Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing and traveling for years. I’m the author of humorous books about the Caribbean, the Martin Billings Series of Caribbean thriller, and a variety of literary and mystery fiction.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My current book is A VIABLE THREAT and is the fourth in the Martin Billings series. A combination of current events, and a deeper understanding of where Martin’s life is headed led me to write this one.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to travel to places and write about them. My sometime writing partner, J. Lee Porter and I visited Colombia and wrote a story based on visiting Cartagena. I lived for several years in Cambodia and have written stories based there. I lived years in Venezuela and the Martin Billings stories began there (physically as well as in concept). So, my writing habit is to absorb a place and let it tell me stories.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Too many to count, but certainly Hemingway (The Sun Also Rises and his short stories), John O’Hara, Isabelle Allende, Murakami, Henry Miller, Celine, and James Jones.
What are you working on now?
Developing ideas for a new crime trilogy and taking the existing one further (and making it better).
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m just learning marketing and very poor at it. I’m using Amazon ads and studying David Gaughrin’s course (and The Creative Penn–great videos).
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write because you love writing and minimize commercial expectations. There are easier ways to make money.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“If you get the urge to write a novel, lie down and put a damp cloth on your forehead and let the feeling pass.” I don’t recall where I heard it, and I’ve always ignored it, but that’s me.
What are you reading now?
Books on writing, mostly (James Scott Bell’s are good, as are those of Donald Maass), but I’m just starting The Leviathan.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working to dig beneath the superficial story and connect with readers by evoking powerful emotions. In a sense that requires knowing my own stories better… not just what happens, but how the happened and what that feels like.
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?
Probably books I haven’t read yet… rather than rereading old friends, I’d take a gamble that the ones I picked would be worth studying. And it depends on how many notebooks I could have.
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