Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a retired Federal Firefighter from the Puget Sound area of Washington State. I’m also an inventor and a mechanical engineer. I’ve written four novels and I’m working on the fifth.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Gravity was inspired by a segment on the Science Channel about areas on the planet where the force of gravity is much less than everywhere else.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, I always wear a particular jacket when I write. I know it’s only psychological, but when I try to write without it, the movie in my head doesn’t seem to come out right when I type.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I used to be a Clive Cussler, James Rollins, and Michael Crichton fan, but the main influence came from the Tom Swift science fiction adventures I read as a boy.
What are you working on now?
Book five of the Alex Cave Series, the premise of which is the ability to control the weather.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
After publishing the third book in the series, I made the first one permanently free, and a good percentage of those readers like the story enough to buy the other books in the series.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
For beginners, don’t rush to publish. You only get one chance to make a first impression, so take your time to make sure your story is as close to perfect as possible. Try to find an editor who is also a fan, and have at least three beta readers.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Learn from criticism. If you don’t know what’s wrong, you can’t fix it.
What are you reading now?
Actually, I don’t read other peoples novels anymore. I find that certain mannerisms of other authors seem to influence my own stories, and I prefer to keep mine completely original. And since I’m always working on a new story, I only read periodicals and my favorite magazines or blog articles.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m considering getting an agent, but only because of a lack of distribution for the print versions of my stories. eBook sales are fine, but there is still an overwhelming number of readers who prefer printed versions, and many don’t like the price of print on demand books.
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?
Any new Michael Crichton or James Rollins novels.
Author Websites and Profiles
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