Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am author that writes mostly science fiction and fantasy novels, but have plans to expand in other genres. I’ve been writing for about four or five years now, but recently published my first novel last year. I’ve written two novels and one novelette, plus various short stories.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called “Of Song and Singularity” and it was mostly inspired by the idea of artificial intelligence making humanity better and able to live in a utopia on earth. It expanded from there, but it still has that inspiration at its main core.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, I’m not sure what you would consider an unusual habit. I have the habit of writing anywhere I possibly can, whether that be using my cell phone on the bus or jotting down a quick paragraph on a receipt. I try not to confine myself to strict writing conditions. So, I’m a bit of a free grazer that way.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Fyodor Dostoyevsky, George MacDonald, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Soren Kierkegaard, and many others, have had an incredible influence on my desire to write and my writing itself. “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” is a specific science fiction novel that’s always stuck with me for its creativity and its raw writing style. That book alone has been a great beacon of inspiration.
What are you working on now?
In 2014 I published my first novel “Numinous: A Dirge of Rood’ravil”. It was a Wattpad featured novel and gained overall great critical acclaim. I am carrying on the “A Dirge of Rood’ravil” series with the second novel “Gùltha”. It’s a hefty project, but I’ve been keeping my nose to the grindstone and hope to have the first draft completed sometime by the end of this year.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use a lot of different websites to help, including my own, but Wattpad has been a great way to gain an audience and connect with readers. So, I use that quite often. I also try to connect with my readers through my newsletter and get the word out that way.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I would recommend doing everything you can to gain an audience before you publish your first book and once you’ve published your first book, get started writing your second and your third and your fourth, and so on.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Write with the door closed and edit with the door open.” I read that from Stephen King. In other words, when you’re writing your first draft, go nuts and don’t think about what people might think, but the moment you completed that draft, put on your editing cap and let others give you feedback. I think it’s great advice because the first draft needs to be able to breathe and it needs to be allowed to be rough. If you criticize your work too much not he first go around, you’ll never finish it.
What are you reading now?
Right now I’m read “The Wolves of the Calla” by Stephen King. I started his “The Dark Tower” series a long time ago, but it’s taken me quite some time to keep moving through the series. Each book is rather hefty, but overall I’ve enjoyed them. I decided I really want to finish up the series this year.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Well, besides writing Gùltha, I have a lot of other projects in mind to complete. I want to compile a lot of my short stories together by genre. I also have plenty of separate novels I want to write. I have endless notes on various project ideas and they all inspire me. It’s a struggle to stop myself from starting them. One project at a time!
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?
Oh, this is a classic question. The Bible. The Horse and his Boy. Crime and Punishment. Phantastes. Those books at least come to mind right away. I’ll probably think of another one and slap my head for not listing it, but for now I’ll mention those four books.
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