Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in 1964. The youngest of six children I can only assume that my Catholic parents stopped procreating when they reached perfection with me. My youth was filled with wonder and adventure as I roamed the woods of a rustic little hamlet by the name of Spanish Lake. From time to time, I even managed to apply myself at schoolwork just enough to advance to the next grade.
Then came the first of many broken bones. A hill– the hill– beckoned me. Never one to obey rules or follow basic tenets of common sense, I set out to conquer the monstrosity. Me, gravity and a bike with no breaks. You can guess the rest. It was awesome, right up to the moment it wasn’t. A broken arm and fractured skull pretty much put me out of action for the rest of the summer.
To follow up such an epic conquest, the next summer I again set out to plant my feet firmly on the mountain of childhood adventure. I leaped feet first into the fire. Well, river actually. Onto a sandbar to be exact. Landed wrong and broke my leg. Another summer wasted away. Or so I thought.
Two things happened to me that tragic summer which would change my life forever. The first was zombies. Thanks to a disobedient older brother and the magic of drive-in theaters, I discovered zombies at the tender age of nine. And books.
Having graduated high school with literally the lowest satisfactory grades allowed by law, I embarked on a twelve-year quest for higher education. I must admit I attacked this with a little less gusto than I had with high school. During this time I worked on my first book. A convoluted little tale called The Emerald Tower.
Life intruded, and I set aside such things as I worked my way up the corporate ladder attaining the zombie-esque position of VP at the tender age of thirty-six. In 1992, I met my future wife, Minhdu Nguyen from Vietnam. A feisty little fireball it didn’t take long until we married. Three sons later, I had but one conquest left to make.
Alcoholism. Licked it 2008, haven’t had a drink since. Funny thing happened after the fog lifted. I remembered my passion for writing. In 2015, I finished my first book in a series called Second Dead.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Second Dead. What inspired it? I was watching walking dead and all I could think was that these people deserved to die. I mean really. Walking past a corn field and being totally surprised zombies came out to attack them! It did get me thinking though. How would an overweight, diabetic, fifty-something survive zombies?
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes. I write with earphones on. I have several playlists depending on the type of scene I’m creating.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
First and foremost Issac Asimov. J.R.R. Tolkien comes in a close second. I confess a fondness for Lucy Maud Montgomery.
What are you working on now?
The sequel to Second Dead. Tentatively titled Second Dead the continuing.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. Doesn’t matter if its crap. Words on paper can be fixed. Words unwritten can’t.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Dream big but save your money.
What are you reading now?
Plain Kate by Erin Bow. I rereading it for the third time.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m editing book two in the Second Dead series and outlining book 3.
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?
Anna of Green Gables. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. The Foundation 3 book set. The Silmarillion.
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