Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Although I only have one novel, I’ve written many short stories and a couple of screenplays, including “Hannah and Jude,” which I also shot and directed.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest novel is “The Sodium War.” After the string of mass shootings across the United States in August 2019, my wife challenged me with writing a screenplay concerning the alarming rate of gun violence in America. She even had the idea of enumerating the casualties in the end credits if it were made into a film.
Over the next month of brainstorming, I realized that the story that I wanted to tell wouldn’t necessarily be about gun violence but racism, which is a significant motivator for hate crimes. Instead of debating gun control and alienating either half of the country, I wanted to share a story that could inspire empathy and a love for others.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know if it may be an “unusual habit,” but I tend to write and edit best between the hours of midnight to 3am, when my family is sleeping.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m a filmmaker, so I tend to analyze stories from that medium. My favorite films are Interstellar, The Matrix, Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Braveheart, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Every time I watch a film, I consider it an educational oportunity, as I study the story, character arcs, lighting, camera composition, and music.
Currently, one of my favorite authors is Dan Brown, and he helped me to keep a story moving.
What are you working on now?
I have several stories that I’ve been thinking about for a couple of years. One that I hope to do next is called “Time,” which is about everyone time traveling constantly. Because of continual timeline changes, a person could go to sleep married and then wake up single, for example. Currently, the main character is someone who was written out of a timeline because her parents never married.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Not sure yet.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
For the past couple of years, I’ve strived to tell stories that have a purpose behind it. Life is short, and I don’t want to spend it writing something that is just fluff; it needs to have a soul.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve heard is to pray and grow a relationship with God.
What are you reading now?
Currently, I’m reading “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” as I’ve been wanting to adapt it into a film.
What’s next for you as a writer?
My next task is to record and edit an audiobook for “The Sodium War.” As a voiceover artist and audio editor, I’m looking forward to giving each of my characters a distinct voice and having fun withn the experience.
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?
If I were stranded, the books I’d take are “The Great Gatsby,” “The Lord of the Rings,” “1984,” and the “Holy Bible.”