Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a newly published author of fantasy and action/adventure. While this is my first published work, I’ve been writing novels since I was a kid and have completed 10 books, not to mention about 10 other half-length works that I never got around to finishing. Needless to say, becoming a published author has been a life-long dream. Drawing has always gone hand-in-hand with writing for me, and so my books always come with illustrations. For my new release, I drew the cover art, as well as the several pictures inside the book!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest (and first) book is called Best Wishes from Hell, and is the first volume in a series titled Goth’s Triangle. When I was a kid and first started writing my own stories, I was an avid reader, and would often go to the bookstore excited to get a new book. But, more often than not, I couldn’t find anything that caught my interest. There wasn’t anything that could scratch that itch for the type of book I craved to read. So, from then on, I dedicated my time to writing the book that I could never find, the one I always wanted to read.
To this day, I keep that in mind. My target audience is myself as a teenager. I’ve written a lot of books, but this one is finally THE book that I’ve always wanted to read.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I definitely have a weird writing habit. I tend to binge write: write for ten hours straight, and then go one or two days without writing at all. When I’m in these binge periods, I get so focused and absorbed that I lose track of time. Eventually, I’ll catch myself writing a scene about my characters eating. I’ll be in the middle of really thoroughly describing the food, only to realize that I am starving and long overdue for a meal. This happens all the time, so if you see the main characters eating, there’s a good 90% chance I was hungry at the time.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Diana Wynne Jones is one of my biggest influences. I have read every single one of her books, and consider her one of the absolute best writers of fantasy. I was also raised with a love for J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. I also am a huge fan of manga and anime, particularly the shonen and slice of life genres, and that’s definitely inspired me over the years.
What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m writing on Goth’s Triangle Vol. 2!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you’re self-publishing, do your research. There is so much to know about the entire process, and there is so much to do if you want to do it right. Just take it step by step and take your time.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best writing advice I’ve ever heard came from my dad. It was many, many years ago and I’ll never forget. He told me that most times an author describes a scene visually. But in real life, we don’t just receive visual information; sure we look at things, but we also hear things, smell things, feel, and taste 24/7. He told me if I wanted to be a better writer, to imagine the sounds and smells etc. when describing a scene.
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