Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I began writing seriously about 30 years ago but didn’t start submitting my short stories until many years later. I’ve always loved telling stories and used to create my own comic books as a child, marking off panels on writing tablets and drawing the figures, word balloons, etc. I wish my parents hadn’t thrown those away! It would be a hoot to see those now. I was very much influenced by comics in those days and, I think, some of that still filters into my writing today.
My short speculative fiction has been published in over twenty online and print publications, including Shoreline of Infinity, Across the Karman Line, and TV Gods II.
I was a finalist in the L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future contest and was the 2010 recipient of the CZP/Rannu Fund award for fiction.
The third book in my Spirit Winds Quartet urban fantasy series, Orcus Unchained, was released in 2017, following the novels, The Sixth Precept and Warriors of the Light from IFWG Publishing. My new self-published SF novel, Magus Star Rising, was released in 2018. Fantasy/Steampunk adventure, Blood of the Daxas, is still looking for a home.
I was never much of a joiner during most of my life but now I find myself happily participating in a number of groups. I’m a member of the Pittsburgh SF organization PARSEC, writing/critique group WorD, Pittsburgh Mindful Writers Groups East and North, statewide writers’ organization Pennwriters, and the Taoist Tai Chi Society of the U.S.A.
I live in Coraopolis, PA with my beautiful, talented wife Martha and wonder cats Trixie and Milo.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Magus Star Rising is science fiction with elements of mystery and horror. I’ve always liked the SF trope of metamorphosis and decided to set that idea on a distant planet where ancient mythology and black market technology merge into a form of “magic.” I initially wrote it as a short story but it kept growing. I think a combination of Star Wars and Andre Norton’s ideas of alien ghettos with names like the “Dipple” were part of the inspiration as well.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I belong to a Mindful Writers Group that gathers twice a week to meditate for 15 minutes and then simply write for 4 hours. It’s a great way to focus and share a special kind of creative energy. We also have 2 retreats a year in Ligonier, PA, for 4 days, which is terrific! Around 20 excellent writers of different genres, both fiction and non-fiction, attend. It’s not only a way to concentrate and be productive creatively but to participate in a community or tribe, if you will, of like-minded artists. I’ve become friends and colleagues with many of the group. I also like to occasionally write away from my home office in libraries or coffee shops.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
As a child, I loved Edgar Rice Burroughs, Andre Norton, and Ray Bradbury, all of whose works I still read today. My earliest writing attempts imitated Norton’s style. She had a very unique way of creating other worlds and different characters in both the science fiction and fantasy genres. Her work, even in the fifties, was inclusive of Native-American and African-American characters, which made an impression on me. Forerunner Foray is a particular favorite of mine. Later in life, I discovered Dan Simmons’ Hyperion and all the works of William Gibson, Neuromancer being a standout. Omni Magazine introduced me to Gibson’s short stories as well as those of many other authors during its run in the ’70s and 80s.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on the 4th and last novel in my Spirit Winds Quartet urban fantasy series, Return of the Luminous One. This will wrap up the adventures of Kim Yoshima, which started with the novels, The Sixth Precept, Warriors of the Light, and Orcus Unchained. I combine 2 other favorite tropes of mine in this series – time travel and ESP. I became interested in feudal Japan after reading Shogun by James Clavell in the ’70s and wanted to set at least part of a story in that time period. I’ve never been to Japan, though it’s on my bucket list, but I did a lot of research on what’s known as the Warring States Period during the 16th Century in Japan. Very interesting and violent period. Since the first book, I’ve sent Kim and her friends to Venice, Italy, where my wife and I did visit. Fantastic place!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Well, I’m very pleased with Awesome Gang, having just discovered it, and want to thank the founders and staff for this great site and the opportunities they provide for authors! I’ve also used Angie’s Diary, BookBub, Reader’s Favorite, and PR.Com.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing and don’t give up! If one of your works is rejected, send it back out to another market immediately. Perseverance really is key. Plus, join a writing/critique group or start one yourself. That’s proven invaluable to me. Truly, writing is a passion and a journey, which, no matter the level of success one attains, contains benefits that far outweigh fame and fortune. It’s good for the soul and, well, it keeps you off the streets!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
See above. Keep writing and submitting no matter how many times you might be rejected.
What are you reading now?
I’m reading The Subtle Knife, the sequel to the Golden Compass and the 2nd book in the His Dark Materials series by Phillip Pullman.
What’s next for you as a writer?
As I stated earlier, I’m working on The Return of the Luminous One and have about a third of the sequel to Magus Star Rising written. It’s called The Beasts of Tranquility and I hope to have that out early next year, at the latest. I’ll be attending Pittsburgh’s science fiction/fantasy/horror conference, Confluence, in July both as a vendor selling my books and as a guest of the con.
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?
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Neuromancer by William Gibson
Forerunner Foray by Andre Norton
Last Call by Tim Powers
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