tour bus, worked as a cashier in a pick-a-part junkyard, and drove a city cab.
After being declared physically disabled, I turned to my first love – writing. To date, I have self-published the following:
Lost Wages in Las Vegas – a professional’s guide to Sin City, Gambling, and more.
Blood in the Meadows – narco-terrorists plan to set off bombs downtown and on The Strip on New Year’s Eve
Waltzing in the Shadows – a tale of Cold War activities towards the end of the 1970s
Follow the Raven – a fantasy/scifi novel for all ages to include swords, dragons, and wizards.
The Sailor and The Carpenter, Book One of Father Serra’s Legacy set in 18th century Baja California
The King’s Highway, Book Two of Father Serra’s Legacy about the founding of the first 9 California Missions.
The Missions Bloom, Book Three of Father Serra’s Legacy about the establishment of the final 11 missions.
I have also completed but not yet published:
Sonora Symphony – American Indian legends, medicines, healing, and living with the land dealing with a veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq suffering from severe PTSD.
Tsalagi Tales – the sequel about discovering why the main character’s parents were killed.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
There are two novels I’m currently working on:
The Missions Wither, Book Four of Father Serra’s Legacy telling of the ruin of the missions and ruination of California Indians, either killing them off or turning them into slaves.
Leatherjacket Soldier – the story of Don Fernando Rivera who rose from simple cavalry private soldier to military commandant of California and then the governor. This came about from my research into the characters for Father Serra’s Legacy and this man’s dedication to his soldiers, his king, and the rules by which he lived showed me a true hero of New Spain who has never received his due, He was killed by Indians, leaving his family destitute with the government owing them thousands that they never received.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Just write whenever I can and can’t even being thinking of doing it without my computer and word processor.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I could not even begin to name them here. Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, L. Frank Baum, C. S. Forester, Sir Winston Churchill – where could I possibly start.
I grew up in a home filled with National Geographic Society magazines, dictionaries, encyclopedia, Book of the Month Club selections, Life, Look, and too many others to name.
What are you working on now?
Trying as hard as possible to finish Book Four which means constant referral to research material while trying to tell and interesting, entertaining story with living characters.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
That’s the biggest problem I’ve found. Writing and researching is the easy part. Advertising and marketing is, by far, the most difficult and frustrating.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you want to be successful – consider it to be work. The same as any other job you might hold.
And, don’t expect overnight success. Look how many times J. K. Rowling got turned down before she hit the jackpot.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t give up.
What are you reading now?
Discussion forums, this place, and all sorts of news feeds.
Who has time to read books?
What’s next for you as a writer?
To finish what I’m working on and perhaps finish my memoirs which never seem to get attention paid to them.
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?
I have absolutely no idea.
Author Websites and Profiles
Dale Day Website
Dale Day’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile