Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve wanted to be a writer ever since my first “books” included crayons and stick figures. I’m an ardent believer that the number of lives we live is only limited by the number of books we read. Above all, I hope my writing can stimulate thought, invoke emotions, and help transport readers to another world, time, and life.
The Secret of Siam, my novel released on July 1 , is my second published. I already have the first four books that I will be releasing written, and have the first ten planned out. They are not part of the same series, but there is some crossover between them.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Secret of Siam, released on July 1 , was inspired by the honeymoon my wife and I took in Thailand. Throughout the trip, I was in constant awe of the culture, the history, and the places we were fortunate enough to visit. The Secret of Siam is, in a way, a love letter to the country of Thailand, celebrating the beauty, mystery, and wonder I experienced there.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Are there any “usual” ones? One habit that has helped shape my books, both those written and those planned but unwritten, is that I like to have minor connections between the stories, despite the fact that they’re all distinct stories. This has required a good deal of planning ahead during my “outline” stage. In addition, I like the idea of trying completely different genres (adventure, historical fiction, short stories, etc.), as well as infusing plot lines that speak to larger themes than just telling a good story.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
To be honest, ALL of the authors I’ve read have in some small way influenced me. However, there are some authors/books that have likely had somewhat of a larger influence (although I would not say my stories are similar to theirs). To mention a couple… The Dark Tower series intrigued me with the idea of connecting the rest of Stephen King’s books (both explicitly and otherwise) to the same literary universe. The 13th Tale captured my interest by starting with an attention-grabbing mystery in the first couple of pages, as many of my books now do.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently writing my fifth book, which won’t be released until at least 2019 (unless I choose to change the order). While I can’t say much about it, I’ll tease here that it happens over 40 years, involves two female protagonists (much like The Secret of Siam), but in this case they are mother and daughter, and it revolves around a shared ambition of theirs that may affect us all.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve found that Amazon’s free giveaway through KDP is effective if you’re just starting out and trying to alert people to your books/build a readership. I tried this with my first book and many people took the chance to download it who I hope come back to read this next one (although it is quite different). Also, I’d recommend the simple act of telling everyone you know about your books.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
As a new author myself, I would offer the same advice that I have for myself – don’t expect that you’re going to strike it big and get rich. If people read and enjoy your books, you’ve done something great. Congratulations on even taking the step to share something so intimate as your thoughts and ideas with the world.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Writing is not easy, or everyone would do it. It’s going to be tough at times, and you just have to accept that. One effective trick is to be consistent and keep deadlines (consistency does not work for me, self-imposed deadlines do). Finally, you can’t go wrong if you write for you.
What are you reading now?
I always read one nonfiction book and one fiction book at a time. Currently I’m reading The Complete Sherlock Holmes (Fiction) and Why Time Flies (nonfiction).
What’s next for you as a writer?
Immediately, my next book, The Secret of Siam, will be released on July 1. Going forward, I will continue writing and publishing my books regularly. I already have my first ten fiction and first three nonfiction books planned.
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?
It would be hard, because my favorite books are typically in series, but I’d choose to take 3 or 4 stand-alone books in different genres so I wouldn’t get bored. Maybe even 3 fiction and 1 nonfiction. Specific ones are hard, but I’ll say: Gone with the Wind, World War Z, The Historian, and The Lost City of Z.
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