Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My writing journey really started with spinning yarns to my kids at night, which lead to me writing a book. I would write a chapter and then give it to my wife to read. She loved it so much that she convinced me to publish. Truth is, I write books because I love the feeling that comes when I learn that a reader has got lost in a world that I created. It’s an incredible thing to share and I enjoy hearing what readers have to say about the characters etc.
Nightprowler is my first published work. I have a follow-up book in the works and hope to release it next year!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Nightprowler is the story of an Ex-Boxer named Lucas Briggs. Briggs is not afraid of a good fight and typically keeps his fists clean, unless in the ring. Alyssa is funny, smart, and beautiful. She is a wonderful wife to Briggs and mother to their daughter Sophie. When trajedy strikes, Briggs becomes the Nightprowler. He dons a mask by night and stalks a crime ring, searching for the name of the man who took everything he cared about.
The idea for the book was to do something a little different. I love humor and real human experience. I wanted to create a world where a hero would play on real emotion, play by the rules of real life, and have a mix of laughter and tears.
I also wanted to play with the timelines and have that be a theme of the book. As you read Nightprowler you begin at the end of the book with Chapter 1, then through two separate timelines, you catch up to the first chapter in the very last chapter.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
One thing that my wife tells me is odd: I have a small, but nice office setup where I can work and write. However, my favorite place to write is in our basement cold storage room. It is very quiet, and there are no distractions. I mounted a computer monitor, and I sit in a folding chair and knock out chapters in the storage room occasionally.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
My two favorite authors are Lee Child and Brandon Sanderson. I have read (or listened to) every Jack Reacher book, and enjoyed every chapter. Mistborn (Sanderson) is the book that got me addicted to audiobooks.
What are you working on now?
Nightprowler II: Redemption
I have something that I am very excited about as Briggs’ story continues.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Thus far I have seen success with the tools available with Amazon. I have also had good luck using freebooksy.com. I am looking forward to being featured on Awesome Gang!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what you care about. Make stories that appeal to you. Whether for fun or something more, writing should be an adventure as you get to create a world where people will become very real to you.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“I have always tried to operate by the belief that men are made or broken in their idle hours… Whether it is studying in class or working out… it’s the preparation on your own, when nobody is watching, that’s going to set you apart.”
– Todd Christensen
What are you reading now?
The Sentinel – by Lee Child and Andrew Child.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Once I am finished with the follow-up to Nightprowler I have a few ideas in mind for a different story that I would love to tell.
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?
Mistborn, One Shot (Jack Reacher), The Bible, and fourth I’d select something that I had never read before.
Author Websites and Profiles
Tyson Clayson Amazon Profile