Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Many years ago, when I was in my early twenties, I wrote science fiction short stories and had a few published. But I didn’t have time for all my interests. I wasn’t about to give up girls and I was and still am a devout adrenaline junkie. So in the end, I let my writing taper off to nothing, till I eventually retired, at 50. My background has been varied. I ran very large IT departments for some years and later ran several of my own companies (i.e. import/export, printing, copywriting).
In recent years I have written on a variety of non-fiction subjects. However, most of those books had to do with timely issues and all but two have been taken off the market, to prevent them from becoming completely irrelevant. I am now focused primarily on politics and economics (also timely issues – will I never learn?). That said, I have a science fiction book on the back burner, which is about a quarter complete.
My most recent book is “The Rich Don’t Pay Tax! …Or Do They?” http://TheRichDontPayTax.com/
The book that I’m working on now will be a critical evaluation of various types of tax reform proposals.
When that book is published, I plan to dedicate my time to completing my science fiction book. The few people who have read the short story version of that book have told me that they were awed by the ending.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is “The Rich Don’t Pay Tax! …Or Do They?” http://TheRichDontPayTax.com/
As an international traveler, who has actually lived offshore and met many expats, I became aware that our current tax system is driving away our most prolific taxpayers and job creators. Upon doing a little research into this issue, I realized that as more wealthy U.S. citizens renounce their citizenship and therefore legally cease paying U.S. taxes, those of us who remain, will have to pick up that tax load – a load that we cannot afford to bear. It also means that the jobs that those wealthy expats used to create in the USA will now be created and maintained elsewhere.
I wrote that book in the hope of making enough people aware of this threat to our economy, that we could make political changes that would reverse this terrible trend, before I’m forced to follow those who have already left.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have no unusual writing habits, when writing non-fiction, unless you consider it unusual to cite massive amounts of reliable and credible sources for the facts stated in the book. Personally, I think that is somewhat unusual.
In science fiction, I tend to aim for a dynamic ending – one that will leave the reader thinking, “Wow!”
Also in science fiction, I tend (though not always) to open a chapter in the middle of the action.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Non-Fiction:
Bill O’Reilly – his writing style.
Rush Limbaugh – his ability to make the complex easy to understand.
Fiction:
E.E. Doc Smith – his ability to almost unendingly expand on a theme (The Lensman Series)
Arthur C. Clarke – his ability to craft a powerful ending (Rendezvous With Rama)
Robert A. Heinlein – his ability to apply psychology to his characters (Sixth Column)
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a book that will undertake a critical look at a variety of popular tax reform proposals, so as to give the reader a better understanding of each tax reform plan and therefore allow them to decide for themselves what is the best plan.
This book will use a methodology commonly used by large corporations, to make decisions about their business. Board members of large technology, pharmaceutical, or manufacturing companies seldom know all about their product. But they know a method that will simplify their decisions and make it unnecessary for them to have a complete knowledge of the process. I have simply re-tasked this method to the purpose of simplifying tax reform.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use a combination of blogging on my own book site, http://TheRichDontPayTax.com/blog and using social media to drive traffic to my site, where there are calls-to-action and “Buy” buttons for each format of book and ebook. I also write for Examiner.com. One of my articles on Examiner.com has been tweeted more than 1,000 times; mostly by others.
I’m also a public speaker and I cite so many sources in my presentation that I get lots of purchases at the end of the presentation.
I’ve also appeared as a featured guest on numerous radio shows and I always offer listeners a limited time discount code for my print book.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Start now. Don’t put it off. It takes a long time to write a good book. Every day that you put it off, is another day longer before your book is published. Once you get started, you’ll probably find that writing is habit forming.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Start now.
What are you reading now?
“The Weed Agency”, by Jim Geraghty
“Promoting Decline: Obama vs. America”, by Scott Wheeler
Just finished re-reading “The Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted”, by Harry Harrison
What’s next for you as a writer?
When I reach writer’s block on my current non-fiction book, I turn my attention to a science fiction book that will be next on my plate. The short story version of this book has only been read by a very few close friends. But to a man, they all said that the ending was one of the best that they ever read. Without knowing that Rama contained one of my favorite endings ever, one of those people compared my ending to that of Rama. I just hope that I can maintain that impact in the book version. I’m shooting for about 400 pages on that one.
I have the general outline of a second science fiction book written down, but all that I have written of the story is the first and last chapter.
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?
Sixth Column, by Robert A. Heinlein
The Lensman Series, by E.E. Doc Smith
Dune (The original trilogy – not all the later stuff), by Frank Herbert
The Lord of the Rings series (including The Hobbit), by J.R.R. Tolkien
Author Websites and Profiles
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