Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a writer trapped in the body of an Information Technology professional. Writing is my passion, but IT pays more of the bills. I’ve managed to squeeze out two novels over the course of that past several years. I’m working on a third, but the going is slow. I write on the fringes of Science Fiction. My books don’t fit neatly in the genre, so I find myself adding an excessive number of adjectives when attempting to describe them. My first book, Motes, is definitely SF. I mean, it has an alien culture and space travel. Those things always equal SF, right? That’s true, but the book really isn’t about science fiction so much as it is about the mystery of scale, the power of family, the burden of duty, and the relationship between faith and science. If I had to pin down a single inspiration for that book, it would be the writings of Blaise Pascal.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My second novel is called The Bit Dance. This book was a blast to write. I still think about it and its characters almost every day. My background in IT collided head-on with emerging technology around artificial intelligence and resulted in a story that skates right on the thin line between science fiction and science fact. I have a young girl at the center of the story who I really love. She’s brilliant from a technical standpoint, but struggles to win the approval of her overbearing father. Their relationship is critical to the development of the story and drives the plot along. It might seem weird to refer to a fictional character as someone you “love”, but I am really close to my characters. They are real in my mind. That got really interesting (and fun) when the AI character in the story began to take shape. I hope my readers enjoy the way that character took shape.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I end up arguing with my characters in my head. They drive the story. I create them, but I kind of turn them loose to do as they please. That might seem strange, but that’s how it works. They might say or do things that I find troubling, but I have to let them win these arguments and live consistently inside their own selves. I know that makes me sound like a crazy person, but I think you have to be a little crazy to write fiction anyway.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Growing up, I read a lot of Asimov, Heinlein, and other “Golden Age” Sci-Fi authors. I also have a deep appreciation for the complex worlds created by Tolkien. I have read and re-read the Lord of the Rings series multiple times over the years. One of my favorites outside of Sci-Fi and Fantasy is To Kill a Mockingbird. I think my love of strong characters draws me to that story. The relationship between Scout and Atticus is fantastic.
What are you working on now?
I’m trying my hand at YA Fantasy now. The going is incredibly slow, but I am working on a first-person narrative novel with an 11-year-old boy at the core of it. The story deals with the concept of parallel worlds and travel between them. It’s not Narnia. It’s more of a “many worlds” view of the universe. There’s a good bit of good versus evil and other Lewis-esque features that you see in the Narnia books, but the worlds are not alternative in the same way Lewis created his. I’m only about 25% of the way through my first draft, so the story is sure to change a bit as it plays out.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
That’s a great question. I am the world’s worst marketer. I really struggle with this aspect of writing. I’m actually still seeking the right channel(s) for me and my work.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you get stuck on a story, give it a break, but don’t stop thinking about it. Consider jumping ahead and writing a later part of your book, coming back to fill in the blanks later. That can really jumpstart your process when you feel blocked. I wrote about two-thirds of my first book and got seriously stuck. I jumped ahead and wrote the ending. Things I came up with while fleshing out the last part of the story gave me insight into how to pick up from the place that had me stuck.
The other thing I would say relates to one of my previous answers. Characters are EVERYTHING. Build full-fledged, three-dimensional characters. I even write things about my characters that never make it into my books. I just keep them aside as a part of who the character is. I’ll even write short stories about them in order to get a feel for how they would react in a larger setting. Again, I know that might sound crazy, but it does help. Your characters must be real to your readers. They have to behave naturally – according to their own personalities.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Keep writing”. That sounds simple, but it’s critical. A writer writes. Write. Even if all you can manage is an occasional 500-word sketch as you try to get traction on a larger project, do it. Keep the muscles flexing.
What are you reading now?
I just finished reading The Scarred King I: Exile (Tales from Talifar) by Rose and Josh Foreman. I read this in support of an indie author group to which I belong. It’s a great story with great characters. I’m looking forward to future installments to this series.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Short-term, I really want to finish my third novel. After that, I think I would like to consider a sequel to The Bit Dance. That book won the bronze medal for Science Fiction from Readers’ Favorite this year. I’m pretty proud of that – and the other recognition that book has received. If I can manage to build my readership, I think the story deserves a sequel.
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?
The Lord of the Rings (I’ll cheat and say a combined volume so I get all three books. That story never gets old.)
To Kill a Mockingbird (I have the story pretty much memorized, but the message to always do what is right – even if you are the only one – is priceless and should be reinforced at every opportunity.)
A Wrinkle in Time (L’Engle’s powerful characters and universal message of love make for one of my favorites that I can read over and over.)
Asimov’s Mysteries (This is a collection of short stories by the Sci-Fi Golden Age master. They are great fun, even when you already know the endings.)
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