Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written nine books and counting. There six books in the Cole Sage Mystery Series. I am really committed to writing a clean, character driven, mysteries series with lots of twist, turns, and heart.
Three Nails (A Tale of Tragedy, Testing and Triumph) is a journey through a school year with a teacher who has recently lost his only son. The story tell how the tragedy impacts his job, family and faith.
The Time Pedaler is a fun departure from the adult world and into a time travel adventure for teens and tweens.
My most recent publication and something i am really excited about is “The Secret to Writing an Essay: A Parent’s Guide for Teens and Tweens Who Hate to Write” it is the result of teaching English to at risk-kids, and Adult Education, for over twenty years. Works for adults too.
My lovely wife and travel partner, Janet and divide our time between the Central Valley and Sierra Nevada Mountains of California.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent book in the Cole Sage Series is “Cole Fire”. I love to be as topical as I can in the Cole books. I’ve dealt with racism, gangs, pedophilia, eco-terror, the needs of veterans, all in the context of a mystery/thriller.
In “Cole Fire” A New Age Messiah is gunned down on the streets of San Francisco. When the body disappear, the faithful believe he will resurrect. So Cole tries to get to The Truth? To complicate things a series of arsonist attacks on Asian businesses sends Cole to the gates of a fiery hell as he falls prey to the Vietnam Veteran who can’t put the horror of war to rest.
Lots of twist and turns in this one.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
A big part of my writing process is developing a strong workable outline. By the time I start to write have each chapter blocked out and very clear in my mind as to what happens.
A lot of people find it very unusual that to never get hindered by writers block I skip around. I will write a scenes or a chapter out of order, then return to the chronological flow of the book.
I don’t know how it would work for other people but it works great for me.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
The “Deptford Trilogy” by Robertson Davies, “Our Mutual Friend” by Charles Dickens and anything by Stewart M. Kaminsky or Peter Lovesey.
Davies because I love the way he brings back characters five or six books down the line. When I first read the “Deptford Trilogy” I thought “That’s my voice!” It really instilled the desire to write in me. Not that I will ever be fit to be mentioned in the same sentence, but Davies was truly a mentor
I have read “Our Mutual Friend” probably twenty times. Dickens to me is the master of characters. His books never have character who just happen to be in the story, the are as alive as the main characters and he treats them with the same importance.
Kaminsky and Lovesey I think are two of the best mystery writers ever, and they taught me, along with John Gresham, you can write something contemporary and engaging without gratuitous, sex and profanity.
If I can learn to encompass the lessons I’ve learned from these masters I will a real sense of accomplishment.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on three projects. Cole Sage book #7 which is without a title at the moment. It centers around, a series of random murders in San Francisco, major changes at the paper where Cole works, and the introduction of an abused teenage girl that wants to be a writer. I am having a great time with this one.
On days I need to recharge my “Cole Batteries”, I am editing a collection of my short stories, writing a western that is totally unique, a WWII Romantic Spy novel, and a no non-sense “How to Write a Book” handbook.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I was fortunate when I was starting out to get some great advice from some established authors. I learned early on, to develop a strong mailing list.
My first book Diamonds and Cole is offered for free. It is the book I spend my energy and resources promoting. Everything is linked back to my various author pages on Amazon, B&N, Smashwords and iTunes.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Learn to outline.
Become a student of Indie publishing/marketing
DO NOT fall prey to little no-name publishers!
Find your own cover artists, proofreaders, formatters, and put your name above the digital door.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
There are four pieces of advise that have served me well, throughout my life.
1) Girls are like street cars if you find yourself missing one, another will be by in a few minutes.
2) When threatened, hit first, hit hard, and run.
3) Admit nothing, deny everything, and destroy all the evidence.
4) If not you, who? If not now, when?
What are you reading now?
I tend to read two or three books at a time.
I just finished re-reading Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner
I’m working my way through (Jerry) Garcia: An American by Blair Jackson
And Lawrence in Arabia: War, Deceit, Imperial Folly and the Making of the Modern Middle East by Scott Anderson
What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to finish Cole Sage book #7 for fall release.
I would love to finish my western I spoke of. The Short story anthology is about finished.
I have books #8 and #9 in the Cole Sage Series outlined and a couple chapters of each written.
“Time Pedaler” fans a screaming for another volume so that’s being worked on.
And I have half a gillion ideas bouncing around in my head of other projects.
Other than that there’s not much going on.
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?
A Bible
The Complete Lyrics of Bob Dylan
Bartlett’s Book of Quotations
The Annotated Sherlock Holmes
Author Websites and Profiles
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