Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written all kinds of books. As a child, I wrote books for my friends by cutting up sheets of copy paper and writing and drawing on them. Then I got a computer and typed stories. I got my worst million words out of the way around the time I graduated high school. The number of books I’ve published in any sort of official capacity, however, is pretty low: two. More than 20 years passed between each one, so I’m hoping to cut down on that delay a bit as I get cracking on the third book.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Forest Lessons, and as I want to avoid spoilers, that’s nearly all I can say. I should mention that I read and and loved a lot of works from David Eddings, another author from the Pacific Northwest, so certain parts of his works have inspired my writing in general and my newest novel in particular.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. Picture an overweight, middle-aged man sitting in a chair and typing in the middle of the day, with no sound except the clackity-clack of typing. That’s my habit.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
My writing has been influenced by a variety of bestselling authors from years gone by: Terry Brooks, David Eddings, Robert Jordan, Lloyd Alexander, C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, L. Frank Baum, and so forth. More recently, I’ve been reading a lot of mystery novels from the likes of Sue Grafton, Robert Crais, Lawrence Block, John D. MacDonald, Ross Macdonald, and Michael Connelly. It’s too early to say, but I might have picked up pieces of their technique by way of osmosis. I’d be okay with that.
What are you working on now?
I just finished writing Forest Lessons, and I plan to follow that up shortly with its sequel. The series takes place in a massive world I’ve had in mind for most of 20 years, so just about anything I write going forward will take place in that world.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still learning about promotion, honestly. I have a budget of $0, so I’m open to trying just about anything if it reaches people who might genuinely be interested in what I have to say. I’ve learned from previous marketing efforts that numbers don’t tell the whole story. I’d much rather talk with 10 people who appreciate what I’m doing than 1000 people who don’t.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Turn writing into a habit. My biggest problem over the years has been a failure to develop and maintain my writing habit, which means that every time I do find myself in the mood to write more fiction, it’s like I’m starting from scratch all over again. Even just writing, editing, and working in close proximity to fiction for a few minutes every day is enough to make it feel natural.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Stop spending your time worrying about things you can’t change, and focus on those things you personally have the power to do something about. It’s difficult advice to follow, but I’m working on it in my own life and so far I like the result.
What are you reading now?
I am finishing up The Bones in the Attic, by Robert Barnard, as well as Darker Than Amber by John D. MacDonald. I also look forward to returning soon to Jim Butcher’s series with Ghost Story, but two books at once is probably enough.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I don’t actually know what’s next for me as a writer, but I do know that I want to keep writing. I realized some time ago that I can’t see myself being truly happy spending much of my time doing anything else. I plan to buckle down and write regularly in hopes of finding a wider audience as I tell stories within the world I have created. There are enough of them to keep me busy for a few decades, most likely.
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?
Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings, The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks, The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander, and The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis. But I wouldn’t be happy about it.
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